We're back for another four series, beginning with...
Cowzart v. Katharine McPhee v. Leonette at BMW RockDome, Westside. Game 1 started very slowly, with only Katharine making a positive impact in the early turns. As the game progressed, Leonette got more comfortable, and her last two turns were three-ball runs to bump Cowzart and Katharine for her first win. Game 2 saw just as much poor play from the trio of players, with Leonette striking first to take the highs. Katharine had a stronger finish, winning on a four-ball run-out with Cowzart on the third shot and Leonette's last ball going down for the finale as Katharine earned her first win. Cowzart actually had his best performance in game 3, his first turn being a five-ball run and his next a three-ball run, but while he bested Katharine, Leonette made the final pair for her second win. Game 4 saw a huge seven-ball run from Cowzart, the effort completely taking out the highs. Katharine made a low to ensure she would get a point, and then took her second win when Cowzart failed to make her last three balls. Katharine went on an impressive attack in game 5, with an eight-ball run to protect the highs. She took out Cowzart on the next turn, and then beat Leonette on her third turn for her third win. Game 6 saw a more reserved start. Leonette established herself on the mediums, but Katharine and Cowzart kept things balanced. Cowzart nearly had Katharine bumped, but his scratch allowed her to get more permanent revenge on him. Leonette then beat Katharine in two turns for her third win in the two-player race. Cowzart started game 7 with a five-ball run, giving himself the highs. Katharine followed up the get the mediums, but Leonette hung on the longest, letting Cowzart bump Katharine out of the game before he took himself out two turns later on a tough cut attempt. Leonette now has four wins in the series. Katharine pulled even with Leonette after winning game 8, as Cowzart had a hot start but also another mental error late in the game after Leonette had been eliminated. Cowzart's mistake allowed Katharine to storm forward for the victory on a short run. Leonette and Katharine turned against each other quickly in game 9, paving a smooth path for Cowzart to take for his first win, as Leonette benched Katharine on a four-ball run before getting beat herself. Katharine had two piercing runs in game 10, each taking four balls, the first to establish herself with the mediums, and the second to beat Cowzart and Leonette for her fifth win to advance to the third round.
Charli XCX v. Sprinkles v. Melissa Benoist at Cisco Arena, Tysini. Charli got off to a great start in game 1 with a seven-ball run, and it took until Melissa's second turn for a player to claim a suit. Melissa took the mediums to fight Charli's lows, and she won, taking a late four-ball run-out for her first win of the series. Melissa had a good break in game 2, but it was her second turn, an eight-ball run-out, that really set her apart. Neither of her opponents could claim a suit on their only turns, so they split the point as Melissa took her second win of the series in dominant form. Melissa had another strong break in game 3, but couldn't support it with a big run despite plenty of shooting options to defend her highs. Charli and Sprinkles took the lows and mediums over time, and each player had one ball left when Melissa ousted Sprinkles. Charli had a chance to earn the win, but missed, and Melissa took it instead, her third victory so far. Charli finally put in a balanced challenge to beat Melissa in game 4. Charli used an early five-ball run to weaken her opponents, and then Melissa ousted Sprinkles before Charli took the win on a four-ball run-out with some collateral damage to clear the defense. The win was Charli's first. Game 5 saw Melissa return to form with a seven-ball run on her first turn. Neither Charli nor Sprinkles could claim a suit on their first chances, so Melissa took the lows off the board. Sprinkles missed again, allowing Charli to make a high to claim the mediums. Melissa beat her on the next turn for her fourth win in another dominant effort. Melissa didn't get the start she wanted in game 6, allowing Charli to claim the highs. Sprinkles soon took the mediums, but she would fall first again to Melissa, before Charli turned it around and cut Melissa's 1 into the top right for her second win. Charli and Melissa both stumbled a bit in game 7, and Charli and Sprinkles both had scratches. Melissa tried to beat them but they combined to take her out first, and Charli piled on by taking Sprinkles out for her third win of the series. Sprinkles knocked an eight-ball run on her first turn of game 8, which would have eliminated Charli were it not for her scratch. Charli and Melissa each made a couple of shots, but Sprinkles produced a three-ball run-out to secure her first win in the end. Game 9 brought a bit more messy play and a couple of scratches to slow the progress. Melissa went on the attack at the end of the game, earning the win with a three-ball run-out that gifted one more point to Charli. Melissa will play on in the third round.
Shaggy v. Sierra v. Smudge at Samsung Arena, Whitewater. Shaggy had an empty break in game 1, allowing Sierra to claim the mediums at first. Smudge followed with the lows, playing recklessly at times. Shaggy and Sierra brawled a bit, with Sierra knocking her out, and Sierra's defense held Smudge off long enough for Sierra to win on a three-ball run-out for her first game. Shaggy had more of the offense in game 2, creating two particularly crafty runs. The latter of these two runs gave her the win, as she made five in a row to oust Smudge and then Sierra for her first win of the series. Game 3 saw some interesting strategy as Shaggy and Sierra each had big runs early in the game in defense of the mediums and lows. Smudge had to hold on with the highs, and she struck late, taking out Sierra before banking Shaggy's 6 to the bottom side for her first win. Game 4 saw a lot of balance as each player had one good run. Sierra made a late push that fell short, and she would finish last after Smudge used her 9 to knock her out. Smudge's 9 also sank seconds later, gifting Shaggy her second win. Shaggy had to play smart after big attacks by Smudge (five-ball run) and Sierra (supplementary attack). A scratch by Sierra gave Shaggy new life, and she let Smudge oust Sierra before beating Smudge herself for her third win in five games. Shaggy continued to let her two daughters take each other out, as Sierra offed Smudge in game 6, and Shaggy then beat Sierra head-to-head despite losing a bit of her power from previous efforts. Shaggy has four wins, using her experience to beat her hot-headed children. Shaggy had a decent run from the break in game 7, and Sierra had a shorter run herself following that, but Smudge didn't let either of them return to the table, clobbering a seven-ball run-out for the win, her second of the series. Shaggy got them back in a scratch-filled finale to the series in game 8. The scratches were from Sierra and Smudge, allowing Shaggy to remain strong as she bested Smudge first and Sierra later on for her fifth win to advance to the third round.
Sally v. Stephanie Livilotti v. Twinkie III at Starbucks Arena, Archtown. Game 1 saw Stephanie do a six-ball run on her first turn, leaving the highs decimated. Twinkie III shot back a bit, but Sally still played for her second turn. Stephanie then offed her, and beat Twinkie III a turn later for her first win. In game 2, Twinkie III claimed the lows early and Sally flubbed her first shot. Sally wouldn't shoot again, as Stephanie took the mediums with a nice run and Twinkie III offed the host. Stephanie held a huge advantage late and made it stand after Twinkie III removed Stephanie's defensive measures. Stephanie has two wins. Game 3 saw Twinkie III take the lows, and Sally grabbed the highs, leaving Stephanie at a disadvantage. She fired back a bit, but Sally would take her out on her second turn, and Sally beat Twinkie III after some jockeying around the top side, earning her first win in the process. Sally had nothing on the game 4 break, allowing Twinkie III to claim the highs. Stephanie failed on her first shot, but nothing would have stopped Sally's nine-ball run-out, a dominant display with just a little collateral damage that earned her a second win. Sally pieced together another long run in game 5, making a six-ball run on her second turn to off Stephanie and damage Twinkie III's highs. Twinkie III tried to make a response, but missed on the 2, and Sally made the last two shots for her third win. Sally got through two turns unchallenged in defense of the highs in game 6. Twinkie III then took mediums, leaving Stephanie with lows. Stephanie made a good attack with a three-ball run to bump Twinkie III from the game, but she missed her last shot, and Sally stepped in for a pair of shots to pick up her fourth win. Sally had a four-ball run to lead off in game 7, and Stephanie followed up with a five-ball run, both moves combining to weaken the mediums of Twinkie III. She managed to get two turns before Sally offed her, but Stephanie pulled back and got the win, her third of the series. Stephanie couldn't make a ball on the game 8 break, but Sally also came up short, allowing Twinkie III to develop a small run to take the highs. Stephanie then followed on a five-ball run to claim the mediums, and Sally launched a counterattack. In the end, Stephanie got the win on a three-ball run-out, taking out Sally and then Twinkie III for her fourth win. Twinkie III went on quite the rally in two turns in game 9, pummeling both opponents and knocking Sally from the game before beating Stephanie a turn later for her first win after hanging around but getting some unlucky breaks earlier. Game 10 finally saw Sally settle the series with a six-ball run-out, taking out Twinkie III before offing Stephanie for her fifth win to get to the third round.
That's all for Friday and Saturday. We'll take tomorrow off, and then return for a full week of action starting Monday.
No comments:
Post a Comment