Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Chris. The red cue will feature heavily today, beginning with this 8-ball series between Southwestern rivals. Capital City's Chris had a hotter start and a better finish than Swordpoint's Bandit, who had a modest run in the middle of the game but couldn't stop Chris' five-ball run-out. Chris ended by banking the 8 to the top left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Sharpshooters' Chris have a good break and develop a couple of short runs. The Blades' Bandit started more cautiously, but a four-ball run put him level with Chris. Bandit needed only two more turns, blowing by Chris to get the win and tie the series at 1. Chris was able to lock in his shot a bit better late in game 3, after an early lead evaporated to a surge from Bandit. In the end, Chris just had better position, beating Bandit to regain the series lead at 2-1. Chris had a stunner of a game 4, winning on the break as he drained the 8 to the bottom right, alongside the 2 in the top side. Chris was shocked, but not more than Bandit, who was on the losing end of the quick game. Chris clinched the series at 3-1 with the highlight play. This proved to be a critical moment for Chris, as he fought hard in game 5, but his late three-ball run with a miss on the 8 wouldn't hold against Bandit's four-ball run-out for the win. Chris still took the series 3-2, and he will host a bracket quarterfinals series for his efforts.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Twinkie III. The red cue stays up for a series of Rotation between former teammates. Terrace City's Jennifer got this Urban Divisional started with some nifty deflection plays in game 1, but she couldn't maintain the lead later on, and Whitewater's Twinkie III soared ahead, finishing on a three-ball run-out to win 8-5. Twinkie III leads the series 1-0. The Shores' Twinkie III dominated in game 2, getting a pair of three-ball runs to defeat the Knights' Jennifer 8-0. The latter of these runs featured a kick on the 7 that turned into a combination when it drove the 12 into the bottom side, and it left position on the 7 for the clinching shot that gave Twinkie III a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went for Twinkie III as well, as she mixed in strong shooting with a hefty portion of defense, successfully frustrating Jennifer. Twinkie III picked up an 8-2 win with the 9-12 combination to the top right, enough to secure the series at 3-0. Jennifer finally showed up to the series in game 4, turning the defensive play to work against Twinkie III. This strategy helped Jennifer take a calm path to an 8-3 win, without Twinkie III providing much of a challenge as the series moved to 3-1. Game 5 acted as a reprise of game 1, with Jennifer bursting out for a nice lead and Twinkie III slowly breaking it down. Jennifer saw most of her effort benefit Twinkie III, especially on the ending four-ball run-out that gave Twinkie III and 8-5 win. Twinkie III won the series 4-1, and will travel again for the bracket quarterfinals.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Nibbles v. Sugar. After lunch, 8-ball is on deck with the red cue playing again. Harrison's Sugar had the better of play in game 1, getting an early burst to go ahead of Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles, and then Sugar made a five-ball run-out in the end from ball-in-hand to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went a bit differently, as the Specters' Sugar had a lackluster break, and the Meteors' Nibbles took advantage early on. Sugar replied with a five-ball run, but she couldn't make a secondary attack before Nibbles did a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 successfully captured the essence of the back-and-forth series, as Nibbles started off well but couldn't hold on. Sugar and Nibbles traded runs in the middle of the game, but Sugar prevailed with a four-ball run-out at the end, going ahead 2-1 in the series. Sugar had another hot start in game 4, but Nibbles played excellent defense late in the game, keeping Sugar from getting a clear shot on the 8. Nibbles then took over with ball-in-hand and worked a four-ball run-out, winning the game to retie the series at 2. Game 5 saw big runs, with Sugar making a six-ball run on her first turn, and Nibbles answered with a five-ball run for a close finish. Sugar slammed the door by making the last two balls for the win, and a 3-2 series win. Sugar will be on the road again for her bracket quarterfinals series.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Sweetheart. The red cue wraps up its opening run today in 15-ball. Terrace City's Kiwi had an excellent game 1, going on at least three significant runs, but it was her scratch on the 14 that set things in motion for Boston's Sweetheart, who won by making the 15 from ball-in-hand. Sweetheart leads the series 1-0. The Swifts' Sweetheart brought game 2 to an early end, a somewhat surprising result even as she had the better of play early on. Sweetheart got around the Knights' Kiwi this time by making the 3 and 4, and she had position to make the 15 after deflecting the cue off the 5. She did so with the 15 dropping in the top side for the win, giving her a 2-0 series lead. Kiwi put up much more of a fight in game 3, a tightly contested battle with Sweetheart due to a poor break that left a large cluster on the right side of the table. Eventually, the cluster separated, and Sweetheart fell into a similar shot from her winner in game 2, glancing the cue off the 8 to make the 15 in the bottom side. This provided Sweetheart with the series-clinching win as she took a 3-0 lead. Game 4 went more favorably for Kiwi in the early part, as she carved out a nice chunk of possession against Sweetheart. Kiwi had a long finishing run lined up, but misses on the 11 and 14 threw her off, and Sweetheart made the last two balls to win, giving her a 4-0 series lead. Game 5 was more of a process game than anything else, with the players not going at full speed. Sweetheart still came out on top with a four-ball run-out in the end, sweeping Kiwi 5-0. Sweetheart will travel to Starbucks Arena in Archtown in the bracket quarterfinals to face the Arrows' Sleepy B.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Whiskers v. Max. Two veterans from the same club meet as the silver cue comes on for 9-ball. Queens' Max made the most of his shots in game 1, getting good play early and late in the game. Infinity's Whiskers made a counterattack in the middle, but Max shut the door with a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a lot more choppy for both players. The Flames' Max seemed to get better possession, but put most of it to waste, none more so than his miss on the 9 that allowed the Torpedoes' Whiskers to win the game on a tap-in, tying the series at 1. Game 3 went just as poorly, and even more so with tensions rising at the middle of the game. Whiskers was particularly frustrated, as she wasted a ball-in-hand, and once she got going, she missed on the 9 at the bottom right, allowing Max to tap it in and regain the series lead at 2-1. Game 4 saw a bit of a return for quality play, as Max had some nice shots early on. It was Whiskers who would benefit most, as she found a four-ball run-out in the end to take the win and tie the series again at 2. Max did just enough to separate himself from Whiskers at the end of a close game 5. Max made a three-ball run-out to keep Whiskers from getting onto the 9, and Max won the series 3-2 with the play. Max will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Spot. The red cue is back for 12-ball this time, as a star takes on a rookie. Lighton's Spirit gave away a wild-card ball on the break, although Pronger's spot eventually gave it back. Spirit would surrender the wild-card ball again, and then play defense, showing great poise and patience to hold off Spot in a difficult and tedious exchange before Spirit made her last two balls to win and take a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit kept game 2 far more simple, needing only three turns to win. The first turn was a sturdy break, the second featured a big four-ball run, and the third potted the last two balls, shutting out the Tridents' Spot as Spirit took a 2-0 series lead with a dominant outing. Spot tried to mimic Spirit in game 3, a good strategy that he executed nearly identically to how she did before. Spot had a four-ball run at one point, and when Spirit collapsed into a defensive shell, Spot stayed patient, breaking her down at the top right to get his win and cut the series to 2-1. Game 4 saw an unexpected twist, as Spirit seemed to play well early on, and even got a wild-card ball from Spot, but Spot was resilient. He made a three-ball run to pull ahead, and then evaded Spirit's defense to pick up the win with his last shot at the top left, tying the series at 2. Spirit played a smart game 5, getting her shots aligned early on, and Spot couldn't quite keep up with her, so Spirit cruised to the win and a 3-2 series win. Spirit will host the Queens Flames rookie Violetta in the bracket quarterfinals at this venue.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Marsell. One of the league's best players meets one of it's rising stars in Accuracy with the red cue. Everton's Puff III had only one stain on her otherwise excellent game, a scratch after making a ball that saw the cue drift to the top side. Whitewater's Marsell was unprepared from the start, and Puff III won 1-3 for a 1-0 series lead in a dominant opener. The Eagles' Puff III looked to make another run at perfection in game 2, but a late miss ruined that chance. However, on the next shot, the Shores' Marsell made a combination but also scratched, putting him behind at the worst time. Puff III took care of business to win 1-2, earning a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Puff III experienced being behind for the first time in the series. Marsell held a lead for much of the game, but he missed on a tough shot to drop into a tie, and then Puff III induced another miss from Marsell. Puff III's savvy late shooting earned her the 2-3 win and clinched the series at 3-0. Marsell showed up very strong in game 4, nearly on the verge of perfection himself this time. A late scratch by Marsell forced overtime, but he made a ball on the break, putting Puff III on the defensive. She parried two attacks, but couldn't convert again, and Marsell won 1-2 to make it a 3-1 series. Game 5 also went to Marsell, who held an early lead but twice allowed Puff III to pull even, before her late miss put the game away for good. Marsell won the game 2-3, but Puff III took the series 3-2, and will visit UPS Hall in Maplewood to face the Lumberjacks' Bryant in the bracket quarterfinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sleepy B. v. Goldy. The blue cue comes on for 8-ball in this big-name Northeast Divisional. Archtown's Sleepy B. had a dominant game 1 against Everton's Goldy, who never really got going herself. Sleepy B.'s second turn was a four-ball run, and she followed that with her last two shots on the next turn for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sleepy B. made a hard charge at the end of game 2 in response to a four-ball run by the Eagles' Goldy, but Sleepy B. left the 8 standing. What ensued was a battle of wills, as Goldy pinned a ball on the 8 and tapped both closer to the bottom right, while Sleepy B. wasted early chances to get around the defense. At the end, Sleepy B. put the 8 in on illegal contact, losing to the best defensive effort ever from Goldy, who tied the series at 1 with the effort. Goldy showed off her offensive skills in game 3, making a six-ball run from the break that left Sleepy B. scrambling. Goldy didn't quite shut things down immediately afterward, but Sleepy B.'s defense didn't stop Goldy in the end, as she won again for a 2-1 series lead. Sleepy B. had a hot start in game 4, but she couldn't support it to the end. Goldy came on strong and wouldn't go away, ending the game with a three-ball run-out that had a bank on the 8 to the bottom right. Goldy clinched the series at 3-1 with the performance. Goldy had to put on quite the rally to get the game 5 win, as Sleepy B. had held her at bay for quite awhile. Goldy charged back with a five-ball run, and made the 8 on her next turn to win the game and a 4-1 series. Goldy will be on the road for the bracket quarterfinals.
That's all for today. Sunday will see the resumption of pool activity. No Cricket tonight either, with Week 22 set to begin tomorrow in the morning or afternoon live on Twitter
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