We're back for a big day of games, likely a standard set or slightly more. We begin with...
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Luigi v. Boots. The first series of the day is in 8-ball with the blue cue. North Modernistic's Luigi had a weak start in game 1 with an empty break, allowing Pearl's Boots to get a five-ball run. Luigi matched it with a five-ball run on his next turn, and then won with a three-ball run-out on the turn after that, giving him a 1-0 series lead over Boots. The Nighthawks' Luigi got a ball on the break in game 2, but lacked command for much of the game. The Surfers' Boots was in a better position, but ended a four-ball run by making Luigi's last ball for him. Luigi didn't make the 8 this time, but would on the next turn after Boots' defense gave way. Luigi clinched the series at 2-0 with this win. Boots had the big five-ball run in game 3, but she couldn't close it out, missing her shot on the 8. Luigi was a bit slower in his attack, but won with the last two shots to complete the 3-0 sweep and advance to the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Roxy. The silver cue gets a look in Accuracy for this series. Pacific's Leonette had it easy from the start, as Freedom's Roxy had an illegal first shot and never really recovered from that. Leonette did slip up once, but held her own to earn the 1-6 win and a 1-0 series lead. The tables flipped in game 2, as the Cascades' Roxy was strong on her shots while the Volcanoes' Leonette was a bit all or nothing with two double-pots and many more misses. Roxy paced herself well, missing once early and once late in the 2-6 win to tie the series at 1 after Leonette's scattered performance. Leonette had a good effort in game 3, keeping Roxy at bay for much of the appearance. Roxy performed well late, but Leonette didn't oblige her with enough misses, and Leonette held the 3-4 win and 2-1 series win to get to the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Lionel v. Ice Cream. These two Tradewinds teammates meet in 8-ball with the red cue. Ice Cream always had the upper hand in game 1, taking a five-ball run very early on. Lionel made a few small counterattacks, but Ice Cream removed his defense and tapped in the 8 to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. Ice Cream struggled early in game 2, but she managed to convert the 15-7-9-11-13 combination to the top right on one turn after Lionel scratched, a highlight-worthy shot. This changed the game's pace, as the players exchanged three-ball runs from here. Ice Cream had the last word with a three-ball run-out, knocking Lionel back as Ice Cream secured the series at 2-0. Ice Cream tried to hold on in game 3, but Lionel proved just a bit stronger in a somewhat sloppy finale. Ice Cream settled for a 2-1 series win, and she'll be on the road for real in Home Depot Forum in Web City, facing the Spiders' Shiny in the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sugar v. Nightfur. A couple of inconsistent shooters play Accuracy with the silver cue. Harrison's Sugar put in a good game 1 effort, but her scratch and an empty overtime break doomed her, allowing Royal's Nightfur to emerge with the 2-3 win after making the 11-4 combination in her only overtime shot. The Specters' Sugar clamped down in a stunning performance in game 2, missing none of her shots. The Crowns' Nightfur didn't do poorly early on, but unraveled in desperation late in the game, losing 0-4 as Sugar tied the series at 1 game apiece. Sugar kept her strong play in order for game 3, only missing a couple of times later. Nightfur proved unable to capitalize on her shots, and Sugar took the win 2-5 for a 2-1 series win. Sugar is through to the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Dominic. The red cue is back for a series of 9-ball between unassuming opponents. Viewpoint Sound's Dominic was the first to break out for a run in game 1, making five in a row at one point. Diamond's Pedey reined him in with a three-ball run-out in close along the right rail, giving Pedey the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dominic had a better game 2, but he still needed some help from the Gems' Pedey. This came in the form of a late scratch after Pedey made the 7, allowing Dominic to take the 8 and 9 from ball-in-hand for the win to tie the series at 1. Pedey had a five-ball run early in game 3, and then a three-ball run-out to close it when Dominic proved inept on offense late in the game. Pedey's win made it a 2-1 series win for him, and he'll host Midland Predators captain Shawn in the second round at this venue.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Dreamy. A captain and a star meet in 7-ball with the red cue. Game 1 was fairly split between the players, but Modernistic's Ms. Puppy proved a bit stronger in the end, topping a wild effort from Swordpoint's Dreamy by making the 7 on a tough cut. Ms. Puppy's win gives her a 1-0 lead in the series. The Union's Ms. Puppy showed no mercy to the Blades' Dreamy in game 2, blasting a firm break shot that saw the 7 drain quickly in the top right. Ms. Puppy clinched the series at 2-0 with this one-shot winner. Game 3 was much slower, but Ms. Puppy maintained a good effort in the end, cashing in on Dreamy struggling with an open table. Ms. Puppy swept the series 3-0, earning a trip to the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Midnight. The red cue remains in play for 7-ball again between these veterans. Lighton's Spirit had a highlight in game 1, making the 3 and 4 to the top left on a bank of the 3 that sent the 4 on a two-rail bank as well. Westside's Midnight didn't care, taking a sharp cut on the 7 to the top side that missed but saw the two balls reconnect and complete the shot on a second contact. Midnight took the game for a 1-0 series lead on the fortunate bounce. The Prestige's Spirit kept her series alive with a strong game 3, outplaying the Rockers' Midnight for much of the game and then making the last two shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Midnight chipped her shot on the 6 in game 3, the turning point of a game she likely deserved to win. Spirit then made the last two balls to get the win, taking the series 2-1. Spirit is into the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Boots. Two potential Ringer Award winners meet in 15-ball with the blue cue. Neither player showed particularly well in game 1 due to Whitewater's Marsell producing a poor break. Pearl's Boots had a couple of scratches, the second costly as Marsell made the 4 and then a 6-8-15 combination to the bottom right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was much better for both players, but especially the Surfers' Boots, who had a bigger opening run and a seven-ball run-out to down the Shores' Marsell at the end. Boots' big game gave her a much-needed win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was a tale of two halves, as Boots came out in a surge in the early going, but the 4 caused her a number of offensive problems. In the end, Marsell charged to the win with a seven-ball run-out, giving himself a 2-1 series win. Marsell will host Commerce Tradewinds captain Tigerette in the second round at this venue.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Spirit. The red cue is back in 8-ball between these two Southwestern powerhouses. Swordpoint's Bandit had a strong game 1, playing defense against Lighton's Spirit despite giving her a couple of gift shots. Spirit tried to break Bandit's defense, but Bandit sank the 8 just in time, taking the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Bandit was very generous to the Prestige's Spirit, making two balls for her, an action he nearly regretted. Spirit used a four-ball run and very nearly won the game, but her cut on the 8 didn't drop, and Bandit was able to make his own four-ball run count when he potted the last two balls to clinch the series at 2-0 with another win. Bandit had a five-ball run to open game 3, which looked good enough until Spirit made a late impact with a four-ball run, ending in a scratch. Bandit nearly got the 8 a second time, but Spirit made the final two shots to win, giving Bandit the 2-1 series win. Bandit will stay home to host the Capital City Sharpshooters captain Chris in the second round in another Divisional battle.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Leonardo v. Gradley. Young veterans collide in 12-ball with the silver cue. Midland's Leonardo had a terrific break, making three balls instantly, and he added on more for the opening run. Boston's Gradley didn't give up, aligning his shots on one turn and then dispatching them quickly while Leonardo struggled to set himself up. Gradley would win the game for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was even more competitive, as the Swifts' Gradley made a three-ball run on the break, only to be challenged by the Predators' Leonardo late in the game. Gradley held the defensive position on Leonardo for the last shot, as each player needed the top right. Leonardo made illegal contact, and Gradley potted his final ball for the win, taking the series 2-0 as well. Leonardo had an easier time in the strategic game 3, which saw Gradley's own break betray him by leaving a cluster of 5 solids in the middle. Leonardo got a jump, and while a pair of scratches pushed him back, he still picked up the win. Gradley took the series 2-1.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Sweetheart. The red cue gets another crack at 8-ball, between a strong qualifier and a decent veteran. Maplewood's Bryant came out on the right end of a difficult game 1, which saw Boston's Sweetheart ruin her late-game surge with a pair of scratches. Bryant finally locked in on the 8, getting the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 did not see any improvement. The Lumberjacks' Bryant saw the Swifts' Sweetheart scratch twice before he made a ball. Frustrations rose, and each player had a miss on the 8 before Sweetheart finally buried it for the win, tying the series at 1 in a tense environment. Frustration turned into productivity after a slow start in game 3, as Bryant rallied for a five-ball run only for Sweetheart to use the extra space to assemble her five-ball run-out for the win. Sweetheart took the series 2-1, and will visit the Shores' captain Bear in Samsung Arena in Whitewater for a second round series.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Sally. The red cue is up for Rotation in today's last series. Archtown's Sally had the better of play early in game 1, but one scratch led Pacific's Starlight to a four-ball run, and she followed it up on her next turn with a somewhat lucky but effective three-ball run-out to earn an 8-2 win. Starlight leads the series 1-0. The Volcanoes' Starlight had a dynamic game 2, using three combination shots and a kick to score half of her points. One scratch allowed the Arrows' Sally to make a three-ball run that was looking to be more, but she missed on the 10 and Starlight capped the 8-4 win to clinch the series at 2-0. The Arrows' Sally saved some face with a game 3 win, running circles around Starlight to nab an 8-4 win despite some struggles in the middle of the game. Starlight still gets to the second round with a 2-1 series win.
That's all for today, and we should have more tomorrow.
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