We've got three more days in this round. Today, we'll play five series, beginning with...
Noelle v. Jason N. v. Jason V. at Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central. Game 1 went pretty well for all of the players, with Noelle making a late push with a four-ball run to defend her highs, beating Jason N. but leaving Jason V. to make the last shot in his first win. Noelle had a more comprehensive attack in game 2 after Jason V. scratched on his first turn. Noelle took the mediums and inflicted damage against both Jasons, with Jason N. also striking on his first turn. Jason V. had a short run, and then Noelle won with a six-ball run-out on her second turn for her first win. Jason V. had to make a play in a slow game 3, and he did so on his third turn with a three-ball run-out, poking in his own 7 before taking Jason N.'s 14 and Noelle's 2 for his second win of the series. Jason V. again struck big in game 4, with a seven-ball run leaving Noelle and Jason N. in a position of weakness, but Noelle turned things around rather quickly with a four-ball run-out of her own, allowing Jason N. to earn his first point by making his 1 last. Noelle had an awkward performance in game 5, as she and Jason N. combined to knock Jason V. out early. Jason N. then had a scratch many turns later, and Jason V. knocked him out before eventually besting Noelle for his third win in the prolonged game. Noelle had to battle quite a bit to protect her highs in game 6, as Jason N. attacked mildly and Jason V. had a more dogged pursuit. Jason N. was again out quickly, continuing a rough series, while Jason V. had a late challenge just fall short as Noelle took her third win of the series. Jason N. finally had a breakthrough with a five-ball run-out in game 7, as he defended the mediums well after a scratch ruined Noelle's positive start. He took Noelle out of the game first, and then Jason V. in a surprising sequence of shots. Jason V. came back with a vengeance in another slow-moving game 8. Noelle had the lows and Jason N. took the mediums by his second turn, but it was the last two turns that set Jason V. apart with three-ball runs, the latter ousting Noelle and then Jason N. as Jason V. won his fourth game. Jason N. kept the series going with his performance in game 9. Jason V. had a big attack that brought everyone level late in the game, but Jason N. would take Jason V. and Noelle out a turn later for his second win. Jason N. made an attempt at extending the series again with a nice six-ball run to open the game, but Noelle's missed shot on her turn and Jason V.'s six-ball run-out helped the latter clinch the series with his fifth win in game 10. Both Noelle and Jason N. will fall short of further qualifying.
Kirstin v. Shadow v. Strawberry at Chevrolet Center, Everton. Game 1 was a bit of a disjointed mess, as Strawberry claimed the lows first, only to suffer a fierce attack from Kirstin before the game went cold. With one ball left each, Shadow finally broke through, taking out Kirstin and then Strawberry for his first win. Kirstin struck first in game 2, rallying with a five-ball run to decimate the highs. Shadow stepped up to claim the mediums, leaving Strawberry at the disadvantage, which she couldn't overcome. Shadow then won on a five-ball run-out, smartly using collateral damage to best Kirstin for his second win. Kirstin and Shadow let their Northeastern bitterness get the better of them in game 3, as they both decimated each other, allowing Strawberry to off Shadow on one turn and Kirstin on the next for her first win. Kirstin had a nice four-ball run on her second turn of game 4, inadvertently taking Shadow out of the mix. Strawberry nearly had a nice response, but she stalled with a pair, and Kirstin took a pair in turn to score her first win of the series. Shadow returned to form on his second turn of game 5, obliterating the delicate balance of power with a seven-ball run-out that saw him oust Kirstin on the sixth and Strawberry on the seventh shot for his third win of the series. Shadow didn't do too poorly at the start of game 6, but his lows were in bad positions, and he quickly found himself victimized by Strawberry and her mediums. Kirstin countered well, defending the highs until she could produce an attack to take Strawberry out for her second win. Kirstin attacked brilliantly with a five-ball run from the break, and then she had a three-ball run on her second turn. Strawberry made sure to claim a suit with a four-ball run, leaving Shadow on the outside again, but Kirstin made the last two shots she needed to for the game 7 win, her third of the series. Shadow bounced back quickly in game 8, using a five-ball run to establish himself. Strawberry then knocked Kirstin from the game rather unexpectedly, and Shadow dueled with Strawberry until he scratched. Kirstin weakened Shadow but couldn't knock him out, and Strawberry also made an effort, but Shadow won his fourth game with a three-ball run-out. Kirstin had an impressive performance in game 9, weathering an early storm from Shadow as he defended the highs. Strawberry was the first to fall thanks to an attack by Shadow, but Kirstin held on to grab her fourth win of the series, again pulling level with Shadow in the all-important category. Strawberry made a decent push in the middle of game 10, including knocking out Shadow, only to watch as Kirstin put herself on level terms with Strawberry at one ball each. Strawberry missed Kirstin's 9, allowing Kirstin to take the series with a tap-in on the 3 for her fifth win. Shadow and Strawberry will both be denied entry to the secondary qualifying.
Cubby v. Lorde v. Max at FedEx Forum, Eastside. Lorde had the best start in game 1, going on a nice run to claim the mediums for herself. Max took the highs as his suit to protect, and that worked out well, as Cubby was weakened early, and a late stall allowed Max to make a four-ball run-out for the win, gifting Lorde the second place point. Lorde again did a lot of the work, protecting the mediums in game 2, as she had an early five-ball run. It wouldn't matter much at the end, as Cubby's second turn was a four-ball run-out that took Max out at the start before downing Lorde at the end for Cubby's first win. Lorde finally got rewarded for her positive shooting, beginning game 3 with a six-ball run and ending it after a couple of scratches replenished the table with her four-ball run-out that saw Cubby downed a shot before Max in her first win. Lorde thought she had a good thing with her seven-ball run from the break of game 4, but Max ousted her in a five-ball run, and then Cubby picked up the win with the last two shots against Max two turns later. Cubby earned his second win of the series for hanging in long enough to steal the game. Max did well to select the highs on his second turn of game 5, as he would pick up the win on his second turn when he had a six-ball run-out, beating Cubby on the third shot before taking Lorde out at the end of it for his second win. Cubby thought the lows would work out pretty well in game 6, but Max and Lorde soon proved that theory wrong with a fierce attack that saw Cubby out of the game first. Max had the next good surge, but Lorde defended well until she could use collateral damage to launch her four-ball run-out for her second win, bringing all of the players level again. Lorde finally took the lead in the series with her third win in game 7. She started with a six-ball run, and then watched as Max and Cubby exchanged knockouts negated by scratches. Lorde then handled Max after he took out Cubby for her third win. Max had a five-ball run in game 8, allowing him to take lows, and he went unchallenged for a whole turn before Cubby took the mediums. Lorde made a point to target Cubby, taking him out within two turns as she protected a damaged highs set, and then she got around Max for her fourth win of the series, a bit of a stolen victory this time. Lorde didn't have the same quality of play in game 9, falling off the pace rapidly. Cubby accelerated her decline, while Max put her out to battle with Cubby directly. This didn't go well for him, as Cubby took a sloppy win after blasting in the 7 and kicking the 9 erratically to the top left for his third win. Lorde did what she needed to in game 10, working with the highs to beat Max's mediums and Cubby's lows. Max was the first to fall in the game, early in the four-ball run-out Lorde executed with some collateral damage to beat Cubby as well for her fifth win. Neither Cubby nor Max will advance with Lorde.
Isabella v. Cassie v. Americus at McDonald's Hall, Atlantic. Isabella had a blistering attack on her first turn in game 1, and managed to make Americus pay for choosing the lows on her second turn. The game hit a slowdown from here, but once Cassie took out Americus, Isabella's path to her first win got clearer and she finished on a pair of clean shots. Americus had the first successful attack in game 2, claiming the highs. Isabella took the mediums on her turn, but she couldn't produce much offense before Americus knocked her out. Cassie then had a few chances to take out Americus before finally striking her rival's 15 to the top right for her first win. Isabella made a good defense of her mediums in game 3 despite being the last player to receive a suit. She quickly attacked Americus' highs, and beat her in two turns, also ending Cassie on the latter turn with a four-ball run-out for her second win. Isabella had a masterful six-ball run to open game 4, and Cassie followed it up with a four-ball run to prevent Americus from taking a shot in this game. Cassie would get the win with a pair of shots on the next turn, her second win of the series. Isabella and Cassie continued their two-player fight for the top in game 5, quickly disturbing the lows as Cassie took the mediums and Isabella played with the highs. Americus hung around for awhile until Isabella cranked a five-ball run-out for her third win of the series. Americus made an interesting play to protect the highs in game 6, despite a stronger position for the mediums at the time. Isabella received the mediums, and launched an attack to weaken Americus significantly. Cassie finished her off, and then just got around Isabella at the end for her third win, continuing the even exchange between the two front runners. Isabella took full advantage of a bad break by Cassie to lead off game 7, taking a four-ball run on her first turn. Americus followed up by claiming the highs, leaving the weakened mediums with Cassie, who couldn't impact the game on her second turn. Isabella charged forward on a five-ball run-out for her fourth win, denying Cassie the second place point as she took her out on the fourth shot before finishing Americus' game. Americus finally impacted the series with her game 8 win, as she went unchallenged for two turns before Cassie picked up the mediums, leaving Isabella vulnerable with the lows. Isabella made a small counterattack to leave Cassie in a bad spot, and Americus finished them both off with a three-ball run-out, giving Cassie the extra point. Isabella pulled away from the pack in game 9, working with Americus to pin Cassie's lows early on before taking her out with a six-ball run-out that also wiped Americus' lows off the table. This was probably enough to prevent Cassie from secondary qualifying, while Americus wasn't even close to joining Isabella in the second round.
Katharine McPhee v. Cleo v. Bandit at Samsung Arena, Whitewater. Katharine had a short run to lead off game 1 and protect the lows, but Cleo erupted on a seven-ball run that left both of her opponents rattled. Neither Bandit nor Katharine could do much against Cleo, and she won with a three-ball run-out that included a little collateral damage, taking Bandit out on the last shot. Cleo didn't dominate in the same way in game 2, instead opting to take the highs and play an even game. Bandit took the lows, and had a mid-game scratch that turned things in favor of Katharine, who would win as she took out Bandit and Cleo on consecutive turns for her first win. Game 3 saw each player get good offense, with Katharine making a four-ball run, followed by a three-ball run from Cleo, and Bandit's four-ball run-out that sat them both down as he won first game. Bandit never let his opponents shoot in game 4, cranking a ten-ball run-out after sinking two balls on the break and protecting the highs in his perfect game for his second win. Bandit had a much more difficult time in game 5, and for most of the frame, it appeared to be Cleo's game to lose. She went unchallenged for two turns before Bandit claimed the lows, and it was a few more turns before Bandit ousted Katharine. Bandit did well on defense, biding his time until he could put Cleo away for his third win. Cleo again saw two unchallenged turns in game 6, before Bandit finally laid claim to the mediums. This proved to be a smart choice, as Cleo's next run went three balls, leaving just his 8 on the table as Katharine was eliminated again. Bandit went to a defensive posture again, frustrating Cleo, until the shot of the tournament. Bandit, facing three of Cleo's balls, dropped them all on one shot, cutting the 15 to the top side and using the deflection to pot the 8-11-14 combination to the bottom right, with the cue spinning into the 11 and bumping it in as well for his fourth win. The beautiful triple pot is likely one of the best shots of the year. Bandit didn't get anything from the break in game 7, and Katharine and Cleo worked together to keep him down, pinning him with the one-ball highs. He still rallied for a four-ball run, and while Cleo flubbed her chance to get a win, Katharine double-potted the 12 and 6 to the top side and top left for her second win of the series. Katharine and Cleo both attacked the highs on their first turns in game 8, with Katharine showing a bit more success in defense of the lows. Bandit still charged with an eight-ball run, wiping Cleo out and leaving Katharine weaker, but Katharine picked up her third win by putting his 12 in the top side. Katharine found herself out a couple of times in game 9 after her mediums were targeted by Bandit on his first turn. Bandit defended the highs well, and Cleo's two scratches were mostly to keep the series going. Katharine turned things around on her third life, knocking Cleo from the game and playing defense before beating Bandit on the next turn for her fourth win. Cleo didn't want to let the series go quite yet, so she blasted a nine-ball run on her first turn in game 10, wiping Katharine's lows from the game. Defending the mediums, Cleo nearly saw disaster as Bandit launched a counterattack, but he couldn't sink her 8, and she poked his 12 behind it for her second win. Katharine and Cleo kept their attack against Bandit strong in game 11, to such an effective point that his mediums were the first out. Katharine then turned on Cleo after an earlier seven-ball run and beat her on the last shot to take the series with her fifth win. Cleo is out of qualifying, but Bandit actually scored better than Katharine and should make the second round as well.
That's all for today. We'll do four series in a shorter set tomorrow.
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