We're ready to go for a brand new day of Tournament play. We begin with...
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles v. Shiny. The red cue gets the first look today in Rotation. Web City's Shiny had a strong start in game 1, and then took over with a four-ball run. Capital City's Sprinkles put up a small fight, but eventually fell 8-3 as Shiny takes a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles fired back with a viciously effective game 2, winning 8-0. Her highlight in the shutout of the Spiders' Shiny was a 3-12-5-15 kick combination to the top side to make it 4-0 at the time. The series is tied at 1 heading to the final game. Sprinkles had a couple more interesting sequence plays, with the 11 factoring in for a bump once before getting bumped the second time. Shiny rallied on a five-ball run to get on the brink of advancing, followed by a three-ball run from Sprinkles to make it close. Shiny banked the 13 to the top left to win 8-7 in the game and 2-1 in the series, advancing to the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Bandit. Two diminutive players meet in 7-ball with the blue cue. Pacific's Chicky Phil had the better start in game 1, but Swordpoint's Bandit showed control at the end, picking up the last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Chicky Phil fell off a lot in game 2, erring more often than converting his shots. This made it very easy for the Blades' Bandit to come through and win on a three-ball run-out in the end, clinching the series at 2-0. Chicky Phil scratched on every one of his three turns in game 3, paving the way for Bandit to take an easy win again as he sweeps the series 3-0 to advance to the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Shiny. The visitor plays her second series today, in 8-ball with the red cue. Web City's Shiny weathered a small burst from Golden's Valencia before breaking out on a seven-ball run, including some incredible needle-threading shots. Shiny finished it on her next turn, tapping in the 8 at the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia couldn't assemble much offense in game 2 either, and while the Spiders' Shiny lacked a miracle run, she had enough to take the win again, clinching the series at 2-0. Valencia actually had the lead for most of game 3, but Shiny held Valencia's 5 hostage before executing a five-ball run. Both players had late chances, but Shiny cut the 8 to the bottom right to secure the 3-0 sweep, earning a trip the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Twinkie III v. Whiskers. The red cue stays in action, returning to the Rotation bracket for this one. Whitewater's Twinkie III needed a bit of time to get going, giving up a lot early to Maplewood's Whiskers. Twinkie III then slowly rallied back to win 8-5, earning a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Twinkie III played proactively in game 2, getting a five-ball run on her second turn and then answering a point from the Lumberjacks' Whiskers with a three-ball run-out. The finisher for Twinkie III was a deflected bank of the 9 off the 10 to the top left to win 8-1, sealing the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw Whiskers recover from a slow start this time, battling late with Twinkie III before breaking through for the 8-6 win. Twinkie III advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Stealth. The blue cue is back for 10-ball in this series. Atlantic's Klaus had a good but empty break in game 1, but it set him up as Swordpoint's Stealth missed on the 2. Klaus hammered the 2-10 combination to the top right on his second turn for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. The Blades' Stealth had an improved effort in game 2, but it was illegal contact on a kick attempt toward the 5 that doomed him. The Pirates' Klaus took a chance by dropping the 5 and driving the cue to the 8, which took down the 10 in the bottom right for a successful and legal double-pot. Klaus clinched the series at 2-0 with the smart play. Klaus had a six-ball run early in game 3, and then surrendered possession after Stealth illegally potted the 8. The strategy almost worked, as Stealth missed on the 10, but Klaus couldn't convert either, and Stealth won on the second try. Klaus heads to the second round with a 2-1 series win.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Stealth. The visitors brings the blue cue with him in Rotation for his second series today. Game 1 started tight, but Pacific's Ms. Kitty faded relatively fast after Swordpoint's Stealth took a three-ball run. He would add a pair later to win 8-4 for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty had a better start in game 2, and while the Blades' Stealth made a late push, he wouldn't come close to touching her lead. Ms. Kitty sealed the win at 8-5, tying the series at 1 with a confident rebound game. Ms. Kitty dominated in game 3, winning by an 8-2 score as Stealth struggled to keep the cue on the table. His scratches and Ms. Kitty's precision helped her to take the series at 2-1 as well, moving into the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Cassandra. Eastern Hills rivals clash in 8-ball, with the silver cue making its first appearance of the day. Diamond's Cassandra made the first strike in game 1, but she couldn't keep pace later in the game, and Eastside's Chelsea roared ahead to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a bit more persistent play from the Gems' Cassandra, who didn't stall out after her five-ball run. The Sharks' Chelsea made a push with a five-ball run of her own, but it cleared the way for Cassandra to take the win, tying the series at 1 in the process. Cassandra got another hot start in game 3, although Chelsea immediately answered with a three-ball run. Cassandra had a chance to get the win on a run, but she scratched while potting the 8, gifting the game and the 2-1 series to Chelsea, who moves on to the second round.
Intel Center, Diamond: Pedey v. Bells. The silver cue stays on for Rotation in another Rivalry series. Diamond's Pedey had a tough time getting started, but once he found his offense, Todavía's Bells stood no chance. Pedey cruised to an 8-2 win and 1-0 series lead with the game 1 victory. The Stills' Bells did better in game 2, putting the Gems' Pedey on the ropes in a faster moving game. It didn't matter, as Pedey mixed offense and defense just right and got a three-ball run-out at the end to steal the 8-7 win to secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw Bells fight back against Pedey to tie the game late, only for Pedey to make two shots to win 8-6 in the end. Pedey advances to the second round on a 3-0 series sweep.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Rosalina. The red cue is back for 12-ball between these tough competitors. Midland's Americus got generous on a break that saw her scratch and give up a wild-card ball, but while Diamond's Rosalina did fine at first, she never got position on her last ball. A three-ball run by Americus helped her cause, and she made the last two shots to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw another dangerous break from the Predators' Americus, who used a nearly-illegal ball to defend a pocket. The Gems' Rosalina did what she could, but once Americus gave up the defense, it was all Rosalina, and she took the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw four-ball runs by both players, with Rosalina's including a scratch at one point. Americus had some trouble with scratches later on, but it set up her brilliant double-pot finish of the 1 and 3 to the right corners for the win. Americus takes the series 2-1 to advance to the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Bright. The red cue remains in action for more 12-ball between these veterans. Pearl's Bright had a great counterattack in game 1, answering a three-ball run from Tysini's Brownie with a four-ball run of his own. Bright got set up after Brownie erred later on, and Bright buried the last two shots for a 1-0 series lead on his win. The Hummingbirds' Brownie wasted no time in getting even in game 2, making a five-ball run that bought her time to develop positioning on the last shot. The Surfers' Bright had a three-ball run, but he couldn't catch up, and Brownie got the win to tie the series at 1. Brownie doubled down with a pacey game 3 effort, aided by a wild-card ball given away by Bright early on. Brownie got positioning quickly, and while Bright nearly caught up, Brownie shut the door for a 2-1 series win that puts her into the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Goatee. The red cue gets another series, this time playing 7-ball. Eastside's Chelsea kept Westside's Goatee away from the table in game 1, blasting the 7 to the top side on the break for the quick win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Chelsea remained strong in game 2, potting a three-ball run from the break before missing the 4. The Rockers' Goatee made it but couldn't get another, and Chelsea then used the 5 to get the 7 close to the top left. This move helped her end on a three-ball run-out for the win and the 2-0 series lead. Chelsea didn't play well in game 3, but she got the win anyway, as Goatee's four-ball run was not enough in the end, and Chelsea made the 6-7 combination to the bottom right. Chelsea swept the series 3-0 to get to the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Melissa Benoist v. Easter. The final series today is in 12-ball with the blue cue. Terrace City's Melissa went empty on the break, but Todavía's Easter didn't get what she wanted either, and Melissa took the favorable stripes to the finish. Easter's attempts at defense failed, allowing Melissa to win and take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a different distribution, as the Stills' Easter had another early mistake, but she recovered with a five-ball run to answer an earlier run from the Knights' Melissa. It all came down to the bottom side, and Easter had much better positioning, easily taking the win in three turns from her previous successful shot to tie the series at 1. Melissa and Easter battled for positioning again in game 3, especially after a four-ball run early in the game by Melissa. Easter couldn't quite catch up, and Melissa won the game for a 2-1 series win to advance to the second round.
That's all for today's games. We'll do this again tomorrow.
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