This is the finale of a month's worth of games and series to finish the opening round of the main Tournament. We begin this final day of action for awhile with...
Ebay Center, Queens: Violetta v. Brownie. The blue cue ends its round in 15-ball between a rookie and a veteran. Queens' Violetta saw a good share of the game 1 possession, greatly aided by a late five-ball run, but she couldn't settle down late, and Tysini's Brownie jumped in with a couple of good shots to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Brownie didn't have as good a break for game 2, leading to a much slower paced game. In the end, it was a three-ball run-out from the Flames' Violetta that ended the game in her favor, tying the series at 1. Violetta had a decent start in game 3, but she really began to set herself apart with a four-ball run late. Brownie tried to make an answer, but stumbled a couple of times, and Violetta made the last two shots for the win and 2-1 series win. Violetta is set to host the Diamond Gems rookie Rosalina in the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Cheddar v. Wario. A veteran on a new team meets a rookie on an old team for Rotation with the red cue. North Modernistic's Cheddar never seemed to get a grip in game 1, falling behind to Victoria's Wario very early. Wario struggled with closing the game out, allowing Cheddar to get back in it, but Wario won 8-5 to take the 1-0 series lead in less-than-ideal form. The Nighthawks' Cheddar had a better game 2, although the Spurs' Wario started with two balls on the break. A foul for illegal use of the stick caught Wario early on, and he never recovered. Cheddar slowly pulled ahead and sealed the win at 8-4, tying the series at 1 with her fortunate win. Wario excelled with two early three-ball runs in game 3, putting Cheddar at a deficit, although a strong start kept it interesting. Wario managed to close out the game well with the last two shots after a flurry of misses, giving him the 8-4 win and 2-1 series win. Wario will visit Toyota Arena in Freedom to oppose the Cascades' Stinky in the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Americus. Two of the late starters meet in 9-ball with the silver cue. Pacific's Starlight had the better performance in game 1, making a three-ball run from the break and playing even after that, but Atlantic's Americus cashed in when Starlight missed on the 8, making the last two balls for a win and a 1-0 series lead on the road. The Pirates' Americus pulled more of her own weight in a chippy game 2, with neither player developing runs or dominating. The Volcanoes' Starlight took advantage of this slow game, potting the 9 after Americus missed it on a tough cut attempt. Starlight's win tied the series at 1. Americus wanted the series far more after a great game 3, making a five-ball run and then following that with the last two balls after a bad shot from Starlight. Americus won the series 2-1 to advance, and she will face the Hummingbirds' Charli at Cisco Arena in Tysini in the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mams v. Puff I. The red cue is back in action for some 10-ball. Modernistic's Puff I picked up the win in game 1 after answering a four-ball run from Viewpoint Sound's Mams with a three-ball run and then the last two balls when Mams couldn't gain control at the end. Puff I leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw the Union's Puff I make a four-ball run early on before stalling a bit, but the Meteors' Mams was slow to react. Puff I made a few more shots, but her miss on the 10 allowed Mams to make a tap-in for the win, tying the series at 1 despite not really earning it. Puff I took over in the middle of game 3, working a five-ball run that looked like it was cut short by her miss on the 8. Mams couldn't counter well enough, and Puff I took the win with the last two shots, good for a 2-1 series win. Puff I is off to Intel Center in Diamond to play the Gems' Pedey in the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Shiny. The silver cue comes on in this venue doubleheader to administer some 15-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot undoubtedly had the better game 1, making a few more shots on his short runs than did Web City's Shiny. Still, Shiny had a chance at the 15 late and missed, and Hoot converted for the rightful win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 didn't go as smoothly for the Meteors' Hoot, as he slipped multiple times. The Spiders' Shiny failed to really capitalize on most of these, but Hoot's missed contact on the 15 at the end allowed Shiny to win from ball-in-hand, tying the series at 1 with the better game. Game 3 saw tensions boil over for both players, most notably for Hoot when things fell apart on a scratch for him. Shiny cashed in with a five-ball run, but failed to close out the game, and Hoot blasted the 15 to the bottom left for the win and a 2-1 series win. Hoot will host the Westside Rockers' Slinks in the second round at this venue.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Wings v. Strawberry. After a break for tempers to calm, we'll have 10-ball with the red cue. Pearl's Wings started a bit slow in game 1, but when Modernistic's Strawberry couldn't make any progress, Wings made six of the last seven balls on two turns for the win, going ahead 1-0 in the series with the effort. Game 2 also started slowly, especially when the Union's Strawberry had a near miss on the 2 with a deflection off the 10. The Surfers' Wings eventually picked up the pace, finishing on a seven-ball run-out for the win, which also clinched the series at 2-0. Wings struggled at the start of game 3, and Strawberry proved plenty able to pick up the slack. Wings also failed to assemble a late run, and Strawberry tapped in the 10 when Wings left it short. This made it a 2-1 series, with Wings set to host the Westside Rockers' Slinks in the second round. Strawberry is the ninth player eliminated from the Tournament, while Wings has recorded his first kill of the year.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Leonardo v. Twinkie III. The red cue ends its round with Rotation, leaving the silver cue for the last five series. Midland's Leonardo started slow in game 1, allowing Whitewater's Twinkie III to surge forward quite a bit. Leonardo covered the deficit, and even had a chance to get the win, but his miss let Twinkie III make the final two shots for an 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Leonardo jumped out to a big lead in game 2, and the Shores' Twinkie III would never catch up. She had some good shots late in the game, but Leonardo tapped in the 11 she missed for an 8-3 win to tie the series at 1. Twinkie III pulled ahead late in game 3, and she shut the door on Leonardo despite him having some decent shots. Twinkie III won 8-6 for the 2-1 series win, and she will travel to Audi Hall in Terrace City to face former teammate Jennifer in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Roxy. A mother faces her own son in 15-ball, the first of five straight silver cue series to end the round. Game 1 went poorly, although Swordpoint's Bandit can be happy to get a ball off the break. That was the extent of the positive play for him, as two wasted run chances allowed Freedom's Roxy to play a chippy game and eventually earn the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy had the better of play in game 2 as well, controlling things as narrow misses piled up for the Blades' Bandit. Roxy had a chance to finish the game, but couldn't complete her run, and Bandit made the last two shots, winning the game and tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a midgame surge from Roxy on a six-ball run, which ended up pacing her offense and giving her confidence later on. Bandit struggled to counter, never putting up a run despite having the chance. Roxy took the win on her second try at the 15, good for a 2-1 series win. Roxy will travel to Capital City SuperCenter to face the Sharpshooters' Missy in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Wings. The game remains 15-ball between these two hard-nosed veterans. Pearl's Wings started off game 1 strong, but Tysini's Leandra picked up a similar pace a little later on. This all fell apart at the 9, and the slow finish saw each player miss the 15 twice, Leandra's second being missed contact, before Wings potted it for the 1-0 series lead and a win. The Hummingbirds' Leandra fired back very quickly, winning game 2 on a 2-15 combination that fell into place after the Surfers' Wings needed two chances just to make legal contact. Leandra's quick win tied the series at 1. Leandra had to battle hard in game 3, as Wings matched her just about shot for shot in a difficult game. At the end, Wings broke free on a three-ball run, but Leandra made a couple in response. Each of them missed the 15 once, and then Leandra made it on her second try for the win, clinching the series at 2-1. Leandra will host the Oceanside Waves rookie Celestia in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Kirstin. We shift to 9-ball this time, as Northeastern rivals clash in this series. Maplewood's Bryant had an easy handle on game 1, running three balls near the start and at the end to get the win despite a lackluster performance in the middle. Everton's Kirstin did little to impact the game, allowing Bryant an easy path to the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Kirstin played a bolder game at the start, making a three-ball run to get herself going, but the Lumberjacks' Bryant matched her pace. Kirstin couldn't conjure up more offense, and when she left the 9 at the top right, Bryant hammered it in to clinch the series at 2-0 with the win. Bryant controlled game 3 without much interference form Kirstin, whose struggles with offense continued. Bryant won early with a 4-9 combination to the top left, completing the 3-0 series sweep. Bryant hosts the Infinity Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman in the second round at this venue.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Whiskers v. Chicky Phil. The silver cue wraps up its 9-ball obligations in this penultimate series. Infinity's Whiskers made quick work of game 1, potting the 4 and 5 to the bottom right on the break. Pacific's Chicky Phil didn't produce any offense, and Whiskers won with the double-pot that saw the cue glance the 9 to the top side after sending the 2 around the table and into the top left. Whiskers leads the series 1-0. The Torpedoes' Whiskers played a much weaker game 2, giving up a three-ball run to the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil at one point. Neither player had control at the end until Whiskers put the 9 in the top right for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Whiskers had a good game 3 for the most part, but she didn't make the 8-9 combination from distance after Chicky Phil missed a bank combination of the same shot. Chicky Phil converted on his second try to get the win and make it a 2-1 series. Whiskers hosts Max in the second round at this venue.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. B. Chapman. The final series of the round is in 15-ball between these two veterans. Game 1 went about as well as expected, with both players seeing their frustrations simmer. Todavía's Bells had the better of play, but she couldn't close things out, and left the 15 for Victoria's Chapman to tap in for the win, giving the visitor a 1-0 series lead after a sloppy game. Game 2 started slowly, but broke open with a five-ball run by the Spurs' Chapman, which ended just after she made the 9-14-12-11 combination to the top right. The Stills' Bells immediately replied with a six-ball run-out, grabbing the win with the perfect response. The series is tied at 1, making the last game of the round meaningful. Game 3 saw both players put in competitive efforts, with Chapman producing some fear in Bells in her close calls with the 15. Bells ultimately won with a three-ball run-out after Chapman missed on the 12, and Bells took the series 2-1 with the performance. Bells will host Midland Predators captain Shawn in the second round.
That's all for this round. When we return on June 1, we begin the second round of the A-level. This means that we will be moving to five-game series, likely eight such series per day. In the next week or so, we'll have a lot more of cricket as we work through the midseason, and there should be a new schedule and new standings by the end of the night.
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