2018 Qualifiers - Day 17

We'll begin the day under supervision of the league for play quality concerns. First up...

Boots of the Pearl Surfers has the red cue in hand for 12-ball. Boots didn't have the best luck in this appearance, struggling with nothing on the break and two errors late in the game. She needed 25 shots to get through the appearance, although it was a quicker finish than expected. Next up, Chelsea of the Eastside Sharks uses the blue cue in Rotation. Chelsea didn't take an error in the game, a remarkable feat over 25 shots after going empty on the break, using excellent shot selection to succeed this time. Swordpoint Blades captain Snowball takes the next game, playing Rotation with the red cue. Snowball was a touch better, also going empty on the break and picking up three errors but showing command late in the game to end at 23 shots after a few crafty double-pots early on. Today's fourth game goes to the Modernistic Union's Daisy, who plays Rotation with the silver cue. Daisy made a ball on the break but took too cautious of an approach for the rest of the game, albeit without taking an error. She finished in 29 shots, a still-solid outing. Rounding out the group, the Todavía Stills veteran Bells plays Rotation with the silver cue. Bells didn't quite make a ball on the break, but she still played fairly well. She had two errors in the game, which helped more than they hurt, as she would close with 28 shots.

Group two leads off with Westside Rockers veteran Midnight using the silver cue in her Rotation appearance. Midnight had a strong but empty break, and she added three errors in a pacey showing, ending in 26 shots as she rarely missed a shot on a clear line. Shiny of the Web City Spiders steps in to shoot 9-ball with the blue cue. Shiny showed up big time, taking nothing on the break and one early error for illegal contact with a ball in play, but she ended at 5 shots after making the 9 by deflecting the cue off the 2 to drill the winning shot in the top side. After that, Modernistic Union rookie Kodiak plays 9-ball with the blue cue as well. Kodiak couldn't find a miracle bailout shot, needing 21 shots with three errors after an empty break to complete the outing. Going ninth today is the Web City Spiders' Jack, who tries to do better than yesterday as he shoots Rotation with the silver cue. Jack had another poor break leading to a difficult game in which he took three errors and struggled through 36 shots before closing the effort. The Golden Pilots' Strut closes the group with his 8-ball game with the red cue. Strut had a lot of things go right early on despite an empty break, only to see everything go wrong late in the game, pushing his score to 27 shots and three errors.

The third group gets going with Oceanside Waves sophomore Celestia continuing her big day with her 7-ball debut for the year, using the silver cue. Celestia made far fewer fireworks here, although a ball on the break and no errors did help to polish up her 12 shots in the game. Boston Swifts veteran Gradley plays next with the red cue in 12-ball. Gradley excelled like few others in this showing, making two balls on the break and taking no errors as he casually finished the rack in 15 shots for a starring role in today's games. The 13th game of the day is the Everton Eagles' Kirstin playing Rotation with the silver cue. Kirstin rode the border between brilliance and disaster, making a ball on the break but also adding three errors and a handful of misses before finishing with 28 shots. Continuing along, Pronger Tridents veteran Zach shoots Rotation with the blue cue. Zach did not have luck as good as his predecessor, needing five errors in 32 shots as well as an empty break to get through the game despite starting reasonably well. At the back of the group, Maplewood Lumberjacks captain Diddley tries 9-ball with the blue cue. Diddley's done better, as he had nothing on the break here and took an early error for illegal use of the stick. He nearly made a combination a few shots later, but ended up waiting to finish at 16 shots.

Batch four begins as Todavía Stills rookie Anton shoots Rotation with the blue cue. Anton had a poor break, leading to some congestion in the middle of the table. Anton abandoned clean play, racking up six errors to complete the game in 29 shots. Moving along, Diamond Gems captain Smokey plays 10-ball with the blue cue. Smokey had a good game, making a ball on the break and then draining a double-pot of the 2 to the top side and 10 to the bottom side as planned to finish at 3 shots and no errors for the game. Game #18 today is Westside Rockers captain Misty's 12-ball game with the red cue. Misty stayed composed amid some positional difficulties late in the game, taking no errors over 20 shots after making a ball on the break to set a positive tone for the game. Next up, Pearl Surfers co-captain Neopolitan debuts for the year in 7-ball with the red cue. Neopolitan couldn't quite drive the pace, nor did she make a ball on the break, but a score of 11 shots with one error is fine for such a late debut. Finishing the group, Atlantic Pirates sophomore Isabella plays 9-ball with the red cue. Isabella scratched on the break, her only error leading to a quick finish when she cut the 3-9 combination to the bottom right to end in 4 shots.

Group five sees Commerce Tradewinds stalwart Lionel shoot 12-ball with the blue cue at the front of the group. Lionel did make a ball on the break, but a missed cut late gave him a few extra shots for his error. He ended at a strong 18 in a good performance overall. The 22nd player called to shoot today is Archtown Arrows newcomer Wild Thing, who uses the red cue for 10-ball. Wild Thing had a highly promising start, with a ball on the break, but he collapsed late, ending at 24 shots and three errors in a wasted opportunity. Modernistic Union returnee Chimpy goes next in 8-ball with the blue cue. Chimpy managed to make a mess of this game even after a thundering break, which potted one ball. He didn't follow his runs very well, ending in 28 shots after three scratches delayed his efforts. Trying to get things back on track, the Union's Daisy returns for 15-ball with the struggling blue cue. Daisy couldn't make a difference on her errors, of which there were nine before she finished in 35 shots after an empty break. Mr. Snowman of the Infinity Torpedoes wraps up the group with 8-ball and the red cue. Mr. Snowman had nothing on the break, but also avoided any errors as he finished his game in a modest 20 shots.

The sixth group opens with the Union's Chimpy playing his second game today, using the blue cue again in 9-ball this time. Chimpy made two balls on the break and played dangerously and effectively throughout, with only one error over 13 shots in the outing. Cassandra of the Diamond Gems gets the 27th game today, using the red cue in Rotation. Cassandra had a brilliant game, with one ball on the break and a very productive unintentional error that helped her finish in 20 shots, one of the best games of the qualifying season. Following that, the Archtown Arrows' Sally comes in for Rotation with the red cue as well. Sally looked strong as well, getting favorable spin to pot the 10 on the break. She had three errors in the appearance, totaling 25 shots before she finished the game. Lighton Prestige captain Acorn goes next, trying 12-ball with the blue cue. Acorn struggled during the game, picking up three errors after an empty break, which pushed his score to 27 shots for the game. Capital City Sharpshooters newcomer Lorde ends the group with Rotation and the blue cue. Lorde had great shooting early on, but fell apart after her only intentionally illegal play. She would end up with six errors by the end, and it took 29 shots to complete the game.

Group seven starts as another Sharpshooter, the rookie Pauline, plays 9-ball with the blue cue. Pauline dazzled in this appearance, making a ball on the break. She had one error for a scratch, but bounced back to finish the game in only 9 shots. Tysini Hummingbirds star Leandra is next to play, using the blue cue in 9-ball as well. Leandra put together a similar performance, making a ball on the break late but taking no errors over 9 shots for a slightly better effort than the player before. The 33rd player called to shoot is Victoria Spurs captain Spice, who picks up the silver cue for 12-ball. Spice was just a bit out of form in this game, needing 26 shots with two errors and nothing from the break to finish the effort. Next up, Stonebridge Wolves sophomore Cobalt shoots Rotation with the red cue. Cobalt made a ball on the break but found himself in trouble late in the game. He had three errors, the third never before seen in the league. He bumped the table three times to make the 14 fall, allowing him to finish with 24 shots but also earning him a two-game suspension in cricket. After that silliness, the group comes to a close with Cobalt returning for 15-ball with the blue cue. Cobalt played a more legal game this time, making a ball on a fantastic break. He had one error on a miscue, but cut the 5-15 combination to the top right a few shots later to end at 11 shots total.

The final group is headed by Midland Predators star Rainmane, who uses the red cue in 12-ball. Rainmane used expert positioning to overcome her empty break and a single late error on a scratch. She wasted little time in the end, finishing at 20 shots despite tough angles. The 37th game of the day belongs to Lighton Prestige veteran Katelynn, who plays her Accuracy with the red cue as the eighth player to finish qualifying. Katelynn didn't get anything on the break, but she stayed error-free over a quick 19 shots, showing quality play as she ends qualifying with 144 shots and 12 errors overall. The Surfers' co-captain Neopolitan is back in her second game, using the red cue for 8-ball. Neopolitan went empty on her break, but she also didn't take any errors in the game, finishing in a solid 22 shots after a little early chasing gave way to late runs. More 8-ball greets us as the Pacific Volcanoes star Ms. Kitty shoots with the silver cue in the event. Ms. Kitty shut things down nicely, taking nothing on the break but also avoiding errors and clearing the table in a quick 19 shots to post a great score. Finally, the Pearl Surfers' other co-captain, Watermelon, shoots 10-ball with the blue cue. Watermelon made two balls on the break and flew through the game in 12 shots without an error for an excellent performance.

That's it for today. League supervision created better results, so tomorrow is scheduled as normal.