We're back for another day of games, although the quality of play will have to be better than yesterday. We begin with...
Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Mams. The Gems rookie hosts a rising Meteors star in 15-ball with the blue cue. Diamond's Rosalina came in hot at the end of game 1 after Viewpoint Sound's Mams had started better in her season debut. Rosalina's five-ball run gave way to a tense ending that saw Mams disappoint with a miss on the 15, and Rosalina made it to win for a 1-0 series lead on her second try. The Gems' Rosalina continues to finish strong, producing another five-ball run late in game 2. She did give possession away to the Meteors' Mams, but Mams missed on the 12, and Rosalina made the final two shots to win, sealing the series at 2-0. Mams made sure to get a win in game 3, going crazy with a four-ball run and a five-ball run-out on consecutive turns, bridged only by a scratch from Rosalina, who still won the series 2-1 to head to the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stinky v. Nibbles. Another Meteor is in the east, facing a Cascade in Rotation with the red cue. Freedom's Stinky had a good game 1, making two separate three-ball runs early on. Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles had a couple of nice shots, but no runs, and Stinky closed out an 8-2 win on his third turn for the 1-0 series lead. In game 2, things started a bit more slowly, and this didn't favor the Cascades' Stinky at all. He struggled early on, but gained a lead at mid-game, only to see the Meteors' Nibbles assemble a four-ball run to get close to a win. On his next turn, Nibbles made the last ball to win 8-5, tying the series at 1. Stinky had some issues in game 3, as the play dropped for both players, but Nibbles only briefly held a tie. Stinky finished with a three-ball run-out to win 8-5, taking the series at 2-1 to advance to the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Luigi. It's an Urban Division battle in 10-ball with the red cue. North Modernistic's Luigi took advantage of Westside's Slinks scratching on the break, as he used ball-in-hand for a five-ball run that was nearly more. Instead, Slinks answered with a four-ball run, narrowly missing the 10, which Luigi tapped in at the top left to win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went much slower than game 1, as neither player could assemble much of a run. The Rockers' Slinks had an illegally potted ball that the Nighthawks' Luigi deferred shooting from. In the end, Slinks ended with a draw off the 9 to sink the 10 in the top right, and the force sent the 9 to the bottom left for a double-pot to win the game, tying the series at 1. Game 3 played more like game 2, with slightly better pace thanks to Slinks making shots in pairs. Luigi had a chance late, but couldn't convert on the 8, and Slinks made the last two balls for the win and a 2-1 series win. Slinks is into the second round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Wario v. Yekaterina Vasilyeva. An All-Spurs match greets us after the lunch break, as the teammates face off in 9-ball with the blue cue. Wario started off pretty well in game 1, but he couldn't hold on in the end, and Yekaterina stormed to the finish with a four-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 got off to a slower pace, and Wario was particularly out of condition for his shooting. Yekaterina played a stronger game, with a three-ball run in the middle and a short stretch of bad shooting before a three-ball run-out for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Wario made sure game 3 went by quickly, making the 1-9 combination with an extra deflection off the 3 to the top right on his third turn of the game. Yekaterina was a bit shocked by the trick play, but she still took the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Shiny. The red cue is back for a series of 12-ball. Pearl's Boots had some struggles early on in game 1 as Web City's Shiny asserted herself quickly. Shiny got stuck with the last ball, and Boots defended with positioning, eventually earning a chance to make her last two balls. Boots converted just in time, winning for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots had a three-ball run early in game 2, and while the Spiders' Shiny fought back with force late in the game, her set-up work on her last ball was too slow. Boots made her final shot after just one set-up play, clinching the series at 2-0. Game 3 was a bit of a challenge, as Boots gave away a wild-card ball but defended hard against Shiny, who would break through when both players got close on their final shots. Shiny's win made it a 2-1 series win favoring Boots, who is through to the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Twinkie III. The silver cue makes its first appearance of the day for 8-ball. Midland's Fuchsia began with a four-ball run, and ended on a three-ball run-out for the game 1, running easily around Whitewater's Twinkie III, as the more experienced player couldn't calibrate her shots. Fuchsia leads 1-0 in the series. Game 2 saw the Predators' Fuchsia have another early run on the break, going four balls again. The Shores' Twinkie III was a bit better in this game, but a late scratch as she tried to position for a long run allowing Fuchsia to make the 8 from the kitchen for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw Fuchsia run the table on her second turn after an empty break and Twinkie III's only turn ending in illegal contact. Fuchsia's big finish wrapped up her 3-0 series sweep as she advances to the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Nibbles v. Juno. The silver cue remains in action as a rookie and a sophomore meet in 10-ball. Stonebridge's Juno dominated in game 1, but mostly because Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles looked unprepared to play. Juno had a three-ball run at the start and closed with a three-ball run-out for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Nibbles had a better game 2, working an early three-ball run and then cashing in at the end when the Wolves' Juno left the 10 at the bottom right after an errant bank attempt. Nibbles had a tap-in to win, tying the series at 1 with the easy shot. Game 3 went at a quick pace, with Nibbles trying an early 1-2-10 combination that went wide. Juno replied on a four-ball run, and Nibbles made the next three before leaving the 7 short. Juno used this to set up on the 10, and she made it as well to get the win and a 2-1 series win to take to the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Sydney Sierota. The blue cue is back for more 15-ball between these big-time players. Harrison's Sydney didn't have the best of play in game 1, but it was fairly even near the middle of the game. Eastside's Chelsea made a critical error when she tried to hop the 15 to get on the 8, and it ended up banking into the top right illegally, gifting Sydney the win for a 1-0 series lead. Tensions rose a bit in a difficult game 2, as neither player had a run in the game. The Specters' Sydney ended up with the win after the Sharks' Chelsea made a mistake in shooting the 15, and Sydney cleaned it up for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Chelsea absolutely dominated possession in game 3, especially late with her six-ball run, but she missed the 14-15 combination, and Sydney made each of those balls individually to take the win, earning a 3-0 series sweep. Sydney advances to the second round.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Smokey. The Spurs sophomore remains at home, facing the Gems captain in her second series of the day, Rotation with the silver cue. Things started well in game 1, but got tense in the middle. Diamond's Smokey lost his early lead, and barely managed to hold off Victoria's Yekaterina, who was fuming after a miss from ball-in-hand led to Smokey's 8-6 win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Smokey didn't have to steal game 2, as the Spurs' Yekaterina never got close enough to make it interesting. Smokey took a four-ball run from the break, and won two turns later by an 8-4 scored, securing the series at 2-0 as Yekaterina quietly falls despite an early three-ball run. Yekaterina had a quick opener in game 3, but slowly faded until Smokey had passed her in scoring. She woke up with a three-ball run, and when Smokey didn't counter, she finished off an 8-6 win to avoid the sweep. Smokey takes a 2-1 series win to the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Solaris. Youth Movement members meet in 8-ball with the blue cue. Diamond's Citrus had a slow start after scratching on the break, but she had a later four-ball run that Infinity's Solaris answered cleanly in game 1. Solaris just couldn't make contact on the last solid, and Citrus took the 8 from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Torpedoes' Solaris played much better in game 2, with a four-ball run early on and enough congestion to halt the Gems' Citrus on a number of shots. When things cleared up, Solaris rallied with a four-ball run-out to get the win, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 went very poorly, as Solaris scratched on a terrible break. Citrus couldn't locate her shot, and Solaris stormed ahead to a lead, but Citrus pulled back and made it close at the end. Citrus' big mistake was leaving the 8 short at the top right, which Solaris tapped in to win for a 2-1 series win that carries him into the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Twinkie I v. Sierra. The silver cue gets another series, playing Accuracy this time between stalwarts of their teams. Todavía's Sierra had an unmemorable game, as she missed about half of her shots. Lighton's Twinkie I was tasked to make more than her fair share, and came through, only missing once late in a 1-7 win for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 didn't go as well for the Prestige's Twinkie I, but the Stills' Sierra barely made an improvement. Twinkie I was able to hold on despite some late floundering to get a 3-6 win as Sierra is happy to be out of one of her worst efforts. Twinkie I leads the series 2-0. Twinkie I gave her all in game 3 just to force overtime, but Sierra pulled off the rare successful overtime break, and this gave her a 4-5 win when Twinkie I missed from what remained. Twinkie I still took the series 2-1 to move into the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Spice. The last series of the day is Accuracy with the red cue between two of Reality's club members. Golden's Dusty had a perfect game 1, and she frequently forced Victoria's Spice into bad shots, leading to the lopsided 5-0 score line that gives Dusty a 1-0 series lead with the great performance. Game 2 went very differently early on, as the Pilots' Dusty briefly fell behind before forcing the Spurs' Spice into a second miss. After some close exchanges, Dusty forced Spice to miss again, and then missed one more time herself, but Dusty held on for the 2-3 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Dusty continued with an excellent game 3 as well, winning 1-4 as Spice missed four in a row and Dusty was just shy of being perfect with a late miss. Dusty took the series in a 3-0 sweep.
We're done with pool today, but there should be cricket later in the day.
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