Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Hughbert. The red cue gets the first series today, playing 9-ball between these young players. Diamond's Pedey had a strong break in game 1, potting the 4 and 5 to the bottom right and the 8 to the top right to spark a six-ball run. Southridge's Hughbert didn't let Pedey shoot again, countering on a three-ball run-out for the quick win and a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Hughbert had a much less interesting break in game 2. This led to a slower pace on the game, which saw the Gems' Pedey take a fair share of the possession. Hughbert had a chance to get a run late, but he missed on the 9, and Pedey tapped it in for the win to tie the series at 1. Pedey did make a ball on the break in game 3, establishing his offense fairly well. Hughbert had a few shots early in the game, and nearly struck with a bank on the 9 late, but Pedey took the contested finish as Hughbert's attempt came up short. Pedey leads the series 2-1. Pedey dominated possession in game 4 with a pair of balls on the break and a game-ending double-pot that sent the 5-9 combination to the bottom right and the 5 in the top right, but also saw the cue go down to give Hughbert the win, which tied the series again at 2. Hughbert controlled game 5 pretty well, putting in a good break. Pedey got some shots in during the early part of the game, but Hughbert sealed his win with a three-ball run-out, including the 6-8 and 6-9 combinations to the top right. Hughbert reclaimed the series lead at 3-2. Pedey picked a bad time to lose his shooting skills, as he had three notable misses in game 6. Hughbert took advantage of this, cleaning up each shot, the last of which was on the 9 to give Hughbert the series at 4-2 with his win. Hughbert made two balls on the break in a good start to game 7, but that would be all he got. Pedey had a three-ball run later on, and then made the 7-9 combination after glancing the cue off the 6 perfectly. Hughbert takes a 4-3 series win to advance to a road series in the bracket finals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Kiwi. Two strong veterans meet in Rotation with the silver cue this time. Pearl's Boots seemed to have a grip on a slow start to game 1, holding the initial lead. This didn't last for long, as Terrace City's Kiwi charged back to tie on one turn, then used a four-ball run to pull far ahead. Kiwi would win 8-3 on the turn after that to take a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi nearly made the 15 on the break, which would just have been a cool footnote in the game. Instead, she kept things even for awhile, but the Surfers' Boots refused to back down. Boots took a nice lead on a three-ball run, including a lucky deflection to make the 15 at the top left. Boots did miss the 8 from tap-in range to win, but she would get the 10 on her next turn to win 8-3, tying the series at 1. Kiwi made a luck 3-14-15-6 combination to the bottom right for an opening three-ball run in game 3. She added a 4-15 combination to the bottom right on a later run that nearly made the 12 in a double-pot. Boots had a couple of counterattacks, but couldn't catch up either time, and Kiwi locked in an 8-5 win to retake the series lead at 2-1. Kiwi had a nice start in game 4, but she couldn't make the 1 after depositing the 3 on the break. Boots also missed, giving Kiwi the chance to make the 1 to the top left and the 10 to the bottom left on the carom. This would be it for her offense, as Boots charged back with a five-ball run to take the lead, and then a three-ball run-out later for the 8-3 win to tie the series again at 2. Boots had a stronger appearance in game 5, challenging Kiwi's notable early-game scoring by keeping things level for awhile. Boots then pulled off a deceptively brilliant shot, making the 9 after near-impossible contact was made with the 8. This gave Boots a lead she wouldn't surrender, and she closed the win out at 8-4 to pull ahead 3-2 in the series. Kiwi again had a lead in game 6, playing to keep her bid alive, but she couldn't have anticipated a four-ball run from Boots, who used deflections and sharp precision to gain a lead. Kiwi got a ball back, but Boots made the 14 to the bottom left by deflecting the cue off the 10 to grab the 8-4 win. This clinched the series for Boots at 4-2. Boots put Kiwi away for sure with a dominant game 7 effort, making the first ball, then adding a nice run before Kiwi could get on the board. Kiwi did make one shot, but a missed contact on the 6 allowed Boots to make the 6-8 combination to the top side, and then the 6 by itself to win 8-1. Boots took the series 5-2, and will host her bracket final series at this venue. With the loss, Kiwi is the 77th player eliminated this year, and Boots retakes an individual league lead in kills with 4.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Sweetheart. Southeastern rivals clash after lunch with the silver cue in 9-ball. Golden's Valencia did all she could in game 1, working a six-ball run over the middle, but her shot on the 9 let her down. Boston's Sweetheart gladly poached the win with a tap-in to the bottom right to put herself ahead 1-0 in the series. The Swifts' Sweetheart wouldn't get as lucky in game 2, as she didn't make a substantial enough improvement in her shooting. The Pilots' Valencia kept the game fairly even, and when Sweetheart missed on the 9, Valencia made it for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw another late twist of fate, as Sweetheart made a three-ball run late to take a nice possession edge after a kick on the 8 to the top side, but she missed the cut on the 9. Valencia tapped it into the bottom right, another stolen game giving Valencia the 2-1 series lead. Valencia had a decent break in game 4, but Sweetheart was far more dangerous. Sweetheart tried a 2-9 combination after Valencia left it lined up, but it wouldn't fall. Eventually, Valencia missed on the 5, and Sweetheart made it and the 6-9 combination to the bottom right for the win, retying the series at 2. Valencia got stuck in an impossible position in game 5, unable to cut the 3 and ending up missing contact thanks to Sweetheart's defense. Sweetheart made sure to make the play count, making the 3 from ball-in-hand and then adding the 4-9 combination to the top right for the win and a 3-2 series lead. Game 6 saw Valencia break out on another run in an attempt to keep her bid going, making five straight after Sweetheart's empty break. Things looked bleak for Valencia until Sweetheart took herself out of position on the 9 to end up with a three-ball run, and Valencia struck on the 9 for the win to tie the series again at 3. Game 7 kept things extremely close between the two players. Neither had much of a run, the closest being Valencia's poetic justice finish, as she made the 7 that Sweetheart left short and then converted the 8-9 combination to the top right for the win. Valencia took the series 4-3, and will host the bracket finals series at this venue.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Puff III. Two of the year's top players clash in 7-ball in the blue cue's only appearance of the day. Pacific's Leonette didn't make a ball on the break, but a pair of shots on her next turn and a four-ball run-out sandwiched a lone successful shot from Everton's Puff III as Leonette stormed to the win in a heap of possession for the 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette continued to play well into game 2, piecing together a three-ball run, but after that ended, the Eagles' Puff III took over. Each player had a miss, but Leonette left the 7 near the top side, and Puff III banked the 6 off the right rail to tap the 7 in for the win, tying the series at 1 with the trick shot. Puff III seemed to have more confidence in game 3, working a three-ball run as part of her large possession share. The run came to an end with the 7 still standing at the edge of the top right, and Leonette knocked it in for the win, retaking the series lead at 2-1. Leonette retook a dominant possession share in game 4, keeping things simple at first as she battled with Puff III, and then blasting a four-ball run-out full of well-cut shots to get the win. Leonette is on the brink of advancing with a 3-1 series lead. Game 5 only took a shot to be decided, as Leonette hit a strong break and made the 7 to the top left, but also scratched in the top right to gift the win to Puff III, preventing a clinching scenario as the series is now 3-2 to Leonette. Game 6 saw both players leave long runs on the table, as Leonette missed on the 3 and Puff III couldn't quite put away the 5. Leonette recovered after Puff III's miss, tapping in the last couple of shots for the win to seal the series at 4-2. Leonette did just about everything but get the win in game 7, working a six-ball run from the break that ended in a scratch while shooting at the 7. Puff III converted from ball-in-hand for a consolation win. Leonette took the series 4-3, and will head to Nestle's Warriors Hall in Central to meet the Warriors captain Twilight in the bracket final.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Ted v. Slinks. A solid rookie meets a star veteran in 10-ball with the red cue in its last series today. Web City's Ted had a decent start in game 1, but his attempt at defense when shooting toward the 6 let him down, and Westside's Slinks picked up the slack with a big five-ball run-out for the win. Slinks holds a 1-0 lead in the series after her burst. Game 2 didn't see much of a push from either player, and the finish went back-and-forth as neither could hold possession. The Spiders' Ted started with a miss on the 6, which he made the next time around, and he would pick up the 10 after the Rockers' Slinks couldn't sink it. Ted's close win tied the series at 1. Slinks made an unforgivably bad error in game 3, after Ted scratched while shooting at the 10 after making the 8 and 9 to gather some momentum. Slinks missed from ball-in-hand at tap-in range with a lazy shot, allowing Ted to take the win for a 2-1 series lead, however undeserved. Slinks continued a slide into mediocrity for the series, missing at least three easy shots and causing a rise in tensions with unexpected shooting. Ted did pick up the win after Slinks missed the 9 on a bank to the top right. Ted made the last two balls to move into a 3-1 series lead. Ted made a ball on the break in game 5, helping to pace a slightly stronger attack. Slinks also looked to recover from earlier struggles, but by the end of the game, she slipped into the old habits of missing shots and poor contact plays. Ted tapped in the last two shots for the win, clinching the series at 4-1. Slinks had her best game of the series in game 6, making a five-ball run and adding two more near the end, but she missed on the 10, and Ted made the tap-in to win, pushing his advantage to 5-1. Game 7 saw Ted pull off a three-ball run fairly early on, but it was Slinks pressuring late that made things interesting. Ted made the 10 once, but scratched to negate the shot, and after Slinks and Ted missed once each more, Slinks buried it on her second try to win. Ted took the series 5-2, and will travel to Honda Driftwood Coliseum in Pearl to visit the Surfers' Watermelon in the bracket final.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Jennifer Livilotti. The silver cue returns to action for these two stars meeting in Accuracy. Diamond's Citrus played a nearly perfect game 1, striking early and keeping her pace strong. Terrace City's Jennifer couldn't keep up long term, fading late in the game. Citrus bailed from the perfect pace, but still won 2-4 to grab the win for a 1-0 lead in the series. Game 2 saw the Gems' Citrus mess up early on, allowing the Knights' Jennifer to take the early lead. Later in the game, both players left shots on the table they should have made, especially as Jennifer crumbled to a tied score. Citrus missed on her last shot though, allowing Jennifer to win 4-5 to tie the series at 1. Jennifer made an impressive double-pot in game 3, despite trailing at the time, as she converted a 13-3-7-14 to the top right, with the latter two balls going in. Citrus missed once very soon after this and once at the end of regulation, allowing Jennifer to kick in the 3 to force overtime. Citrus was very lucky to make the 15 on the overtime break, and Jennifer followed with a combination to the bottom right to start a fiery battle that ended in Jennifer missing on the 4 to take the 3-4 loss. Citrus holds a series lead again at 2-1. Jennifer had a lead for most of game 4, but the strength of it was frequently in question, as both players hit a cold stretch right in the middle of the game. Jennifer maintained the lead through this patch of play, and won 4-6 as Citrus faltered again at the end. The series is again tied at 2. Game 5 saw Citrus and Jennifer stay very close for much of the first half of the game, before Jennifer collapsed at the end, missing two shots in a row late while Citrus held her ground to pick up the 3-5 win and regain the series lead once again at 3-2. Citrus finally broke the pattern of the series in game 6, finding a way to do a copy of game 1 and keep Jennifer down. Jennifer tried to pull back as Citrus faltered late, but the host held her ground to get the 2-4 win and clinch the series at 4-2 after a solid effort. Citrus couldn't keep a lead in game 7, and Jennifer was more than happy to play hard even though the series was out of reach for her. Jennifer pushed Citrus down at the end, grabbing a 3-5 win to make it a 4-3 series. Citrus is set to host the bracket final at this venue after her win.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Mario v. Blizzard. The last series today has the silver cue in action for some 8-ball between these Northeastern rivals. Everton's Blizzard put a scare in the home fans with a big three-ball run on her first turn, but Central's Mario quickly answered that himself. Blizzard scratched on her next turn, and Mario ignited for a five-ball run-out, bringing the fans to their feet as he took a 1-0 series lead in the contentious regional rivalry. Game 2 went very similarly at the start, with a three-ball run from the Eagles' Blizzard and a four-ball run with some collateral damage by the Warriors' Mario keeping them even. Blizzard pulled ahead from here, but Mario played enough defense to get Blizzard to illegally pot the 8, giving Mario the win and a 2-0 series lead. Blizzard finally cracked through Mario's defensive style in game 3. Blizzard didn't have a huge run at the start, allowing Mario a bit of time before Blizzard charged forward. Mario didn't make it easy for her, as Blizzard needed three tries before potting the 8 at the top right, but the win cut the series to 2-1. Blizzard had a great break in game 4, but she wasn't decisive with her shooting, lacking a deep run to carry her offense. This allowed Mario to stay in the game in a catch-up role, which he almost succeeded at save for a miss on the 2 near the end. Blizzard finally potted the 8 to the top right to hold Mario off and earn the win, tying the series at 2. Blizzard didn't get as much on her break in game 5, allowing Mario to get the first decisive run of the game. Blizzard didn't take long to catch up the first time, but Mario's second run, going four balls, put him at a huge advantage. Blizzard never recovered, and Mario made the 8 at the bottom right to win for a 3-2 series lead. Blizzard went back to the basics in game 6, starting off with a three-ball run to push Mario into an offensive stance. Mario answered with a four-ball run before a standoff occurred, which ended a couple of turns later as Mario's bank on the 9 failed, sinking the 8 in the bottom side instead for the instant loss. Blizzard's gifted win tied the series at 3 to set up a decisive finale. In game 7, Blizzard got a ball on the break, which she didn't want initially, but Mario squandered his first turn, and Blizzard made a three-ball run for a commanding lead. Mario pulled back a bit in the game, but Blizzard sank the 8 in the bottom side for the win and a 4-3 series win. Blizzard will be on the road for the bracket finals after advancing this time. Mario is the 78th player to be eliminated this year, and Blizzard has her second kill with the effort.
That's it for the games today. We'll be starting cricket in a little bit, but we'll take a break for now. Live updates are on Twitter
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