We're back for a shorter day of games today. Eight series will be played, amounting to 40 games. This will also be the case on Wednesday and Thursday to close out the round. We begin in...
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Sydney Sierota. The silver cue has quite the trip to start the day, beginning in 9-ball. Golden's Valencia did a great share of the work in game 1, making two balls on the break and then putting up a somewhat lucky six-ball run-out on her second turn after Harrison's Sydney couldn't find her shot. Valencia leads the series 1-0 with the good game. The Specters' Sydney had two shots near the 9, the first a missed 2-9 combination, and the second a missed contact on the 3 that led her to illegally pot the 9 and lose the game. The Pilots' Valencia didn't have to be good to win, moving ahead 2-0 in the series. Valencia made quick work again in game 3, capitalizing on one miss by Sydney to ignite a seven-ball run-out for the big win. Valencia's second-turn burst led her to clinch the series at 3-0 with the win. Valencia continued to dominate in possession and produce quick victories, needing three turns with the last two being three-ball runs in game 4. Sydney did get a couple of shots in, but she once again couldn't challenge Valencia, who now leads 4-0 in the series. Valencia didn't quite have the same authority in game 5, making a couple of short runs by scratching on the 7 to give Sydney ball-in-hand on the last two shots. Sydney converted for the consolation win in a 4-1 series loss to Valencia, which sees the host advance to host another series in the bracket quarterfinals.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Cobalt v. Boots. The silver cue heads north for a series of Rotation between a rookie and a veteran. Stonebridge's Cobalt started out alright in game 1, but Pearl's Boots stuck to him persistently in the early going, and then pulled ahead late, cruising on her route to an 8-3 win and a 1-0 series lead with the solid shooting from the visitor. The Wolves' Cobalt showed a different side of his game in game 2, making a five-ball run on his first turn. The Surfers' Boots really didn't have a response for this, and two turns later, Cobalt double-potted the 8 and 13 on a combination to the bottom left for the 8-2 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw the players go back and forth after a poor break by Cobalt, which did get him a ball. Boots took the lead from here, but Cobalt took it back on his next turn. Boots then used a four-ball run to get far ahead, but she couldn't close out the game, making just one ball sandwiched around five from Cobalt, who came all the way back to win 8-7 and go ahead 2-1 in the series. Cobalt had chipped his way to a big lead in game 4 after another lackluster break, but he couldn't make it hold up. Boots emerged in a big way with an eight-ball run-out, winning 8-5 in one fell swoop after getting a bit hard done earlier in the game. The series is tied at 2. Game 5 started with an even worse break from Boots, a returning problem for the silver cue. Cobalt picked up a lead in the middle of the game after Boots had starred at the start, but Boots rallied back to tie on one turn and win with a three-ball run-out on the next, for an 8-5 win. Boots took the series 3-2, and will travel to Amazon Field Exhibition Hall in Golden to face the Pilots' A. Charlton in the bracket quarterfinals. Cobalt is the 31st player to be eliminated from the Tournament, and Boots earned her second kill of the year.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Stephanie Livilotti v. Solaris. A pair of big-name rookies meet after the lunch break in 10-ball with the silver cue. Infinity's Solaris had a gritty game 1, battling very evenly with Southridge's Stephanie as both rookies struggled to find a run. Stephanie did have a late three-ball run, but she missed on the 10, and Solaris made it to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Solaris had a similarly slow start to game 2, but he recovered pretty well in the latter half of the game, working a five-ball run-out to shut down any hopes for a comeback from the Defenders' Stephanie. Solaris' surge gives him a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Solaris had a bad break and couldn't really piece his offense together. Stephanie didn't show a lot of promise for picking up the slack until Solaris missed a 6-10 combination to the top right. Stephanie tried the combination herself and converted for the win, cutting the series to 2-1. Solaris had an interesting strategy near the end of game 4 despite playing well in the first half of it. Stephanie had sank the 8 to an uncalled pocket, and Solaris let her continue her run despite having a decent look at the 9. Stephanie would make the last two balls to complete a five-ball run-out that tied the series at 2. The decision wouldn't haunt Solaris at all, as he took just one shot in game 5, a 1-8-10 combination to the top right, for the win and the 3-2 series win in a stunning finish to beat Stephanie. Solaris will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals after advancing.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli XCX v. Americus. The silver cue wraps up its opening binge with more 9-ball in this series. Atlantic's Americus seemed to have a clear edge in game 1, bringing a five-ball run onto her shot with the 9, which she left short. Tysini's Charli gladly picked up the scraps with a tap-in to the top right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Charli put on a bit more of a show in game 2, controlling the pace of play pretty well by herself. The Pirates' Americus tried to counter at times, but couldn't develop a run of any depth, and Charli picked up the last two shots on cuts for the win to move into a 2-0 series lead. Americus looked to be making a slight adjustment with good results early in game 3, but a miss on the 6 proved critical, as Charli stepped in with a four-ball run-out to take the win and clinch the series at 3-0. In game 4, Americus finally got the late run that she needed, capitalizing on a slow start by Charli as she assembled a six-ball run-out. Americus' strong burst gave her a win to cut the series to 3-1. Americus seemed to take some joy from that, keeping even with Charli before picking up a three-ball run in game 5, but she missed on the 9, and Charli tapped it in to win the game and take the series at 4-1. Charli heads off to Golden's Amazon Field Exhibition Hall to face the Pilots' Valencia in the bracket quarterfinals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Dusty. Two long-time stars meet up for 15-ball in the blue cue's only series of the day. Capital City's Sprinkles had a larger share of possession in game 1, greatly aided by a late four-ball run, but she didn't anticipate Golden's Dusty casually bouncing the cue off the 7 to take the 15 at the bottom right for a sneaky win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went at a slower pace as neither player could really find their shot. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles showed up well late, nearly double-potting the 10 and 15. The Pilots' Dusty couldn't get aligned on the 15, and Sprinkles made the last two balls for the win, tying the series at 1 in the process. Sprinkles thought game 3 would be easier than it was, as not many of her shots went quite as planned. Things were tougher for Dusty at first, who struggled with contact let alone sinking balls. Dusty recovered well to make it close at the finish, and even picked up the win when Sprinkles missed on the 15. Dusty's win on her second try at the 15 made it a 2-1 series lead for the visitor. Game 4 was another grinding game for both players, as runs proved hard to come by. Dusty had the upper hand for awhile, really pressuring Sprinkles until Dusty missed contact on the 13. Sprinkles made a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to get the win at that point, retying the series at 2. Sprinkles and Dusty combined for another tight game in game 5, with no clear advantage developing until Dusty's sublime 14-15 glancing bank combination to the bottom right gave her the win. Dusty took the tight series 3-2, advancing to the bracket quarterfinals, where a trip to Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center in Boston awaits as she is set to visit the Swifts' Gradley.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Paps v. Lexi. The red cue is up now, getting a chance to settle a series of 7-ball. Eastside's Paps carried a majority of possession, getting a ball on the break and a late three-ball run after a challenging first part of the game. Paps did leave the 7 short on the bottom right, and Harrison's Lexi tapped it in to steal the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the players make balls in pairs, as the Specters' Lexi took two on the break and two more late, just missing on the 7. The Sharks' Paps got a pair in the middle, and took the win late with a tap-in on the 7 to the top right to tie the series at 1 after each player had a moment of suspect finishing. Lexi bounced back readily enough in a very similar game 3. The shots didn't go down in pairs, but Paps had a chance at the end of the game and once again left it short. Lexi made a three-ball run-out of easy shots to get the win, moving back into the series lead at 2-1. Lexi probably should have emerged with the win in game 4, making a five-ball run once the offense started to pick up, but she scratched while potting the 6, giving Paps a free shot on the 7, which he made for the win to retie the series at 2. Paps had a good break in game 5, nearly making the 7, but its close proximity to the top left made it a target for Lexi, who would pot it on a 3-7 combination to win the game and the 3-2 series. Lexi is off to Central's Nestle's Warriors Hall in the bracket quarterfinals for a Northeast Divisional against the Warriors' Dustin.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Wario. A pair of Celebrity players go at it in 8-ball, also using the red cue. Harrison's Sydney picked up the win in game 1 after a scratch on the break, using a four-ball run and a three-ball run to pull back. Victoria's Wario challenged with a late four-ball run, but Sydney made the 8 on a tap-in to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Spurs' Wario was put behind early in game 2 when the Specters' Sydney made a five-ball run from the break, but Wario replied with a five-ball run of his own to put the pressure on the host. Sydney countered just fine with a three-ball run-out to get the win, moving to a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 saw Sydney go empty on the break, radically changing the course of the game. Wario established himself on the first turn, and while Sydney kept within striking distance, Wario had the right mix of offense and defense to earn the win himself, staying alive in the now 2-1 series. Wario showed off his powerful shot on the break in game 4, and he picked up a five-ball run from there. This sufficed to put Sydney under pressure until she made a six-ball run, which would have worked very well had she not scratched on the 12. Wario saw the 8 was just out of the kitchen and eligible for a direct shot, so he converted to the bottom side to win, tying the series at 2. Game 5 brought each player's strengths to the forefront, as Wario had a good break, but Sydney replied with a crafty six-ball run. Wario tried to counter, but Sydney defended well with only the 8 left on the table, and eventually she won when Wario missed contact on all of his remaining balls. Sydney took the series 3-2, advancing to visit her Northeastern rival in Web City's Home Depot Forum, the Spiders' Shiny, for a bracket quarterfinals series.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Lexi. The silver cue wraps up the day with 10-ball in the middle of the afternoon. Boston's Patches controlled the first couple of turns, but her 2-8-10 combination didn't go as planned, with the 2 going to the bottom right. Harrison's Lexi took over, making the 3 and then a deflection off the 4 to pot the 10 in the bottom left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Lexi maintained a clear edge in game 2, keeping the Swifts' Patches off-balance with positioning. Patches showed some real struggles, letting Lexi get the win even after the visitor missed the 10 on her first try. Lexi's second-chance shot went down for a win, giving her a 2-0 series lead. Patches was barely hanging on in a back-and-forth game 3, battling with Lexi all around the table, and it worked out, as Patches made her shot on the 10 after Lexi missed, giving Patches the win to cut the series to 2-1. Game 3 also featured some tense battles, with Patches initially showing renewed confidence with her defensive play, but withering when she missed a 5-10 bank combination attempt. Lexi took over from here, answering with her own three-ball run-out to win, securing the series at 3-1 as well. Lexi dominated in possession in game 5, keeping Patches at bay early on before unleashing a five-ball run-out to finish in another win. Lexi took the series 4-1, earning a trip to Kraft Forum in Royal to take on Crowns rookie Hannah in the bracket quarterfinals. Patches finds herself as the 32nd player eliminated from the Tournament, while Lexi joins the league lead in kills at 2.
That's all for today. We've got two more days just like this planned for the rest of the round before taking a short bit of time off.
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