We're approaching the halfway mark of the first round, which will be tomorrow. Today, the games begin with...
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Pauline v. Klaus. The blue cue gets the first series, playing 15-ball. Capital City's Pauline had some good play early in game 1, but she lost control of her shot later on, and Atlantic's Klaus made the last five balls over two turns for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Pauline had an even greater share of possession in game 2, making seven of the last eight balls after a great start, but the Pirates' Klaus got the 15 when Pauline cut it wide of the top right. Klaus' stolen win clinched the series at 2-0. Klaus earned his game 3 win, with a five-ball run and a four-ball run before he took the 15 from ball-in-hand after one of Pauline's errors. Klaus swept the series 3-0 to advance to the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Debby Ryan. The same clubs send forth representative for 15-ball again, this time with the red cue. In game 1, Southridge's Debby had the best stretch of play with a six-ball run, and she added two later pairs, but Pronger's Potter struck another win with the last pair at the end, good for a 1-0 series lead as Outcast members continue to excel. The Tridents' Potter contributed a bit more offense in game 2, particularly on a late five-ball run. He just left the 15 standing, and the Defenders' Debby capped a decent game of her own with a long cut on it to the top left for the win, tying the series at 1. An exciting start in game 3 gave way to a cagey and mellow finish, with a late flourish as Debby poked the 10 toward the top left while converting the deflected shot on the 15 to the top side for the win. Debby took the series 2-1 away from Potter, sending her into the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Briana Livilotti. A sophomore hosts a rookie as the blue cue returns to action with 9-ball. North Modernistic's Peach seemed to stay a step ahead of Queens' Briana in game 1, getting the better offense and tapping in the 9 when Briana missed it. Peach leads the series 1-0 with her win. The Flames' Briana was a bit more obstructive in game 2, defending better against the attacks of the Nighthawks' Peach, but it didn't stop the host from making the 6 to the bottom right and the 9 to the top right on a game-ending double-pot. Peach secured the series at 2-0. Peach had her share of offense in game 3 as well, but a miss on the 6 set in motion a three-ball run-out that salvaged a win for Briana in the 2-1 series. Peach still advances to the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Summer. The silver cue pops up in this 10-ball series between a captain and a poised rookie. Atlantic's Delila struck first with a three-ball run in game 1, but a scratch as she made the 3 opened the door for Maplewood's Summer to launch a seven-ball run-out on the counterattack for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Delila had another decent start in game 2, getting a good run, and the Lumberjacks' Summer didn't get a chance to make a miracle run from ball-in-hand. It didn't stop Summer from a late three-ball run-out in the course of play, clinching the series in her favor at 2-0. Summer had her chances in a competitive game 3, but she missed on the 10 late, and Delila cut it to the bottom side, salvaging a win from the series. Summer takes the 2-1 series win with her to the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Prism. A superstar and a sophomore meet as the silver cue stays up for 12-ball. Lighton's Spirit didn't do herself any favors in game 1, scratching on the break and not getting great positioning, while Todavía's Prism had a relatively easy go of things, picking up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit did better with stripes in game 2, getting a three-ball run that unfortunately ended in a scratch. The Stills' Prism gave away a wild-card ball, but it opened things up for her three-ball run-out a turn later, which led to her winning again and securing the series at 2-0. Morale dropped in a difficult game 3, as both players scratched and came to a late impasse. Eventually, Prism gifted the win away to Spirit to end the series. Prism will advance on a 2-1 series win, despite the depressing finish.
Intel Center, Diamond: Cassandra v. Kiwi. A returning veteran faces a strong captain in 12-ball with the blue cue. Diamond's Cassandra chose solids after making one of each on the game 1 break, but she would give a second wild-card ball to Terrace City's Kiwi later, the catalyst for the visitor's four-ball run-out. Kiwi leads the series 1-0. The Knights' Kiwi got stuck with the inferior stripes suit in game 2, and while the Gems' Cassandra again gave her a wild-card ball, this one was too late. Cassandra struggled to fit the 3 in the top side, but she made it on her fourth direct try, getting the win to tie the series at 1. Kiwi and Cassandra battled closely in game 3, with Kiwi getting an edge in positioning that she would convert into a win as she banked the 9 to the top side at the end. Kiwi took the series 2-1, moving into the second round where she will visit the Swordpoint Blades' Bandit, while Cassandra will take a total of five bids to the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Stripes v. Snuggle. The red cue is in for 9-ball in this series between veterans. Two errors doomed Freedom's Stripes in game 1, with a scratch ending her five-ball run and missed contact giving Oceanside's Snuggle ball-in-hand for the 9 after a long chase. Snuggle converted, and he takes a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Snuggle had a four-ball run to start game 2, and he battled onward with more offense, but the Cascades' Stripes picked up the 9 at the with a subdued cut to tie the series at 1 with her win. Stripes imposed herself in game 3 with a three-ball run, showing some aggression, but Snuggle would get the win with a lucky deflection off the 4 that sent the 9 to the bottom side on his second turn. Snuggle won the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Crystal. The silver cue returns to action in a star-power-filled Rotation series. Game 1 remained close, although displays of these players' abilities didn't come until later. With the game tied, Queens' Crystal burst out for a four-ball run-out, winning 8-4 over Infinity's Fluffina for the 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Fluffina kept things close at times in game 2, but even as she pulled even, the Flames' Crystal found ways to pull away. Crystal got the last two shots to win 8-6, clinching the series at 2-0. Crystal didn't stay behind long in game 3, as Fluffina took leads early and late but couldn't hold on in the end. Short runs were key, and Crystal got a three-ball run-out to win 8-6 for the 3-0 series sweep that gets her through. Crystal will visit the Commerce Tradewinds' Lionel in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Spot. A veteran welcomes a sophomore as the red cue gets another look in 9-ball. Southern's Pounce experienced a bit of frustration in a chippy game 1, and when Pronger's Spot left the 8 up, Pounce blasted it to the top left and then banked the 9 hard to the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Spot didn't hesitate in game 2 to make a 1-9 combination to the top right after the Monarchs' Pounce left the 9 close to the pocket from the break. Spot's heads-up play tied the series at 1. Spot dominated possession in game 3, getting a big run on his second turn and a three-ball run-out that included a double-pot of the 7 and 9 to the right corners on his third turn for the win. Spot took the series 2-1, moving to the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Zach. Two strong players clash in Accuracy with the silver cue before a break. Todavía's Sierra started well, but she faltered by the end of the game. Pronger's Zach had trouble potting the final ball, inflating his winning score to 2-4, which gives him a 1-0 series lead. Any residual shakiness that the Stills' Sierra may have had going into game 2 didn't last long, as she buried every single shot, while the Tridents' Zach failed to pull his share of the load and lost 0-6. Sierra's dominant effort tied the series at 1. Zach had no issues keeping pace with Sierra in game 3, and he used a double-pot to counter her ball on the break to reclaim last shot privileges. Sierra had a late miss very narrowly, and Zach won 1-2, good for a 2-1 series win to put him in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Slinks. After a break, the game is still Accuracy but the blue cue will be playing between veterans. Game 1 saw the players exchange shots almost evenly, but Westside's Slinks did miss once in the middle of the game. Pronger's Precious made that be decisive, winning 0-1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Precious had the first miss in game 2, coming later than in the previous game, but she closed things up well, getting the Rockers' Slinks to miss her last two shots. Precious capped the game at 1-2, clinching the series in fantastic form at 2-0. Slinks and Precious went back and forth in a much looser game 3 battle, and while Precious had the late lead, she watched things swing to Slinks 4-5 as she missed her last two shots. Precious wins the series 2-1 to get to the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Waluigi. The silver cue oversees today's final series in 9-ball. Boston's Gradley had a seemingly large portion of possession in game 1, but he missed twice on the 9, the second a light miss, and Lighton's Waluigi knocked it for the win. Waluigi holds a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Waluigi almost got insanely lucky with his kick on the 2 pushing the 9 near the top right, but his dream shot turned into a nightmare. The Swifts' Gradley drew the cue enough off of the 2 to tap the 9 in for the win, tying the series at 1. Gradley had his chances in game 3, but he again came up short, as Waluigi pieced together a three-ball run-out, good for the win and a 2-1 series win. Waluigi punches his ticket to the second round.
That's all for today's action. We'll have more tomorrow, with Premier Week 14 starting and Day 28 of Tournament action right after that.
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