We're on the tenth game day of the Tournament. I expect a standard day, instead of an extended one as originally thought yesterday. We get going with...
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Gizmo v. Puff III. The silver cue gets the first look today, playing 7-ball. The oddest game 1 of all time came here, as Eastside's Gizmo flubbed the break. Everton's Puff III made the 4, 5, and 6 to the top right on a de facto break, and then completed the game four shots later with a long strike on the 7 to the top left to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Sharks' Gizmo redeemed himself in game 2, as the Eagle's Puff III struggled after an early pair of shots. Gizmo would get the win on a four-ball run-out, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was the closest in the series, but it was Puff III making a three-ball run at the end to counter Gizmo's early offense. Puff III got the win and a 2-1 series win to earn her spot in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Chimpy v. Niki. A small Urban rivalry gets the spotlight in 12-ball with the red cue. Modernistic's Chimpy led the charge in game 1, but the game eventually turned into a battle of fits and starts. Commerce's Niki picked up the last two shots after Chimpy failed to complete a run, giving the visitor the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Chimpy kept the same plan for game 2, but executed better with positioning and an early three-ball run. The Tradewinds' Niki had some defense, but it ran out when Chimpy drained the 13 at the top side for the win, tying the series at 1. Chimpy stuck to his plan again in game 3, taking out the bottom pockets before picking around another defensively sound effort from Niki. Chimpy's winner was a sneaking shot on the 12 around the 1 to the top left to take the series 2-1, giving him a bid in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Citrus. A captain and a star meet in 8-ball with the blue cue. Game 1 went back-and-forth, as Capital City's Chris made a five-ball run, Diamond's Citrus countered, they sparred late, and then Citrus took the win on a tap-in on the 8 for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus had a weak break in game 2, but the Sharpshooters' Chris wasted a chance for an early run. He still struck first with a five-ball run, but Citrus roared back on a seven-ball run-out with great positioning, clinching the series at 2-0. Citrus had a good start to game 3, but she couldn't make it stand, as Chris pulled all the way back to get the win, making it a 2-1 series win for the advancing Citrus.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Spice v. Watermelon. A battle between captains brings the blue cue back to the table for 15-ball. Victoria's Spice got lucky to walk away with the game 1 win, as Pearl's Watermelon held a majority of the possession thanks to back-to-back four-ball runs, but a miss on the 15 erased her effort. Spice tapped it in to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Spurs' Spice played a much larger role in her success in game 2, getting a big share of the offense and frustrating the Surfers' Watermelon defensively throughout the game. Spice ended the game with a smart four-ball run-out, matching one from earlier in the game, to clinch the series at 2-0. Spice didn't do all that well in a calm game 3 effort, as Watermelon played with a bit more intensity and got the win on a deflection off the 9 that sent the 15 to the top left. Spice advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Jeremias. These two minor rivals duke it out in 12-ball with the blue cue. Southern's Pounce seemed to have a jump on Royal's Jeremias from the start in game 1, getting better shots, better positioning, and ultimately a better result, as Pounce won for a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce had no obvious advantage in game 2, fighting for every inch on the table. The Crowns' Jeremias got down to his last ball, but he messed up a contact play, giving Pounce ball-in-hand, and the host made the last two shots to secure the series at 2-0 with his win. Pounce had to fight hard in game 3 again, but with a more attacking style as Jeremias dropped into a defensive role. Pounce got his way late, taking the win for a 3-0 series sweep to head into the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Pedey. The red cue is back in action for this 10-ball series between veterans. Web City's Jack had a five-ball run off the break in game 1, but while he dominated the first half, Diamond's Pedey played better late, winning on a three-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw each player take a three-ball run, with the Gems' Pedey getting his early and the Spiders' Jack striking later. They were even near the end, until Jack took the win on the last pair of shots to tie the series at 1. Pedey made the first two balls in game 3, but Jack potted the 3 and used the 4 to send the cue into the 10, sinking it as called in the top right to give Jack a 2-1 series win and a trip to the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Pedey. The visitor is on a doubleheader, facing a rested host in 15-ball with the silver cue. Game 1 started slow but picked up after the 9, with each player hitting a three-ball run. Diamond's Pedey had the latter of those, which ended as he missed the 15, and Freedom's Roxy tapped it into the bottom side for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went almost identically as the one before, with the same three-ball runs late and the same miss by the Gems' Pedey leading to the Cascades' Roxy picking up the slack to take the win and the 2-0 series lead. Roxy did a bit better early on in game 3, but she lacked the same aggression late, and this opened things up for Pedey to take the win on the final pair of shots. Roxy claimed the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal Gadot v. Luigi. This Accuracy series with the red cue amounts to a practice session between the teammates and club-mates. Each player made a pair of balls on the first shot, and then exchanged misses. Gal missed a bit more later on, and Luigi happily took the 1-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 featured some shakier play on both sides, as Gal fell behind early and had to push hard to tie the game, only to miss on the last ball. Luigi capitalized, winning 4-5 to secure the series at 2-0. Luigi eased off a bit in game 3, and Gal graciously took the win 2-3 at the end, making it a 2-1 series win on which Luigi heads to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Ice Cream v. Spice. The red cue remains in play for 10-ball in this series. Victoria's Spice had the first good push in game 1 with a four-ball run, but her scratch allowed Boston's Ice Cream to smack a four-ball run of her own. Both players missed the 10 once, but Ice Cream made it on the second try to take a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Ice Cream had a four-ball run early on, aided by the Spurs' Spice choosing to let Ice Cream retain possession after an early illegal double-pot. Spice benefited later on, winning on a five-ball run-out after Ice Cream couldn't build another run. Spice's savvy choice tied the series at 1. Ice Cream played more aggressively in game 3, and it ended up being to her detriment. A late three-ball run gave her hope, but a later scratch allowed Spice to take the 10 from ball-in-hand for a 2-1 series win, which puts her into the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Nightfur. Experienced veterans meet in 10-ball, this time with the blue cue. Royal's Nightfur looked a tad more dangerous in game 1, putting a bit of zip on her shots, but Todavía's Sierra held her ground and made a pair of shots late to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a bit more production out of the Stills' Sierra, but it came down to strategy in the end. The Crowns' Nightfur let Sierra shoot after her illegal play on the 8, but Sierra went defensive. Nightfur scratched, but Sierra only made the 9, leaving the 10 for Nightfur to drive to the top left for the win, which tied the series at 1. In game 3, Nightfur tried to keep up the attack, but a scratch on her 4-10 combination left a tap-in combination for Sierra to take the game and the 2-1 series. Sierra didn't hesitate, advancing to the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Gradley. The red cue returns for another series of 10-ball. Atlantic's Isabella had a rough game 1, unable to get her offense going, while a missed contact on the 2 allowed Boston's Gradley to bury the 2-10 combination from ball-in-hand for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 had a slower start, although the Pirates' Isabella did make an early three-ball run. The middle played slower, but the Swifts' Gradley took over at the end, picking up a four-ball run-out to secure the series at 2-0. Isabella had another good start in game 3, but it quickly faded toward the end, and she took Gradley's miss on the 10 for granted, missing it herself from point-blank range. Gradley converted on his fortunate second chance, sweeping the series 3-0 against the sour-tempered host. Gradley earned a spot in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Luigi. A veteran meets a sophomore in Rotation with the silver cue in today's final series. Central's Twilight had an early lead, but North Modernistic's Luigi always kept himself in range. He covered the deficit before making a brutal mistake in potting the 10 before the 9. This gave Twilight a chance for a three-ball run-out, which she made for an 8-6 win and 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Twilight jumped out to a lead in game 2 as well, but the Nighthawks' Luigi provided a more defensive resistance this time. It didn't work any better, as Twilight jammed a 12-14 combination banked to the bottom right to win 8-4 at the end after some chippy turns, earning herself a 2-0 series lead. Luigi got the better of Twilight in a challenging game 3, getting a couple of runs to pace his 8-5 win. Twilight took a 2-1 series win to get to the second round.
Tomorrow, we should have a standard day if we can get Select Week 10 wrapped up in a timely manner.
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