The Fourth Round is ready to go, as the bracket semifinals begin a 7 or 8 day adventure today. We're aiming for 42 to 49 games per day, and these are now 7-game series for the next two rounds. We begin with...
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Nicole v. Dustin. The red cue leads off in 7-ball for the first seven-game set of the Tournament. Capital City's Nicole had a good three-ball run at the start of game 1, but she couldn't follow it up at all later on. Central's Dustin looked shaky at the start of the game, but it would be Nicole missing the 7 at the top side that allowed Dustin to make it in the bottom left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Dustin showed a bit more improvement in game 2, making a ball on the break, adding a four-ball run over the middle, and then capitalizing on a miss on the 7 by the Sharpshooters' Nicole. Dustin tapped in the last shot for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Nicole didn't let Dustin pull away completely in game 3, as Dustin had a three-ball run that ended with a narrow miss on the 4. Nicole shot right back with a four-ball run-out, including a 5-6 combination, to get the win and make it a 2-1 series. Game 4 saw Dustin return to a position of strength throughout most of the game, holding a large share of possession, but it didn't correct his miss on the 7 at the bottom right, which Nicole tapped in to tie the series at 2. Game 5 saw Nicole nearly make the 7 on the break, as it just rattled out of the top left. Dustin charged back a couple of times, but a scratch on his kick attempt at the 6 stalled him. Nicole missed on the 7 once, but she wouldn't miss twice, burying Dustin's errant bank on the 7 to the bottom left for the win. Nicole leads the series 3-2 now. Nicole didn't have a great break in game 6, making it a very favorable outing for Dustin. He blasted the 1 to the top side on a kick, and then made a five-ball run-out a couple of turns later to retie the series at 3 games apiece. Dustin again had a nice share of possession with a four-ball run in game 7, but he couldn't make it stand with his miss on the 6. Nicole struck for the last two shots to take the game and a 4-3 series win. Nicole punched her ticket to the bracket finals with the win.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Pedey. The red cue stays in action for a series wrapped around the lunch break in 10-ball. Diamond's Pedey had a slight edge in play in game 1, stringing his shots together better and avoiding a late error, unlike Pearl's Watermelon, who missed contact with the 9. This set Pedey up for the last two shots from ball-in-hand, and he won for a 1-0 lead in the series. The Gems' Pedey didn't have as nice of a game 2, while the Surfers' Watermelon had a pair of three-ball runs. Watermelon just couldn't get a clean shot on the 10, and Pedey made it after Watermelon's desperate bank attempt, giving him a 2-0 series lead. Pedey made the 2 on the break of game 3, but that would be his only success. Watermelon struck in the 1, and then managed to make Pedey miss contact after Watermelon missed the 3-10 combination to the top right. Pedey's error allowed Watermelon to take the obvious 3-10 combination for the win on her second try, and she cut the series to 2-1. Watermelon struck quickly again in game 4, making the 2-10 combination to the top right on her second turn after making the 1. Pedey didn't have time to react or play defense, allowing Watermelon to tie the series at 2. Watermelon and Pedey battled evenly in game 5, each making a three-ball run as part of their attacks. Pedey had a chance on the 10 that he couldn't quite convert, leaving it to Watermelon, who made it to take a 3-2 series lead. Watermelon had a bit of a slow performance in game 6, not getting anything on the break and finding runs difficult. Pedey illegally potted the 5, and Watermelon elected to take possession, but her shot on the 6 left her snookered. She missed contact on the 7, and Pedey jumped up for a three-ball run-out, retying the series at 3. Pedey put up quite the challenge in game 7, but it wouldn't work for him in the end, as his missed contact on the 6 paved the way for Watermelon to execute a four-ball run-out for the win. Watermelon claimed the series 4-3, and will host her series in the bracket finals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Misty. Two competitive veterans keep the 10-ball coming with the silver cue in its only series today. Infinity's Mr. Snowman had a good break to start the series in game 1, but he lacked offense after that point. Westside's Misty also started a bit slow, but she picked up the pace at the end, making a well-played five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman picked up some of the slack in game 2 as the Rockers' Misty had scratches and misses all around. Mr. Snowman's first turn was a three-ball run, and he made the last two shots as well to get the win and tie the series at 1. Misty had the first shot potted in game 3 after a weaker break from Mr. Snowman, but he quickly busted a cluster. This would be critical late, as Mr. Snowman had a three-ball run before missing the 9. Misty had a chance on it, but it wouldn't fall for her, and Mr. Snowman took the win with the last two shots for a 2-1 series lead. Mr. Snowman improved his breaking posture, leading to a much more open game 4, which saw Misty control most of the middle of the game, but Mr. Snowman popped up on a three-ball run-out in the end. He had to bank the 9 after leaving himself in bad position, but he then struck the 10 to the top left for the win and a 3-1 advantage in the series. Mr. Snowman had a very good chance to get the win in game 5, after Misty saw a three-ball run come up short, but Mr. Snowman missed on the 10 at the bottom right. Misty made the tap-in to steal the win, pulling back to a 3-2 series deficit. Mr. Snowman made amends for his mistake in a similar game 6 effort. Misty had a couple of nice runs, with a three-ball run near the end as her highlight, but Mr. Snowman capitalized when she missed the 8, taking it and the 10 for himself in the win that clinched the series for him at 4-2. Mr. Snowman had game 7 in his hands after an early four-ball run, and Misty had little ability to catch up, but Mr. Snowman's later attempts at a run crumbled, and Misty finished the game for the win. Mr. Snowman took the series 4-3, advancing to the bracket finals. Misty is the 74th player eliminated, and the first in this round, while Mr. Snowman takes his first kill of the season.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Neopolitan. The blue cue comes on for some 7-ball in this series. Central's Twilight kept her efforts in game 1 brutally efficient, taking the win on the break with the 5 in the top left and the 7 in the top side. Pearl's Neopolitan is down 1-0 in the series without taking a single shot yet. The Warriors' Twilight showed off her long-term skills as well in game 2, starting slowly at first but eventually finding a groove after the Surfers' Neopolitan missed on the 2. Twilight submitted a six-ball run-out to the pleasure of her home crowd to gain a 2-0 series lead. Twilight again shut out Neopolitan in game 3, making the 1 just barely on the break, then cutting the 2 to the bottom right, and pulling off a double-pot of world-class quality. Twilight poked the 3 to the top right, drilling the 4 off the left rail, and then with a glance off the cue again, the 4 put the 7 into the top right as well to make it a 3-0 series lead. Neopolitan actually had a majority share of the possession in game 4, but she made a mistake in leaving the 7 up after missing it on a long cut shot. Twilight recovered from the rough game to tap the 7 in, securing the series at 4-0 for herself. Neopolitan had about one second of joy in game 5, as she made a tough cut on the 2-7 combination to the bottom right, but the cue caromed into the top side for a scratch, giving the win to Twilight, who received the gift as a 5-0 series lead. Neopolitan again held a possession edge in game 6, but much like game 4, Neopolitan couldn't corral the 7 at the top left near the end of the game. The cut she missed was longer this time, but Twilight came in and tapped the 7 in anyway to get the win and a huge 6-0 lead in the series. Neopolitan pulled off an epic run in game 7, going start to finish in one turn after Twilight had nothing on her break. Neopolitan's seven-ball run-out prevented a sweep, but Twilight still advances to host the bracket final series with a 6-1 win here. Neopolitan's brutal defeat makes her the 75th player eliminated, and Twilight is now responsible for two such exits.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Shaggy. Staying in the Northeast, the red cue comes back in action for Accuracy. Whitewater's Shaggy showed a great poise on her turns, keeping Everton's Puff III at bay for almost the whole game. Shaggy only missed once, which Puff III quickly matched, and Shaggy was able to coast to a 1-5 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy tried to keep her pace in game 2, but she twice negated her own lead immediately after misses from the Eagles' Puff III. The second of these instances came on a scratch, and Puff III made her next two shots, while Shaggy missed on the last balls. Puff III buried it for the 3-4 win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a bit of everything, with Shaggy taking a strong early lead over Puff III, who then held her ground for a bit. Shaggy missed four shots in a row near the end, allowing Puff III a brief lead, but she would give it up with misses on her last two shots in regulation. Shaggy forced overtime, where Puff III made a ball on the break, and Shaggy missed a cut on the 7 toward the top right to give Puff III the 4-5 win and 2-1 series lead. Game 4 saw Puff III blow three separate one-shot leads to Shaggy, who was never too far behind. Shaggy pressured right up to the end, where she fell behind a fourth time. Puff III finally held the lead, making the 12 to the top left for the 3-4 win and 3-1 series lead. Game 5 saw Puff III finally tighten up her offense to become a more lethal attacking player. She would have had a great game were it not for a late miss, but she had already beaten Shaggy at that point, and Puff III was happy to clinch the series at 4-1 with a 2-3 win. Shaggy finally got a win back in game 6, watching as Puff III cratered dramatically throughout the latter half of the game after such a close start. Puff III did get closer near the end as Shaggy began to slip, but Shaggy held on for a 4-5 win, getting a game back in the 4-2 series. Puff III couldn't hang on as long in game 7 as Shaggy did, leaving Puff III at a tough deficit late in the game. She couldn't quite challenge Shaggy on the last ball, and it didn't matter, as Shaggy made it to win 1-3 to cut the series again at 4-3. Puff III advances to host the bracket final series at this venue.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Americus. The blue cue gets a turn in Accuracy in the next series. Boston's Gradley had to be happy to hold an early lead in game 1, as he missed a couple of shots late in the game, but Atlantic's Americus was too far behind to benefit. Gradley held on for the 3-4 win to take a 1-0 series lead over the persistent visitor. The Pirates' Americus again faced a large deficit late in game 2, but she managed to fight back this time, getting the Swifts' Gradley to miss twice and scratch once as she made the last three balls to force overtime. Here, Gradley made the 12 on the break, and Americus clipped the edge of the bottom side on her only shot, giving Gradley the 4-5 win and a 2-0 lead in the series. Gradley again made a ball on the break in game 3, his second time doing so, and the players engaged in a close battle. Both Gradley and Americus missed around the middle of the game, but Gradley took another setback on the last ball, which Americus cut in to win 1-2 and get on the board in the now 2-1 series for Gradley. Americus continued her stronger play in game 4, holding a lead from the point of Gradley's first miss until the end. Gradley had fallen behind with a second miss, but induced one late miss on Americus and nearly had two. Americus banked the 2 toward the bottom side, where it bounced off the corner of the pocket and into the bottom right to secure her 1-2 win, tying the series at 2. Gradley fell behind again in game 5, struggling to keep pace, but Americus had a couple of key misses late in the game, allowing Gradley to hold the tie and force overtime at the end of regulation. Americus opted for a soft break in overtime, but Gradley drilled the 1 to the bottom side and the 7 to the top side off a cluster buster for the 3-4 win. Gradley also regained the series lead at 3-2. Gradley knew what he had to do to secure the series in game 6, and a good break enabled him to do so. Americus only missed once, but that was all Gradley needed as he played a perfect game to win 0-1 and clinch the series at 4-2. Americus refused to go quietly, burying Gradley early in game 7 as she built up a lead. Americus couldn't make this first lead stand, but Gradley missed on his only shot at the last ball, and Americus buried it on her second try for the 3-4 win to give Gradley a 4-3 series win. Gradley will host a bracket finals series at this venue. Americus fell as the 76th player eliminated from the Tournament, while Gradley records his second kill of the year to keep going.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Boots. The final series today is 12-ball with the red cue between starring veterans. Lighton's Spirit struck quickly in game 1, making a pair on the break. Pearl's Boots canceled that out, but Spirit would make two more pairs, and Boots could only counter one of them. Spirit got a little help late with positioning for the final pair after Boots had a wild miss, and Spirits' precise shooting gave her the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit couldn't get as much out of her break in game 2, and her early shooting left plenty to be desired. The Surfers' Boots didn't have much better luck, but her positioning was stronger, and when Spirit clipped one of Boots' balls for illegal contact, Boots assembled a quick three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Boots put in a strong effort in game 3, making three balls early to make Spirit scramble early on. Spirit did pull even, but she had no answer for Boots' next attack, which made two more balls and got the last one in position. Spirit made one of her remaining shots, but the others weren't in position when Boots struck the 3 to the bottom left for the win and a 2-1 lead in the series. Game 4 saw Spirit go on a big run early on, making a four-ball run that ended with the 2 kicked into the top side from a tough angle. Spirit had good positions left on her last two shots, but Boots did everything she could, mixing offense on the right side and defense on the left side to slow Spirit down. Boots would get ball-in-hand from Spirit's illegal contact on the 13, but Boots couldn't complete the run, and Spirit kicked the 4 behind the 13 and into the bottom left to win, retying the series at 2. Spirit had a ball on the break in game 5, but this didn't make the game any easier for her, as Boots had a better spread from the rack. Boots enjoyed some early success, but positioning was tough to come by at the end, and Spirit charged with a three-ball run and some defense to hold Boots off. In the end, Boots missed on her last ball, and Spirit made hers on a tough cut to the top side to win for a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 featured a five-ball run from Spirit countered by a four-ball run from Boots, but none of that mattered much once Boots made her fifth ball. Spirit knew she had the weaker shooting position, so she repeatedly bumped Boots out of position on purpose four times. Boots began to get frustrated, and knocked the 2 past the targeted top side, allowing Spirit to edge closer to the top left. Boots then returned the favor, but Spirit got back in position, and Boots' attempt to set herself up again failed. Spirit converted after the long duel, winning to seal the series at 4-2. Spirit stepped up again in game 7, making a three-ball run from the break and giving up the only wild-card ball of this clean series. Boots did well at first, but amid the chaos of Spirit's shooting, she slipped behind, and Spirit got her last ball into the bottom right for the win. Spirit's 5-2 series win takes her to a hosting position in the bracket final.
That's all for the first exciting day of the round. We've got more Bracket Semifinals action to come this week and next, and Cricket Week 30 begins tonight as well.
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