We're back for a Friday of Tournament play. We begin the standard slate with...
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Chicky Phil. A rookie hosts a veteran in 15-ball with the silver cue for the first series. Pacific's Chicky Phil had a clear advantage in shot quality in game 1, running circles around Stonebridge's Hershey. Chicky Phil won quickly, positioning and hitting the 5 to deflect the cue into the 15, which fell in the top right for the visitor to earn a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Chicky Phil dominated possession in game 2, but despite three balls on the break and a late push toward the 15, he missed the cut on his last shot. The Wolves' Hershey countered, banking the 15 to the bottom left for the win to tie the series at 1. Chicky Phil remained strong in game 3, and he put in a good effort at the end, battling evenly and just edging Hershey out for the series win, 2-1. Chicky Phil is into the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Leonardo. The red cue is in action now, playing 8-ball. Midland's Leonardo took advantage of generosity from Pacific's Starlight in game 1, as the host played weakly early on. Leonardo finished a strong game with a three-ball run-out for the win, giving him a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a bit more competitive, as the Volcanoes' Starlight tightened up her shooting. The Predators' Leonardo had to beat her without help, and he did fine, with a late three-ball run followed by a strong pair of shots to get the win with Starlight applying pressure. Leonardo secured the series at 2-0. Leonardo couldn't get the same grip on game 3, allowing Starlight to attack well initially. Starlight faltered later as Leonardo caught up, but Starlight found a three-ball run-out for the win to put Leonardo through to the second round on only a 2-1 series win.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Klaus v. Puff III. The red cue remains in action after lunch, playing 12-ball. Atlantic's Klaus chose stripes on the game 1 break after making one of each suit, and it led to an exciting game. Everton's Puff III would return her wild-card ball, and then give one away that Klaus returned. Klaus got the win at the end, banking the 10 to the bottom side for a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Klaus gave away a wild-card ball on the game 2 break as well, and while the Eagles' Puff III briefly made an attack in the middle of the game, a couple of scratches erased her advantage, and Klaus was the first to finish at the top right. Klaus clinched the series at 2-0 with the dramatic finish. Puff III started with a good run in game 3, but she couldn't attack quickly enough after that, and Klaus again dragged his way back into the game for the win. Klaus swept the series 3-0 and will host the Pronger Tridents rookie Lize in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Cassie v. Lionel. The red cue gets another series between a rookie and a veteran in 10-ball. Royal's Cassie had a good middle of game 1 after a somewhat slow start, highlighted by a four-ball run, but she got too fancy on the 9. Commerce's Lionel brought a simple finish on the last two balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Cassie kept up the dominant possession with a four-ball run in game 2 before illegally potting the 6. The Tradewinds' Lionel tried to make a trick play, but he failed, and Cassie potted the 10 with a deflection off the 9 later for the win to tie the series at 1. Both players lacked the basic clean play needed for success in game 3, but Cassie would regret her shot choices the most. One of her fouls led Lionel to apply the logical shot doctrine as he made the 2-10 combination to the top right from ball-in-hand to win the series 2-1. Lionel will travel to Midland to face the Predators' Leonardo in the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Missy. Two longtime Reality veterans clash in 15-ball, another red cue series. Capital City's Missy played very well in game 1, with a pair of big runs to pressure Boston's Patches. Missy nearly gave the game away, but Patches couldn't make the 14, and Missy used it in a bank combination to pot the 15 at the top right for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Missy again found a couple of strong runs in game 2, including a late six-ball run. Missy couldn't corral the 13 on a bank attempt, and the Swifts' Patches took over, a counterattack of two balls earning her the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was as even as it could be, with both players pulling a pair of three-ball runs. Patches got the late advantage, making the last two balls for the win and a 2-1 series win, setting her up to face the Modernistic Union captain Ms. Puppy in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Dreamy. Solid Core club-mates clash in a high-profile Rotation series as the red cue continues its tour of events. Swordpoint's Dreamy held the lead for much of game 1, although Infinity's Smudge provided a challenge here and there to keep it close. The ending saw both players slow down, and Dreamy crawled to an 8-6 win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw struggles by both players initially. The Torpedoes' Smudge came out of that with a lead, and while the Blades' Dreamy made a brief push back, Smudge held on to win 8-4 to tie the series at 1 with a confident win. Smudge broke out with good defense leading to better offense in game 3. Smudge left Dreamy with impossible shots on three occasions to spur her attack, and Smudge took the win 8-1 to secure the series at 2-1. Smudge will host the Boston Swifts' Gradley in the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Paps. The blue cue makes it debut for the day in 9-ball between veterans. Capital City's Missy had a scratch after making two balls on the break, and the back-and-forth game saw Tysini's Paps control most of the possession. Paps would get the win after Missy went for a contact play and Paps took the last two balls for the 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Paps made two balls on the break in game 2, and took the 9 on a deflection to the bottom right on his second shot, but he also scratched. The Sharpshooters' Missy tied the series at 1 without taking a single shot in the middle game. Game 3 saw a few choppy exchanges early on before missed contact by Paps led Missy to a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand. No qualms could be made about Missy earning this win, and it gave her a 2-1 series win to make the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Rainmane. The red cue is back in action now, playing 7-ball between two strong opponents. Web City's Jack had a majority of the possession in game 1, playing well until his weak attempt on the 7. Midland's Rainmane had played a subdued game, but struck the 7 in with ease for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Rainmane looked to have something going with an early four-ball run and another pair on her next turn in game 2, but she left the 7 short at the top right, and the Spiders' Jack tied the series at 1 on a tap-in to claim the win. Jack and Rainmane combined for a dramatic game 3, with no big runs involved this time. Rainmane grabbed the win late after Jack's bank attempt on it failed. Rainmane tapped it to the bottom side, winning the series 2-1 in her old stomping grounds to earn a trip to the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Anton v. Shaggy. A rookie hosts a veteran in 9-ball, with the silver cue finally coming back into action. Whitewater's Shaggy didn't start all that well in game 1, but she pulled even in possession with Todavía's Anton by the end, and made the 9 when he couldn't for the win. Shaggy leads the series 1-0 after her good finish. The Shores' Shaggy remained dominant into game 2, where an early five-ball run and a later three-ball run-out effectively silenced any offense from the Stills' Anton. Shaggy's overwhelming effort gave her the series at 2-0. Shaggy couldn't sustain her offense all the way through game 3, losing control on the 3 and eventually succumbing as Anton tapped the 9 in at the top right to salvage a win from the series. Shaggy's 2-1 series win is enough to put her against the Harrison Specters' Lexi in the second round. Anton advances five other bids to the second round as he finishes up his initial series.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Goldy. The red cue gets another look at 10-ball with this series. Everton's Goldy had a lot of possession in game 1, and her pressure on Viewpoint Sound's Dani late in the game paid off. Dani missed the 10 on a short shot, and Goldy tapped it in to take a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dani didn't have a fantastic game 2, but she made the 4-10 kick combination to the top side to stun the Eagles' Goldy after a difficult start for both players. Dani tied the series at 1 with the surprising win. Game 3 went back and forth with choppy play on both sides again, neither player finding a game-tipping run. Goldy had a couple of late chances to make an impact, but she left the 10 for Dani to cut in the bottom right for the win and 2-1 series win. Dani will host a Coastal rival, the Pacific Volcanoes' Starlight, in the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mams v. Ice Cream. Completing the venue doubleheader, two veterans go at it in 7-ball with the red cue. Boston's Ice Cream had a relatively large portion of possession in game 1, but a bad miss on the 7 allowed Viewpoint Sound's Mams to take the win on a kick to the bottom right, the show of flair giving the host a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Mams kept the momentum going in game 2, carrying most of the play this time, but she missed a bank on the 7, and the Swifts' Ice Cream took the win, tying the series at 1 with split results so far. Ice Cream decimated Mams' hopes, tearing the hearts out of the home fans by making the 7 on a double-kiss to the top side on the break. Ice Cream then brought the series to fever pitch, leaving the cue on the edge of the top left, just outside enough to take the 2-1 series win and the ticket to the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Sydney Sierota. The red cue wraps up the day in 12-ball. Royal's Nightfur had a bit too much on the game 1 break, potting solids in the same pocket as well as a stripe she claimed for herself. Harrison's Sydney took advantage of having two wild-card balls, and won the game within a few turns for a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sydney had a much less exciting break to start game 2, and neither player had a particularly good effort. Sydney took over at the end, pulling away from the Crowns' Nightfur to grab the win and secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw no desire to continue from Nightfur, who rolled over and let Sydney take the win in a shutout for a 3-0 series sweep. Sydney is headed to the second round, where a Halloween Derby with the Web City Spiders captain Shadow awaits.
We'll be back for more games tomorrow throughout the afternoon.
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