We're back with likely four series again today, beginning with...
Waluigi v. Chimpy v. Ruby at Pepsi Arena, Lighton. Ruby had all but won game 1 after making five balls over two turns, but her scratch revived both of her opponents, who tried to target her. Waluigi didn't have much success, but Chimpy damaged Ruby before taking out Waluigi. Ruby would fall on Chimpy's next turn, giving the wily returning veteran his first win. Waluigi attacked with more intent in game 2, making a five-ball run to deeply damage Chimpy's chances at another win. Ruby had an early scratch that derailed her effort, and by the time she went directly against Waluigi after he ousted Chimpy, the advantage was too much to overcome. Waluigi cruised to his first win with an easy final turn. Chimpy and Waluigi struggled at the start of game 3, allowing Ruby to build up a nice lead, and Chimpy felt no loyalty to keep Waluigi in the game, taking him out first. Ruby had a chance to take the win but missed her shot, and Chimpy made a three-ball run-out for his second win of the series. Chimpy set the tone in game 4 with a nice opening run, and Ruby struggled at first, allowing Waluigi to pick lows. Ruby didn't get better until a four-ball run-out at the end, as the other players kept her in the game and she made them pay, taking out Chimpy and then Waluigi for her first win. Ruby never got a chance to defend her highs in game 5, as Waluigi claimed the lows and Chimpy took the mediums while combining to take her out on the first turn. Head-to-head, Waluigi damaged Chimpy a bit, but Chimpy fired back with a four-ball run-out for the win, his third of the series. Chimpy attacked well from the game 6 break again, making things difficult for himself when he had to choose a suit, eventually taking highs. Waluigi followed to claim lows, and they put Ruby at the brink of elimination. She tried a counterattack, but it fell short, and Chimpy offed her, only to be on the wrong end of Waluigi's three-ball run-out for his second win of the series. Ruby had her chances to get back in the series with game 7, but she couldn't defend her medium set against Waluigi, who took her out on his second turn before ousting Chimpy on the next turn after Chimpy couldn't make Waluigi's 5. Waluigi picked up his third win of the series. Game 8 saw Chimpy and Ruby team up to slow down Waluigi's recent momentum, quickly wiping him out on the first turn. Chimpy then dipped into a defensive posture, which successfully prevented Ruby from making a move. Chimpy won on his next turn for his fourth win. Ruby put up another floundering performance early in game 9, and she nearly got knocked out, but Waluigi and Chimpy decided to fight among themselves later in the game. Ruby woke up with a four-ball run-out at the end, offing Chimpy and then Waluigi with the effort for her second win. Waluigi made a strategic error in game 10, targeting Ruby rather than Chimpy, who had a poor start to the game but still a healthy complement of balls on the table. Ruby was first out, and Chimpy turned on Waluigi head-to-head, taking him out on the next turn to clinch the series on his fifth win. Waluigi took 13 points for qualifying, while Ruby scored 10.
Snuggle v. Smudge v. Puff III at AT&T Hall, Oceanside. Smudge got off to a fierce start to game 1, attacking the mediums as she defended the highs. Puff III missed her first shot, allowing Snuggle to claim lows and pressure the mediums as well. They briefly tried to take down Smudge, but she was too strong, eliminating Puff III and Snuggle on consecutive turns for her first win. None of the three players had a good game 2, but it was particularly rough for Puff III, who combined poor shooting with a lack of defense that allowed Snuggle to bump her late in the game. Smudge then countered with a precise kick on the 12 to the top left for her second win to oust Snuggle. Smudge didn't get anything on the break in game 3 either, and Snuggle decided to protect highs. He wasn't great at this, as Puff III quickly buried him by taking the medium set, and Smudge then embarked on a five-ball run-out in the end, benching Snuggle before Puff III this time for her third win. Game 4 saw more twists and turns than a mystery thriller, as two scratches revived people just as they were ousted. Puff III brought Snuggle back from the dead, and Smudge did the same for Puff III soon after. Snuggle would seat Puff III once again, and he managed to hold off Smudge long enough to take her out too, earning his first win in the series. Smudge had a four-ball run early in game 5, hurting the mediums that would be Puff III's suit eventually. Snuggle struggled a bit during the game, and quickly lost his defense, while Puff III burst forward with a six-ball run-out for the win, her first. Smudge settled for second in this appearance. Smudge did well in game 6 to put herself on the brink of advancing with a four-ball run early on and another one to close out the game after Puff III and Snuggle failed to stop her. Snuggle was the first to fall, as Smudge picked off his lows before taking Puff III's mediums to earn her fourth win. Snuggle and Puff III seemed to align their attacks better in game 7, targeting Smudge's low set frequently. This worked to take her out first, and Snuggle kept his run moving with a seven-ball run-out in total, using collateral damage to clear the way to take out Puff III. The unity between Puff III and Snuggle waned late in game 8, as clear shots on Smudge's balls were not present, so they attacked each other. Smudge exploited this to great effect, making a four-ball run-out by downing Snuggle and then Puff III for her fifth win. Smudge gets an easy pass thru to the second round. Snuggle recorded 8 points, and Puff III had 7, both of which mark poor performances.
Pounce v. Precious v. Shelley at House of 10 Windows, Del Sur. Pounce couldn't get anything off the break in game 1, allowing Precious to build a good start defending the mediums. Pounce then roared forward on his second turn with a six-ball run. Precious did the rest to take out Shelley, but she couldn't get Pounce, who won with a three-ball run-out for his first victory. Precious felt hard done by game 2, as her nine-ball run on her first turn, which kept Pounce sidelined for most of the game, ended up being wasted when she scratched. Shelley made sure to take out Precious first, and Pounce then knocked out Shelley with a pair of tough shots to steal his second win. Pounce wouldn't make it three despite his good start in game 3, as he couldn't keep the lows on the table. Shelley had a scratch at one point that made things more difficult, but she kept her composure with the mediums, and ended up taking out Pounce and then Precious on a three-ball run-out for the win, her first. Precious went on another deep run, eight balls this time, on her first turn of game 4. It appeared the effort would be met with similar failures as last time, but neither Pounce nor Shelley could get Precious' last ball down, and Precious fired back with a three-ball run-out, taking Pounce out first and then Shelley in her first win. Precious opted to save her critical run for the end of game 5, instead letting Pounce and Shelley carry the offensive load early in the game. This they did, weakening Precious and each other quite a bit in the even game, until Precious turned things around with a four-ball run-out that offed Pounce's lows before Shelley's mediums for Precious' second win. Shelley adopted the early-run style of Precious in game 6, using a six-ball run to pit Precious and Pounce against each other. Both missed on their first turns, and Precious missed a second time to allow Shelley to further weaken them. Pounce decided one point was better than none, taking out Precious before quickly succumbing to Shelley's brutal reign in her second win. Shelley didn't help herself by scratching on the break of game 7. Pounce and Precious quickly pummeled the medium set as the scraps Shelley would take, and Pounce wiped them out on his second turn to go head-to-head with Precious. Pounce had the early advantage, but he couldn't corral her last ball, and she stole the win away, her third in the series. Precious and Pounce both started slow in game 8, allowing Shelley to return to dominance. Pounce abandoned the fledgling partnership with Precious to save his own hide, making her a quick out by his own work. He had the framework of a run, but he couldn't convert against Shelley, who quickly ousted him for her third win. Shelley continued her good shooting into game 9 with a seven-ball run that induced a scratch from Pounce. Precious betrayed him on the next turn, leaving him to be dispatched by Shelley, who took Precious out on the next shot to secure her fourth win. Precious smashed a quick seven-ball run in game 10, forcing Pounce into a relatively easy decision. He chose to take out Shelley by potting the last low ball, and then surrendered to Precious, who took her fourth win as the series now has two players on the brink of victory. Pounce went on a deep run in game 11, making seven in a row and leaving Shelley to knock out Precious almost immediately. Shelley then dueled with Pounce, and nearly bested him, but Pounce made Shelley's last ball on his third try to secure his third win of the series. Shelley and Precious seemed to have more urgency to end the series in game 12, but neither one could sink Pounce's last ball, and Pounce made them both pay with a three-ball run-out, offing Precious and then Shelley with the effort for his fourth win. Game 13 laid it all on the line for this series, and it started well for Shelley. Pounce had a deep run at one point, making six in a row, but Precious soon targeted him and Shelley finished him off. Precious then beat Shelley head to head for the critical fifth win to advance.
Jennifer Livilotti v. Lize v. Strut at Audi Hall, Terrace City. Lize didn't let a sore shoulder get her down in game 1, finessing her way through the game. Strut thought he had a coup with getting lows, but Lize took him out first before calmly and slowly banking Jennifer's last high 12 to the top left for her first win. Strut had his grip on game 2, having successfully engineered a four-ball run to wipe out Lize and Jennifer, but a scratch changed things. Lize quickly took him out from the kitchen, but she couldn't knock out Jennifer, who would counter more effectively for her first win at the end. Game 3 went remarkably close throughout, as Lize made the first decision on suit, taking lows, but all three players had two balls left when Lize executed a four-ball run-out for the win, her second. Lize took out Jennifer's two first, and then knocked in Strut's two mediums for her second win. Strut made a huge impact in game 4, blasting a seven-ball run to establish himself quickly with the medium set. Jennifer took no hesitation to knock out Lize by making the last high ball, and Jennifer nearly got the better of Strut, but he made Jennifer's last two balls for his first win. Strut and Jennifer did a lot of damage against Lize's lows before she got into game 5, but she dished some back, doing enough to weaken both of them. Jennifer would deal the killing blow to Lize's game, but she couldn't get Strut's last ball, and Strut beat Jennifer for his second straight win. Game 6 returned to the very close form of prior battles. Strut took a four-ball run on the break, but Jennifer and Lize parried him back and each player had one of the last three balls on the table. Lize shone brightest in this late moment, offing Strut before sneaking Jennifer's 9 around her own 13 for her third win with the shot at the top right. Lize continued to do well in game 7 with a short arm motion to preserve her shoulder. Her five-ball run this time, combined with Jennifer's support, quickly sent Strut out of the game. Jennifer and Lize each had a ball left late, and Jennifer's extra strength lifted her to her second win in the series. Lize continued to get things done in game 8, establishing herself with the highs early on. Strut chose the lows on his turn, but Jennifer and Lize combined to get him out of the game rather quickly. Lize ended with a three-ball run-out to finish off Jennifer again, taking her fourth win in the process. Lize kept her offense going with a small run early in game 9, and then another push on her second turn. Strut backed her up pretty well, and they combined to wipe out Jennifer early on. Lize couldn't handle Strut's attack near the end, and Strut won his third game in the series with a three-ball run-out. Strut blasted a nine-ball run on the break in game 10, and Lize put down one of Strut's lows to secure a point for herself. She ended up making a four-ball run, but Strut hit her last ball in when she faltered on his fifth. The win puts Strut and Lize level with four wins each as the series comes close to its end. Jennifer made her presence felt in game 11, attacking viciously against both lows and mediums to weaken Lize and Strut. As the game progressed, Strut did a little damage to Lize and a lot to Jennifer, but Lize took Strut out before potting her own last ball to gift the win to Jennifer in an act of diplomacy. Jennifer and Lize kept their unspoken agreement going in game 12, and it was working perfectly, with Strut out of the game early. Jennifer then scratched, and Lize couldn't put Strut away before his turn. Strut stormed his way to a four-ball run-out, denying Lize a point while ceding one to Jennifer as he took the series with his fifth win. Lize actually scored better than Strut with 17 points to his 16, and Jennifer added 15 in a good series for all involved.
Tomorrow, we'll do another four series or so.
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