Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Nikolai. The silver cue is up to lead off the round between these Eastern Hills rivals in Accuracy. Diamond's Citrus had a good break in game 1, and it appeared the game would go well, but both players struggled with medium to long-range shots. Freedom's Nikolai missed his last three shots, allowing Citrus to hold on for a sloppy 4-7 win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai had a much better performance in game 2, while the Gems' Citrus made a bad habit of under-hitting her shots. Nikolai exploited this well, leaving her with longer tries, and he would easily win 0-6 to tie the series at 1 in a dominant effort. Citrus couldn't gain any control early in game 3, allowing Nikolai to pace the play again. Citrus had a brief chance to strike late, but wasted it, and while Nikolai wasn't perfect, his 1-4 win gave him a 2-1 series lead. Citrus kept her hopes for the series alive in game 4, overcoming a slow start to watch Nikolai implode in the later stages. Nikolai's spate of misses ruined his recent form, and Citrus earned the 4-8 win to retie the series at 2. Citrus avoided a meltdown in game 5, keeping pace with Nikolai throughout the challenging battle. At the end, Citrus made the last ball of regulation to force overtime, where Nikolai missed on the break and Citrus buried the 14 to the top right to win 2-3 in the game and 3-2 in the series. Citrus will host her bracket semifinals series as she advances once again. Nikolai finds himself out of the Tournament now, the 37th player eliminated and Citrus' second knockout.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Roxy. The silver cue remains in action as 15-ball is the second series to be played. Royal's Nightfur didn't have the time to play poorly in game 1, getting a few shots in but ultimately falling to Freedom's Roxy. The visitor made an early three-ball run, and then a 5-15 combination to the top right after Nightfur's weak attempt at the same shot. Roxy leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Nightfur showed much better in game 2, with significantly more command on her shots. The Cascades' Roxy also slipped a bit with her quality of the play, a mix that led to Nightfur getting lined up for the 8-15 combination to the bottom side, which she made to win the game and tie the series at 1. Nightfur had a strong game 3, but she still had to fend off quite the attack from Roxy, who pushed throughout the game to keep possession even. Roxy made a late four-ball run, but couldn't get the 15 on target, and Nightfur cleaned it up on a straight shot for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Nightfur instantly regretted her scratch on the break of game 4, and Roxy made sure to convert her chance, making the 1 around the 12 to the top right and the 2-15 combination through traffic to the bottom side for the equalizing win as the series moves to a 2-all tie. Roxy tried a lot of creative play in game 5, making a couple of interesting combinations and kicks, but Nightfur picked up the pace late in the game with a four-ball run and eight balls on three turns to get the win. Nightfur took the series 3-2 to advance into the bracket semifinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Kirstin v. Mr. Snowman. The silver cue gets another series after lunch, in this 10-ball match. Everton's Kirstin started with a good pace in game 1, including a three-ball run, but Infinity's Mr. Snowman fired back with a four-ball run and then the 10 at the bottom right on his second try after Kirstin's missed bank. Mr. Snowman's hot finish earned him a 1-0 series lead with his win. The Eagles' Kirstin pulled off a remarkable run in game 2 after the Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman failed to grab control again. Kirstin made a seven-ball run-out to get the win, with excellent placement and positioning helping her to the win to tie the series at 1. Neither player had control in game 3, combining for a back-and-forth battle on short runs that saw Kirstin get the win with a three-ball run-out in the end. This gave her a 2-1 series lead despite the strong challenge from Mr. Snowman. Kirstin had a decent chance in game 4 to put the series away after a more difficult battle, but she missed the 10 wide at the bottom right. Mr. Snowman made it on his next turn to take a well-earned win and tie the series at 2 to set up a decisive finale. Game 5 saw a more steep drop in play quality with a slow start and a lazy finish, especially for Kirstin, who let Mr. Snowman have one too many shots. Mr. Snowman snagged the 10 at the end for the win and a 3-2 series lead to pave his way to the bracket semifinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Dani. The blue cue gets the first of two appearances today in 9-ball. Pronger's Precious had a good start in game 1, attacking with pace and getting a good break early on. Web City's Dani just stepped up in the big moments, striking better from distance and slightly off-center angles to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Dani had a four-ball run on the break in game 2, but while she dominated possession, she just left the 9 at the top right near the end of the game. The Tridents' Precious didn't get many shots this game, but she buried this one to get the win and tie the series at 1. Precious made an error on her second shot of game 3, kicking the 5 directly to the top side instead of hitting the 1. Dani pounced on the chance, potting the 1 from ball-in-hand and getting position to make the 2-9 combination to the bottom right for the win, which went successfully to give the visitor the 2-1 series lead. Dani dominated possession in game 4, making two balls from the break before a scratch. Precious tried to emulate Dani's game 3 effort, but missed on the 2, and Dani executed a seven-ball run-out from there, her expert positioning earning her the win and the series at 3-1. Precious fired back in game 5, waiting for Dani to slip up before making the 1 and then the 2-9 combination to the bottom right for the win. Precious' win made it a 3-2 series win for Dani, who will host a series in the bracket semifinals at Home Depot Forum in Web City. Precious finds herself as the 38th player eliminated from the Tournament, and Dani has her first kill of the year.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Salmo. The blue cue stays in action with Rotation up next, its last series today. Maplewood's Bryant had a strong game 1, getting off to a solid start against Lighton's Salmo initially. Bryant broke away after each player made a pair of balls, with Bryant's five-ball run the highlight of his 8-2 win. Bryant leads the series 1-0. The Lumberjacks' Bryant played well again in game 2, splitting his offense primarily between two big three-ball runs to establish a lead. The Prestige's Salmo answered the first run, but couldn't pull even after the second one, and Bryant cruised to an 8-3 win to take a 2-0 series lead. Bryant again started well in game 3, and again Salmo had one burst to catch up. Bryant pulled away this time on a four-ball run, making the 4-6 combination as a double-pot with the 6 in the top right and the 4 in the top side. Bryant ended the game with an 8-3 win, clinching the series firmly at 3-0. Bryant made the best of a bad break in game 4, picking up a three-ball run. Salmo made sure this wouldn't last, canceling it out over a few turns, but instead of fading, Salmo continued until he had an 8-6 win on a four-ball run-out, including some good positioning to keep the turn going. Bryant now has a 3-1 series lead. Bryant held off Salmo a bit better after Salmo had a decent game 5 break. Bryant's early run was stymied a bit, but he persisted over the middle and emerged with an 8-4 win to take the series at 4-1. Bryant has earned a trip to the bracket semifinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Puff II. Big names meet in 10-ball as the red cue gets started for the day. Pearl's Watermelon didn't get the best break in game 1, and it slowed the pace of play for both sides. Boston's Puff II had the advantage, but couldn't convert on the 10 late in the game, and Watermelon tapped it in at the bottom left to win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went even more slowly, with neither player having much of a convincing argument for the game. The Swifts' Puff II had a good effort near the end with her three-ball run, but she let the 10 slip away with a miss, and the Surfers' Watermelon struck it to the bottom right to win again, giving herself a 2-0 series lead. Watermelon finally had a good break in game 3, but she didn't get to see the benefit of it. After illegally hitting the 5 instead of the 3, Puff II took over with ball-in-hand to make the 3 and then drive the cue off the 4 for the 6-10 combination in the top right for the win. Watermelon's series lead now stands at 2-1. Watermelon had a majority of the play in game 4, after Puff II couldn't get going from her break. Watermelon held control over the middle, and added a late three-ball run, but she missed the 10 twice, and Puff II tapped it in on her second try to win, tying the series at 2 with the desperate final shot. Game 5 saw each player have a fair share of possession. Puff II again had a prime chance to win it in the end, but she scratched while missing the 10, giving Watermelon ball-in-hand for the easy clinching shot. Watermelon's 3-2 series win assures that she will be home in the bracket semifinals for another series.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Nicole. The silver cue is back to end its day in 12-ball between these players in new places. Whitewater's Shaggy had almost too good of a break in game 1, as she gave a wild-card ball to Capital City's Nicole. The two players tangled for most of the game, but Shaggy beat Nicole at the bottom left to grab the win despite the disadvantage. Shaggy leads the series 1-0. The Shores' Shaggy had a cleaner break in game 2, but that didn't help her too much. The Sharpshooters' Nicole was on a run when she realized she had double-potted to the top side. The penalty flipped the game, allowing Shaggy to make a four-ball run that would have won the game had she not scratch. Shaggy persisted, getting just enough time to make her last ball for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Shaggy had quite the battle on her hand in game 3, as she had the scoring advantage, but Nicole challenged her with a defensive stance. Over time, Shaggy removed both defensive chokepoints, and Nicole couldn't hold up after a scratch, allowing Shaggy to make her last ball for the win and the series at 3-0. Nicole failed to cash in on a wild-card ball Shaggy surrendered late in game 4. Shaggy's shot was a collateral damage play to get good positioning for herself, and while the game came down to the wire, Shaggy was just a touch quicker to get the win and a 4-0 series lead. Nicole finally made an impact in game 5, striking with a five-ball run that nearly made all six except for the just-wide bank on the 5 to the bottom side. Shaggy couldn't make her last two shots, and Nicole cut the 5 in for the win to make it a 4-1 series. Shaggy is off to the bracket semifinals after a dominant series.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Violetta. A star in the making takes on an established superstar as the red cue returns in 12-ball. Lighton's Spirit didn't have the best of breaks in game 1, but Queens' Violetta had a little too much eagerness and scratched as she picked her suit. Spirit later gave Violetta a wild-card ball, but managed to hold on for the win anyway, as Spirit holds a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit showed a bit of a more dominant side in game 2, making a ball on the break and then pulling off a remarkable five-ball run-out a couple of turns later after the Flames' Violetta had gotten a couple more balls off the table. Spirit's big run helped her win again for a 2-0 series lead. Spirit had another good break in game 3, but it proved to be far more helpful for Violetta than herself. Violetta had a three-ball run on her first turn, then made the 10 to the bottom right on her second to get close to a win. Spirit was still sputtering as Violetta softly kicked the 12 to the top right and sent the 9 to the top left for a well-played win to cut the series to 2-1. Violetta made a ball on the break in game 4, but she struggled to get anything out of the rack half of the table. Meanwhile, Spirit had a couple of turns to set up what became an insane six-ball run-out. Most impressive was the shot to the top left that bounced off both sides of the bottom side before giving her position on the 6 for the fifth shot. Spirit's star-confirming run clinched the series for her at 3-1. Game 5 saw a lull in the pace of play after two fiery games before. Spirit had trouble getting in position, and while Violetta wasn't fast, she did enough to earn the win. Spirit did take the series 3-2, earning a chance to host a bracket semifinal series.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Wings. The red cue stays in action for this series, with 9-ball between veterans. Pearl's Wings got outplayed for much of game 1 against Archtown's Dusky, who had six of the first seven balls potted, but Dusky missed on the 8, and Wings went for the simple shots on it and the 9 to get the win. Wings' smart play gave him a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 came out to a bit of a lazy start on both sides, with a bit of illegal contact mixed in. The Surfers' Wings appeared to figure things out, but his miss on the 5 opened the door for the Arrows' Dusky, who locked her shot in for a five-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 with the impressive stretch of play. Dusky did her best to keep up in game 3, and it worked in a tough start to the game, but Wings took over when he had a three-ball run. Dusky had a couple more turns, but she couldn't get a shot to fall, and Wings picked his way to the win and a 2-1 series lead in an unconvincing manner. Wings had the upper hand for much of game 4, getting an early run and pushing Dusky around the table. Things changed when Dusky just missed on the 6, as she left Wings with little room to make the 9. He failed to convert, and Dusky got the win to tie the series at 2. Wings did everything he could in game 5 to win, working a seven-ball run, but he didn't get another turn, as Dusky made the 8 and 9 to steal the win and a 3-2 series win with one fateful turn. Dusky advances to the bracket semifinals, where she will host another series.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Ms. Puppy. The final series today sees a former captain host a current one in 7-ball with the red cue. Game 1 saw Pearl's Boots make one ball on the break and two more at the end to counter a three-ball run in the middle by Modernistic's Ms. Puppy, who was a bit frustrated to see Boots earn the win and a 1-0 series lead in such a manner. The Surfers' Boots couldn't take anything on the break in game 2, a fact that became detrimental just a shot later. The Union's Ms. Puppy popped up with a 1-7 combination that bounced off the 2 and took the 7 into the bottom right for a quick win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw both players back off the frenetic pace they had gone at so far. Ms. Puppy had trouble connecting on her shots, and Boots also struggled at first before a three-ball run got her going. Ms. Puppy did get a chance on the 7, but she left it short, and Boots buried it for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Ms. Puppy had half a chance to get game 4 after struggling in the early stages, but she once again just missed on the 7. Boots was true on her shot for the win, a rightfully deserved win that clinched the series for her at 3-1. Game 5 saw Boots dominate possession again, but all that went to waste when her three-ball run ended and Ms. Puppy took the chance to make the 7 instead. Ms. Puppy's tap-in gave Boots the 3-2 series win, and she will be the host of her bracket semifinal series.
That's all for today's 50 games. We'll likely produce that much tomorrow as well. Cricket will be on Twitter
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