We're on for another day of games. There is a chance today could be a shorter set to accommodate personal commitments, or it may be shortened due to quality concerns. Nonetheless, we'll begin with...
Kraft Forum, Royal: Hannah v. Solaris. A pair of rookies square off in 10-ball, with the silver cue getting today's start. Royal's Hannah did almost everything right in game 1, with an early three-ball run that saw the 10 go down uncalled. Infinity's Solaris would later make her pay for this, but Hannah still own possession until a scratch while potting the 8. Solaris took the ball-in-hand for a direct shot on the 10 for the stolen win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Torpedoes' Solaris show a bit better on offense, with a three-ball run early on. The Crowns' Hannah didn't crumble, making her share of shots, but a couple of errors gave Solaris more control, and he won outright with a three-ball run-out to move ahead 2-0 in the series. Hannah had a nice four-ball run in game 3, including a surprise 4-8 kick combination to the bottom left. Solaris let her keep possession, and she made the 4 before missing on the 6. Solaris took over for a four-ball run-out, validating his decision to let her play on as he won for a 3-0 series lead. Solaris couldn't get very much in game 4, as Hannah returned to a dominant possession strategy. Hannah had an early scratch, but she didn't stay rattled, making a later three-ball run, and then the 10 at the bottom right after Solaris couldn't cut it in. Hannah pulled back to make it a 3-1 series. Solaris put in quite the challenge for Hannah in a sloppier game 5, as neither player had much offense at first. The middle of the game saw even exchanges, and Hannah picked up momentum with an interesting kick on the 6 that sent it to the bottom left illegally. Solaris let her play on, and she missed on the 9, allowing Solaris to make the 9 and bank the 10 to the top side for another well-chosen win to get the series at 4-1. Solaris kept himself in the battle in game 6, as Hannah struggled a bit early on after Solaris' tough break. Hannah had just about picked up her pace when she scratched, and after a scuffle on the 6, Solaris made a three-ball run-out to move to a 5-1 series lead. Hannah probably had the better of play again in game 7, but she couldn't make it stand in the end, as her bank on the 10 went wide of the top side. Solaris tapped it in to get the win and a 6-1 series win. Solaris will head home to face his Torpedoes teammate Mr. Snowman at Nissan Hall in Infinity for the bracket final. Hannah is the 82nd player to be eliminated, with Solaris' first career kill coming in a do-or-die series.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Jennifer Livilotti. The silver cue gets another look in 8-ball between two fiery competitors. Terrace City's Jennifer had a very flat performance in game 1, allowing Everton's Puff III to slowly build after making a ball on the break. Puff III lacked any game-changing runs, but still easily beat Jennifer for the 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Puff III continued at a modest pace, although she did have one three-ball run. The Knights' Jennifer eventually broke out with a six-ball run to take the lead, and after a couple more turns, she made her last two shots for the win, tying the series at 1. The Eagles' Puff III once again had a better start in game 3, but she was no match for a five-ball run from Jennifer. This gave the visitor the lead, and Puff III had to counter on a four-ball run that just left the 8 standing. Jennifer shot right back with a three-ball run-out for the win and the 2-1 series lead. Jennifer made a ball on the break in game 4, but she didn't get the first run, with Puff III stepping up to make four in a row on her first turn. Jennifer kept things relatively close as the two players each had a collateral damage shot, and Jennifer defended well, but Puff III eventually got position on the 8 and got the win around Jennifer's defense. Puff III's gritty win retied the series at 2. Game 5 saw Puff III get off to a decent start, and while Jennifer played patient at first, she had an advantage before sparking a five-ball run-out. Jennifer used the 11 and 8 to help knock in the 14 at the top right on the second shot of the run, with the 7 blocking the 8 from more trouble, allowing Jennifer to complete the run for a win and a 3-2 lead in the series. Game 6 went pretty well for both sides, as each player had a three-ball run early on. Jennifer hadn't gotten much on the break, but Puff III picked her shots off with a bit more efficiency from the remaining cluster. Jennifer mounted a rally in response, but Puff III cut her down with the last two shots for the win, tying the series again at 3. Jennifer would not be denied in game 7, rallying with a six-ball run on her first turn. Puff III tried to counter, but she could only make Jennifer's last striped ball, and the visitor made the 8 from distance on her next shot for a decisive win for the 4-3 series win. Jennifer returns to Audi Hall in Terrace City to host another Everton Eagle, Blizzard, in the bracket final.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Bryant v. Rosalina. A sturdy veteran and a rookie on the rise use the blue cue for Rotation after lunch. Game 1 saw a poor break from Maplewood's Bryant, leading to a very slow start. Diamond's Rosalina slowly pulled ahead, and while Bryant came close to equalizing near the end of the game, Rosalina pulled away to win 8-4 for the 1-0 lead in the series. The Gems' Rosalina had a decent start in game 2 after an acceptable break. The Lumberjacks' Bryant had some early chances that he missed, allowing Rosalina to build a lead. The 5 proved difficult for both sides, but Rosalina added a three-ball run and a pair to win 8-2 for the 2-0 series lead. Bryant had his best start in game 3, getting out to a nice lead despite some early challenges from Rosalina. However, positioning let him down later, and Rosalina got ball-in-hand to ignite her six-ball run-out, a stunning surge that gave her an 8-5 win and a 3-0 series advantage. Rosalina couldn't do much of anything in game 4, unable to calibrate her shot again. Bryant burst out to a small lead initially, then added a three-ball run to pressure Rosalina. She scratched after an unlucky bounce, and Bryant won 8-2 two turns later to make it a 3-1 series. Bryant couldn't replicate the effort in game 5, hanging on for the early part of the game, but falling behind as Rosalina poked in the 5. Rosalina then erupted for a four-ball run-out at the end to win 8-2, giving her the series at 4-1. Rosalina couldn't keep up with Bryant in game 6, as he struck first and supported it well early on. Rosalina tried to maintain the pace, but Bryant locked her game down at 8-5 to get a game back in the 4-2 series. Rosalina also struggled in game 7, falling behind to Bryant from the start and never catching up. Bryant had a nice run early on, and added shorter runs at the end, winning with two balls from ball-in-hand after Rosalina's scratch. Bryant's 8-3 win made it a 4-3 series for Rosalina, who will make one more road trip for the bracket final. Bryant is the 83rd played to get knocked out of the Tournament, and Rosalina picked up her second kill of the year.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Wario v. Goatee. The red cue is up now, playing 12-ball between a rookie and a veteran. Westside's Goatee had to come back against Victoria's Wario, who made a ball on the break in game 1. Wario made the comeback easy, as he failed to get position on his last three balls, allowing a bit of good luck and well-executed shots to give Goatee the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw much less intent from both players. The Rockers' Goatee still got out on a nice run, but after receiving a wild-card ball from the Spurs' Wario, she had less urgency. Wario struggled to make anything, and a scratch negated his one good run, but Goatee missed her last ball from the kitchen. Finally, she made it on her next turn for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Goatee had an interesting break in game 3, and Wario helped to separate the two suits, taking the well-distributed stripes for himself. He made a ball in the top side but had a later scratch and poor shooting angles to slow him down. Goatee busted the solids cluster, and made two balls while pushing Wario out of the way in two locations. This turned the tide for Goatee, who played well from that point on, beating Wario's lax defense to get the win and a 3-0 lead in the series. Wario kept his series going, recovering from a somewhat strong break by Goatee in game 4. Wario showed some positional brilliance this time out, making a three-ball run and maintaining good position on the remaining shots. Goatee couldn't get anything out of her next turn, and Wario took a three-ball run-out to win, cutting the series to 3-1. Goatee made the most of an unfavorable first turn after Wario's break. Wario charged with a big run to take the lead, but Goatee kept even with him on her next turn, and soon they thought they were going for the same pocket. They each tried defense and offense, until Goatee struck and it was revealed she needed the top side, not the top left. Wario had a chance to get the win, but he couldn't bank the 11 in, and Goatee won two turns later with a tap-in at the top side from her composed set-up shot. Goatee secured the series at 4-1. Goatee had a good break in game 6, but it did yield a wild-card ball for Wario, who would use this to great advantage later on. Goatee was in control until a scratch took away her ball at the top right, allowing Wario to patiently pick which two of three pockets he would use for his final pair. After some flailing from Goatee, Wario made his shots to get the win and push the series to 4-2. Wario had an awful break in game 7, slowing the game down and causing lots of errors for both himself and Goatee. Each also potted a ball illegally at one point, causing frustration to rise near the end. Goatee picked up a three-ball run-out eventually, winning the game for a 5-2 series win. Goatee will head to Pepsi Arena in Lighton to face the Prestige's Spirit in the bracket final. Goatee earned her second kill of the season with the knockout on Wario, who caps a good rookie campaign as the 84th player eliminated. This is also the fourth team kill.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Ms. Kitty. The red cue stays at the table in this series of 7-ball that is also a Coastal Divisional. Pacific's Ms. Kitty had a lot of the play in game 1, using strong defense early on against Pearl's Boots. This didn't hold up, as Boots took the win decisively with her three-ball run-out, giving her a 1-0 advantage in the series. Game 2 looked as if it could go either way, with neither the Surfers' Boots nor the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty making much of a push for it. Things changed suddenly with a brilliant cut on the 4 by Ms. Kitty, which ended up deflecting the cue off of two rails to add the 7, both balls falling in the top right for the win. Ms. Kitty tied the series at 1. Game 3 followed a similar pattern, with the players tangling and taking short, choppy runs without pulling too far ahead. Boots benefited this time, as Ms. Kitty's miss on the 6 allowed Boots to make the last two balls for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Game 4 was more of the same, with the players again exchanging shots evenly for most of the game. Ms. Kitty popped up with a lucky make on the 6 after she tried using it to pot the 7 but ended up making the 6 in the top leftt. Ms. Kitty followed it up with a calm kick on the 7 to the bottom right for the win, retying the series at 2. Ms. Kitty had the better of play in a close game 5, finally breaking out a four-ball run to answer a pair from Boots before the host's scratch. Ms. Kitty came up just short on the 7 at the bottom left, and Boots tapped it in to retake the series lead at 3-2. Game 6 saw Boots do the opposite of what Ms. Kitty just did in the previous game. Ms. Kitty had made some shots early on, but Boots had a late three-ball run going when she blasted the 7 toward the top right, jamming it out. Ms. Kitty made the rebound for the win, tying the series at 3. The early part of game 7 resembled the first six games of the series, as the players went shot for shot with excellent defense. Ms. Kitty then pulled away in the end with a three-ball run-out for the win and the 4-3 series win. Ms. Kitty's final push sees her advance to the bracket final, where she'll take on the Sharpshooters' Nicole at Capital City SuperCenter.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Lorde. The silver cue wraps up its obligations today with some 7-ball. Swordpoint's Stealth had a good start with a four-ball run from the break in game 1, but it wouldn't be enough when Commerce's Lorde shot back with a three-ball run-out herself in the well-played win for a 1-0 series lead to the visitor. The Tradewinds' Lorde had a decent start to game 2, but things got slow in the middle of the game. Neither player looked very confident in their shot until the end, where a three-ball run-out lifted the Blades' Stealth to a win. This burst tied the series at 1. Stealth finally had a strong offensive performance without being countered, taking three turns to get through most of the rack. Most was the operative word, as Lorde would come on and finally make a shot, the 7 to the top right, to make all of Stealth's efforts for naught. Lorde gained a 2-1 series lead with the opportunistic win. Lorde didn't make much of her break in game 4, and once again, Stealth put in a good offensive effort. Stealth collected a four-ball run later in the game, but he didn't get a clear line on the 7. Lorde was more than willing to pick up the slack again, tapping it in the top left for the win and a 3-1 lead in the series. Lorde didn't make anything from the break in game 5, but she contributed more greatly to the offense later on. She had a bulk of the possession but couldn't corral the 7 at the bottom left, allowing Stealth to take a cut on it to the top left for the win. Stealth's win made it a 3-2 series, but he still has a long way to go. Lorde finally combined a dominant share of possession with a victory in the series-deciding game 6, as she answered Stealth's make on the 1 with a six-ball run-out of her own, more than enough to win and give her the series at 4-2. Lorde and Stealth returned to a gritty battle in game 7, with Lorde's miss on the 6 being the turning point. Stealth had already played well, but this gave him the chance to make the last two shots for the win, and he did. Lorde won the series 4-3 to advance to the bracket final. Stealth is the 85th player to be eliminated this year, and Lorde picked up her second kill with the win.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Dewey. We'll make it seven series today, as the blue cue counts us out in 10-ball. Central's Dustin had a decent start to game 1, looking like an attacking threat, but Oceanside's Dewey was the one to make a double-pot, the 2 in the top side and the 6 in the top left. He added the 3 but added the 5 illegally to end his four-ball run. Dustin took over, but it was not meant to last, and Dewey struck back with a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Dewey did his best shooting at the start and the end of game 2, while the Warriors' Dustin held a loose control over the middle of the game. Dustin got frustrated toward the end of his reign, and Dewey struck with a three-ball run-out to win, earning a 2-0 lead in the series. Dustin had an embarrassing miss on the 4 after Dewey's early stretch of play came to an end, but the miss wouldn't ultimately harm Dustin at all, as he turned around a couple of turns later with a 7-10 combination to the top right for the win. Dewey's series lead got cut to 2-1 with that play, but he's still in good shape. Game 4 saw Dustin fail to pot a ball on the break, allowing Dewey first crack at the offense. He did well, igniting a battle of short runs throughout the game that ended up going quite well for Dustin in the end. Dustin had a three-ball run-out after Dewey couldn't pot the 8 at the top right. Dustin's win tied the series at 2. Game 5 saw Dustin again go empty on the break, allowing Dewey to make the first pair of balls. After he missed contact on the 2, Dustin made a pair of balls, but Dewey shot back immediately with a four-ball run-out to grab the win and a 3-2 series lead with the strong push toward the finish. Dewey had a terrible break in game 6, which slowed down the pace of the game initially. It roared back to life just as quickly as it had simmered, as Dustin left Dewey with a tough shot on the 3. Dewey cut it with pace to the top side, which sneaking the 9 into the top right behind the defensive 4 on a double-pot. Dewey took the 4 on a tap-in, and then made the 5-7-10 combination to the bottom side for the win on a four-ball run-out, making it a 4-2 series. Dewey had an alright performance in game 7, but a scratch would be his downfall in the long-term. Dustin took ball-in-hand on the 6, and elected to avoid a combination with the 10, instead executing a five-ball run-out for the win. Dewey took the series 4-3 and advances to another road series in the bracket final. Dewey also picked up his first career kill, knocking out last year's MVP a bit early, as Dustin is the 86th player eliminated.
That's all for a big day today. We'll be back with Tournament play on Sunday at the earliest. Cricket is not expected to go tonight either, with a return over the weekend probable.
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