More than likely, this is not the last day of the round, but there is an outside chance we could play through 70 games today. Regardless of how it ends, we begin with...
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Nicole v. Ms. Kitty. The red cue is ready to go in leading us off with 7-ball today. Capital City's Nicole did make a ball on the break in game 1, but neither play was able to control the game. At the end, Nicole had a miss on the 6, and Pacific's Ms. Kitty made it on her second try before cutting the 7 to the bottom side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, both players had a three-ball run, with the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty seeing hers end on a failed jump shot and the Sharpshooters' Nicole losing hers on a miss on the 7. Ms. Kitty would corral the 7 on her second try, getting the win for a 2-0 series lead. Ms. Kitty had the first two and the last two balls in game 3, sandwiching her pairs of shots around a three-ball run from Nicole, who couldn't handle the 6 and 7 clustered together at the end of her run. Ms. Kitty pulled ahead 3-0 in the series. Game 4 saw Ms. Kitty crack a three-ball run from the break, but the 4 was too much for her, and Nicole took over for a four-ball run-out, picking up a well-earned win to cut the series to 3-1. Nicole also got the win in game 5, although it was a much less graceful process. No runs developed, but Nicole was able to get on the last ball after tense exchanges with Ms. Kitty to make it a 3-2 series. Ms. Kitty finally put the series away, cutting off a game 6 that could have dragged on had she not made the 2-7 combination to the top right to defeat Nicole and clinch the series at 4-2. Nicole picked up the win in game 7 when Ms. Kitty missed on the 6, allowing Nicole to take the last two balls after a sloppy finish. Ms. Kitty took the series 4-3, advancing to the Finals with a 17-10 record from the bracket. Nicole is the 113th player to be eliminated, and Ms. Kitty has her third kill of the year, a team kill on the Sharpshooters.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Sydney Sierota. Northeastern rivals clash in Accuracy, also using the red cue, with the chance of being interrupted for lunch. Everton's Puff III did well in game 1, keeping her missed shots to a minimum, although her late one caused the game to be tied. Harrison's Sydney forced Puff III onto the break in overtime, but Puff III made the 13, and Sydney missed her shot, so Puff III won 1-2 and took a 1-0 advantage in the series. Game 2 went a bit rougher on both sides, although more for the Specters' Sydney, who held a lead early in the game, but ended up with a steep loss. The Eagles' Puff III clamped down late in the game to emerge with a 3-5 win and a 2-0 lead in the series. Game 3 saw Puff III take the lead for most of the game as Sydney sputtered from the start. Sydney recovered as the play quality dropped late in the game, doing enough to force overtime, where Puff III's soft break failed, and Sydney easily made the 2 to win 5-6 to pull back into a 2-1 series. Sydney had a historically awful game 4, unable to make much of anything and only staying in the game due to Puff III sharing some of her struggles. When the dust settled, Puff III emerged with a 5-10 win, one of the highest-scoring Accuracy games ever, to take a 3-1 lead in the series even with her sloppy play. Things settled down in a much more reasonable game 5, as Puff III held the lead for most of the game again. Seeing a chance to strike late, Sydney did, but she couldn't hold onto her lead and settled for a tie heading into overtime. Puff III's close range break netted nothing, and Sydney made a shot on the 8 to the bottom left to win 3-4 and cut the series back to 3-2. Sydney took a stranglehold grip on game 6, not making anything on the break but holding a lead after Puff III missed on her first shot. Sydney wouldn't budge throughout the game, and Puff III slipped further behind, losing 0-3 as Sydney's win ties the series at 3. Game 7 wasn't always elegant, but Puff III staved off Sydney at the end, bending but not breaking as the hosts wins the game 4-5 to take the series 4-3. Puff III went 19-8 on the bracket in an impressive campaign. Sydney is the 114th player to be eliminated, and Puff III earned her first kill of the year en route to the Finals.
GE Stadium, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. Peach. Two Celebrity players tangle in 12-ball with the silver cue. Southridge's Debby had a strong start in game 1, quickly getting onto her last ball while North Modernistic's Peach left shots on the table. Debby illegally potted her last ball at the top side, and Peach erupted on a four-ball run-out from here, the quick play giving her the 1-0 series lead with the win. The Defenders' Debby made a quick attack in game 2, working a four-ball run on her first turn of the game. The Nighthawks' Peach made a few shots after this, but had a tough time getting positioning. Debby's slow performance was more patient, and it paid off, as she kicked the 6 to the bottom side to get position on the 3 at the top left for the win. Debby's strong game tied the series at 1. Peach quickly answered a pair of ball on the break by Debby with a pair of her own on the first turn in game 3. From here, Debby would have more trouble getting in position, having to settle for defense at the top left. Peach removed that defense forcibly, gambling that she'd get a chance to win anyway, and Peach was right, as she made her last two balls around Debby's lone remaining defender. Peach took the series lead at 2-1. Debby returned the favor with a sharp game 4 performance, quietly building her way to a successful outing. Peach struggled with her shots in this game, unable to find much in the way of positioning at all, and she had three balls on the table when Debby finally sent the 4 to the top left to win, retying the series at 2. Peach overcame a nice start from Debby to take an early lead in game 5, and found herself shooting her last ball relatively quickly. She narrowly missed a pair of tough-angle banks on the 12 toward the bottom side, and this allowed Debby some leeway to make a rally. Debby had the potential to win, but one of her shots drifted wide, halting a run. Debby wouldn't be able to finish the effort, missing once more to allow Peach a tap-in on her last ball for the win and a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 saw both players battle tightly for the chance to get a win. Peach started well, but couldn't connect on many of her later shots, leaving plenty on the table. Debby did a bit better to get in position late in the game, and she would pick up the narrow win, tying the series once more at 3. Debby broke the pattern just in time, grappling at the start of game 7 as she shot at stripes. Peach stuck with her fairly closely at first, but Debby got onto her last ball, and Peach's defense was not tight. Peach did get a chance for a run at the end, but she couldn't take the first ball, and Debby converted her final shot for the win and the 4-3 series. Debby went 16-11 on the bracket to get to the Finals. Peach is the 115th player knocked out this year, and Debby took her fourth kill of the year in the effort.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Ted. The red cue is back for a series of 10-ball. Web City's Ted had a decent effort in game 1, making an early run with a controversial shot on the 4 that was allowed to stand. Ted soon missed, and Pearl's Watermelon saw her offense come to life in a four-ball run-out, including a deflected shot off the 8 to pot the 10 at the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon took a stronger approach in a tougher game 2, and this coupled well for her combined with a massive downturn in shot quality from the Spiders' Ted. Most notable was Ted's miss on the 10 at the bottom side from short range, allowing Watermelon a tap-in for the win and 2-0 lead in the series. Watermelon made quick work of Ted in game 3, as the latter got called for illegally potting the 3 after a cluster-buster shot. With the cue out of position, she let Ted shoot again, and he fouled, gifting Watermelon possession to make the 1 and then the 2-10 combination for the win and a 3-0 advantage. Ted dominated possession in game 4, although some of it was illegal. On a five-ball run, Ted intentionally double-potted the 1 to the top left and the 6 to the bottom right, and then unexpectedly drove the 2 to the top right, with the 2-10-7 combination also going there off a bank. Ted would add a later three-ball run and a nice shot on the 10 for the win to make it a 3-1 series. Short runs were the theme in game 5, as Ted pieced together a three-ball run in the early going. Watermelon followed that up with short bursts, and Ted slipped off the pace a bit. Watermelon made the last three balls over two turns to get the win and clinch the series at 4-1. Ted felt fairly robbed at the end of game 6, as he overcame a slow start to rattle off a five-ball run, only to come up short on a bank attempt at the 10 toward the bottom right. Watermelon made the tap-in for the win to move her lead to 5-1. Ted couldn't get anything more out of his performance in game 7, battling with a three-ball run late in the game, only to miss the 9 and see Watermelon make the last two balls to get the win for a 6-1 series win. Watermelon's convincing effort gave her an 18-9 record on the bracket to reach the Finals. Ted is the 116th player to get eliminated this year, and Watermelon picked up her third kill of the year.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer v. Blizzard. The silver cue is ready to go in 8-ball, as these fiery competitors meet. Everton's Blizzard made an immediate impact in game 1, making a five-ball run on her first turn, and then a three-ball run-out when Terrace City's Jennifer couldn't answer the first run. Blizzard's burst of offense earned her a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Blizzard got another good start with a four-ball run, but the Knights' Jennifer had an easier time with defending her this time. Jennifer slowed Blizzard down late in the game, and then ripped off her own four-ball run-out in the end when Blizzard couldn't make contact on her final ball. Jennifer's smart plays helped her tie the series at 1 with her win. Game 3 saw Blizzard have more diminishing returns on her first run, although Jennifer didn't have the hottest start either. The players were just about even with each other going into their final turns, and Blizzard got a chance to win when Jennifer missed on the 8, but Blizzard scratched while potting the 8 to gift Jennifer a win and a 2-1 lead in the series. Blizzard saved her big offensive push for her second turn after exchanging shots with Jennifer early on. Blizzard made a five-ball run to take the lead, and Jennifer couldn't counter at all, allowing Blizzard to make the last two balls needed for her win, tying the series at 2 with the surge. Jennifer had a pair of three-ball runs in game 5 that paced her attack. The first was to establish offense and a lead over Blizzard in the game, and the latter capped that effort with a final surge to put Blizzard behind again as Jennifer holds a 3-2 series lead. Blizzard and Jennifer had another fast-paced but tense battle in game 6. This time, Blizzard pulled ahead, and Jennifer wanted to get on a run, but she couldn't make the 1-5 combination to the bottom right, and Blizzard made her last two shots to retie the series at 3. Jennifer had two early three-ball runs in game 7, quickly pressuring Blizzard. The visitor overcame the pressure, and after each player scratched, Blizzard was the first to get onto the 8. She would pot it a turn later for the win and a 4-3 series win. Blizzard went 17-10 on the bracket to reach the Finals. Jennifer exits as the 117th player eliminated this year, and Blizzard has her
Ebay Center, Queens: Violetta v. Pedey. More 8-ball is on the way, with this series featuring the blue cue. Queens' Violetta expected a bit more of herself at the start of game 1, but her shot let her down, and while Diamond's Pedey did have a scratch late in the game, Violetta couldn't take advantage. Pedey still potted the 8 after a slow game, winning for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Pedey struck first in game 2 as well, making a three-ball run. The Flames' Violetta did better after this opening salvo, but she couldn't quite piece it all together at the end, and Pedey came storming back with a three-ball run-out to grab the win and take a 2-0 series lead. Violetta didn't make a single ball in game 3, but that doesn't mean it didn't go well for her. Pedey worked on a four-ball run before a scratch to build a big lead, but Violetta left him with hardly any clear shot, and he kicked the 12-8 combination accidentally to the bottom side, the premature finish gifting a win to Violetta to make it a 2-1 series. Violetta had mostly free rein in game 4, as Pedey appeared a bit timid to shoot at all, let alone try risky shots around the 8 after his mishap in the previous game. This led to a patient but thorough victory for Violetta, who tied the series at 2 with the well-played win. Game 5 saw both players make a late surge, as Violetta had a four-ball run and Pedey answered it with a three-ball run near the end of the game. This brought them to the 8, where Pedey missed twice, the latter in embarrassing fashion, and Violetta converted on the second try for the win and a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 took another prolonged effort on both sides, as they allowed a cluster to grow just to the right of the top side. Neither of them were efficient in breaking it up, although Pedey picked up a lead just after the cluster broke apart. He couldn't make it stand, as Violetta rallied for a three-ball run-out with a blistering bank on the 5 out of minor frustration leading her to the win and the 4-2 series in her favor. Violetta started off pretty well in game 7, and Pedey followed suit, but their effortless runs didn't not sustain them up to the end. The final shots were frustrating and apathetic all at once, and it was Violetta who made the 8 but also scratched to give Pedey the win. Violetta took the series 4-3, and advances to the Finals with her 19-8 record on the bracket. Pedey is the 118th player out of the Tournament, and Violetta collected her second kill of the season.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Marsell. The silver cue comes on for a marquee 9-ball match in this round. Golden's Valencia made a nice break, potting the 8 on the opening shot, but her offense slipped a bit later in the game. Whitewater's Marsell had a four-ball run before Valencia scratched while shooting the 6, and Marsell used the ball-in-hand for a 7-9 combination to the bottom right for the win and his 1-0 lead in the series. The Shores' Marsell wasn't totally better in game 2, but the Pilots' Valencia had almost no offense at all this time. Marsell used a series of bursts and short runs to get through the game with relative ease as he moves ahead 2-0 in the series. Marsell looked at his best in game 3, not starting his run on the break but on his first turn after that, making eight in a row. Ironically, his best effort was the one that Valencia would win, as Marsell missed on the 9 and Valencia was there to pot it at the bottom right to cut the series to 2-1. Game 4 saw quite the battle ensue on the 1 after Valencia made the 3 on the break. Marsell eventually banked the 1 off of two rails to the top side, igniting his offense briefly. The players continued to have a chippy game, ending with Valencia breaking out on a three-ball run-out at the end after Marsell couldn't down the 6. Valencia's tight win tied the series at 2 despite her being outplayed for most of it. Game 5 produced an even effort on both sides, especially toward the end, where Valencia made a pair and Marsell came close before chipping his shot on the 9. Valencia tapped it in at the bottom right to win, pulling ahead at 3-2 in the series. Marsell and Valencia tangled again in a competitive game 6, with Valencia doing well early and adding a four-ball run near the end, but her miss on the 8 proved critical. Marsell stepped up to make the last two balls, retying the series at 3 to set up a decisive game. Game 7 started under the cloud of the Curse of the Broken Chalk, which struck Marsell this time. He took two balls on the break and had a fair share of possession, but missed on the 9 twice, as Valencia capitalized on the curse to win the series 4-3 after taking the 9 from ball-in-hand. Valencia went 17-10 on the bracket en route to the Finals. Marsell finds his strong campaign over as the 119th player out of the Tournament, and Valencia earned her second kill of the year.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Solaris. An all-Torpedoes series will see Infinity fans happy to send one player to the 10-ball Finals to represent the silver cue. Mr. Snowman had a good start to game 1, but that quickly faded, and tensions rose between the teammates. Solaris struggled throughout the game, but managed to capitalize on Mr. Snowman's miss on the 10 to give himself the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 saw a reversal of fortunes, as Solaris excelled this time with a couple of early runs, only to see his miss on the 10 punished. Mr. Snowman made the tap-in at the end of the game to get the win and put the players on a rightful 1-all tie. Solaris finally found a way to combine successful shooting and a positive result in game 3, getting two three-ball runs and then making the 10 late to top Mr. Snowman this time, giving Solaris the pivotal 2-1 series lead. Solaris had some regression to deal with in game 4, unable to play at the same pace as he had before. Mr. Snowman jumped on it with a three-ball run, but his beautiful two-rail kick on the 7 was illegally potted, and Solaris took over to shoot the 8. He converted, but couldn't make contact on the 10, and Mr. Snowman won from ball-in-hand, retying the series at 2 in the process. Solaris returned to his win-poaching ways in game 5, twice allowing Mr. Snowman to continue a deep run after illegally potted balls. Mr. Snowman's run crumbled at six shots, and he missed the 10 twice before Solaris buried it on his second try for the win, regaining the series lead again at 3-2. Solaris turned on the offense again for game 6, making an early three-ball run and continuing to own a dominant share of possession to the end of the game, giving Mr. Snowman no mercy on his shots. Solaris easily made the 10 when the time came, winning to secure the series at 4-2. Mr. Snowman did have a better performance in the cool-down game 7 effort, but that too went to waste with a miss on the 10 at the bottom side. Solaris cut it in and got the win for a 5-2 series win to cap a 20-7 bracket that will end in a Finals appearance. Mr. Snowman is the 120th player eliminated from the Tournament, and Solaris earned his second kill of the year.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Rosalina. A wily veteran and a desperate rookie clash in 15-ball with the blue cue. Maplewood's Diddley had most of the early offense, but Diamond's Rosalina fired back with a three-ball run. Diddley would take a late three-ball run, but the last two balls fell to Rosalina, who converted cleanly for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Rosalina didn't have much to be happy about early in game 2. The Lumberjacks' Diddley had a dominant possession strategy working to full excellence, until Rosalina's brilliant spinning kick on the 8 to the bottom right. Rosalina added a deflected shot on the 10 off the 11 to the top left, and she would pick up the 15 on a combination with the 12 a turn later to win for the 2-0 series lead. Rosalina had a better break in game 3, but not by a lot, and nothing like Diddley's in game 1. Rosalina struggled to get her offense going, but Diddley solved that problem for her by making the 15 rather accidentally on a contact play. The 15 fell in the top side, cutting the series to 2-1, still favoring Rosalina. Diddley had another good break, and a good offensive performance to support it. The game moved rather freely, and as good as Diddley was, he couldn't stop Rosalina from making a large portion of shots too. In the end, Diddley had a three-ball run that Rosalina countered with the last two balls, but her scratch while potting the 15 gave Diddley the win to tie the series again at 2. Diddley had an uncharacteristically poor break in game 5, leaving most of the rack in a cluster. He and Rosalina did well to pick shots off of the rack itself, and then Rosalina erupted at the finish with a seven-ball run-out to get the win. Her well-placed shots helped her to a 3-2 series lead. Diddley had to fight back against a pacey attack from Rosalina in game 6, as she could just about taste the series win. Rosalina's offense took a hit when Diddley disrupted her late attempt at a run, and he would make the last two balls to take the win himself in a hard-fought game that retied the series at 3. Diddley's miss on the 2 in game 7 would haunt him for the rest of the game, which was only two shots, as Rosalina made the 2 and then got an acceptable line on the 3-15 combination to the bottom right, which she sank for the win and the 4-3 series win. Rosalina punches one ticket to the Finals, going 17-10 on the bracket. Diddley will have to take solace in being the 121st player eliminated, going down as Rosalina's fifth and league-leading kill.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Shiny. One more series in the brackets is left, with the red cue playing 8-ball to wrap up this round. Web City's Shiny had a good start in game 1, but her lack of dominance allowed Atlantic's Isabella to get back into the game. Isabella had a chance on the 8 to end a three-ball run-out, but she called the top right and accidentally kicked it into the top left to drop the result. Shiny took the win for a 1-0 series lead with Isabella's gift. The Pirates' Isabella gradually pulled ahead again in game 2, with neither player showing much danger on their shots. The Spiders' Shiny refused to drop it, getting both players to scratch to slow the game further. Isabella got close to a win again, but Shiny made the last two shots for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Isabella did well to maintain a steady offense in the face of a seven-ball run by Shiny on her second turn of game 3. Isabella made an early pair to start off, and then added three-ball runs on the next two turns to get the win in a fast game, cutting the series to 2-1. Game 4 was a return to the slower pace of play on both sides, with Shiny getting just a bit better of possession than Isabella. They each had collateral damage shots, but Shiny pulled away from here to pick up the win for a 3-1 series advantage. Shiny had a rather poor game 5 effort on offense, most notably in the fact that Isabella made as many balls for Shiny as Shiny did. Isabella had the added bonus of making all of her own shots, and a patient build-up gave her the win to cut the series back to 3-2. Isabella wasn't as generous in game 6, and that was a good thing for her, because Shiny did well to drive possession. The two players exchanged runs pretty evenly throughout, with Isabella getting the last burst on a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 3. Game 7 wasn't all that tight at the start, with Isabella giving Shiny everything she could handle on a four-ball run. Isabella got onto the 8 before Shiny could pot a ball, but Shiny took over with defense, leaving Isabella no shot on the 8. Shiny eventually used a three-ball run-out to get the win and a 4-3 series win. Shiny went 19-8 on the bracket as she takes the last opening in the Finals with this win. Shiny also scored her third kill of the year, making Isabella the 122nd played eliminated.
That's all for this round. We begin the Finals on Monday with the preliminaries, and follow up on Thursday with the Championships, where the eight remaining players will head off to the Tournament of Champions, to be scheduled.
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