We return to action on what could be a busy Sunday schedule. First up...
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Mams. Captains collide in the first series today, playing 10-ball with the silver cue. North Modernistic's Peach had a slow start in a defensive game 1, but when Viewpoint Sound's Mams couldn't make the 2, Peach used it to deflect the cue into the 10, potting the winner at the top left for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Mams countered in a similar style in game 2, making a four-ball run-out with a deflected shot off the 3 to pot the 10 at the bottom left. This shot left the Nighthawks' Peach stunned as Mams tied the series at 1 with the quick win. Peach and Mams engaged in a tougher game 3, striking evenly with choppy turns until Peach banked the 10 into the bottom left for the win and a 2-1 series win. Peach will host the Maplewood Lumberjacks rookie Summer in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Chicky Phil. Veterans going in different directions meet in 10-ball, this time with the red cue. Pearl's Boots had a decent start in game 1, but it would be a hot ending from Pacific's Chicky Phil, in the form of a six-ball run-out, that earned the visitor the win and 1-0 series lead after using banks to keep the turn going. Game 2 took more patience, and the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil lost his after taking a foot injury in the arena. He scratched on his last shot, and the Surfers' Boots calmly tapped the 10 in for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a mix of the first two games, with Boots playing a little better and getting a late three-ball run before missing the 10 wide of the top left. Chicky Phil made it on a tap-in for the win and 2-1 series win, and he will visit the Freedom Cascades' Nikolai in the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Mams. Another captains' battle commences in 8-ball with the red cue. Atlantic's Delila had a better game 1 than did Viewpoint Sound's Mams, making short but effective runs. Delila was slowed by a scratch, but still managed to take the win before Mams got anywhere near the 8, good for a 1-0 series lead to Delila. The Pirates' Delila kept her slow-starting tendencies for game 2, allowing the Meteors' Mams to grab a couple of shots early on. Delila then broke out with a six-ball run-out, an amazing construction of shot sequencing that clinched the series for the host at 2-0. Mams had a big six-ball run early in game 3, but Delila wouldn't let her get a clear shot on her last stripe. Delila then charged back with a six-ball run-out, stealing the win away in a wave of shots to make it a 3-0 series sweep that puts her through to hosting the Midland Predators' Leonardo in round two.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Vincent Sullivan. The Purple Derby takes a 10-ball twist with the red cue in this series. Todavía's Easter had a significant share of possession in game 1, although Viewpoint Sound's Vincent did take a three-ball run early. Easter made five of the last six balls over three turns to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter kept her attack strong in game 2 as well, making three-ball runs at the start and end of the game, but she left the 10 standing after that last run, and the Meteors' Vincent cut it to the top left for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a back-and-forth battle between the players, with Vincent growing in strength as it progressed. Vincent ended up with the win when Easter couldn't corral the 9, allowing him to make the last two shots. Vincent won the series 2-1, and will travel to Web City to face the Spiders' Ted in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Easter. The last host travels up the coast to visit a rookie in 9-ball with the silver cue after the lunch break. Oceanside's Jason had a productive first game, keeping pace with a more rushed attack from Todavía's Easter before striking for the last two balls and the win. Jason holds a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Jason kept a similar style in game 2, battling with the Stills' Easter, who looked to have a run at the end before she missed on the 8. This mistake left it open for Jason to pot the last two shots, winning the game and clinching the series at 2-0. Jason couldn't continue his success in game 3, as Easter pressed him with a three-ball run late. Jason whiffed on the 9, and Easter struck it to the top right for the win, leaving Jason to advance on a 2-1 series win, setting him up to host Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi in the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Kyle v. Twinkie II. The blue cue finally gets a look, playing 7-ball for a veteran and a captain. Queens' Kyle didn't have anything on his game 1 break, but he left the ball in a bad position for Harrison's Twinkie II, and she erred. Kyle then made a three-ball run-out, with a 2-5 combination and a 2-7 bank combination to the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Kyle dominated in game 2 as well, forcing the Specters' Twinkie II into another error, and sandwiching it with a three-ball run and a four-ball run-out for the win. Kyle secured the series at 2-0. Game 3 also went to Kyle, but Twinkie II made improvements, making a couple of shots and playing defensively to frustrate the host. Kyle still took the last two shots for the win, earning a 3-0 series sweep, but the finale was a little test to put him through to the second round, one of four of his bids to make it.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Bryant. The silver cue is back in action now with a series of 12-ball. Tysini's Leandra had a good start in game 1, but her late positioning was lacking, and Maplewood's Bryant established strong defense. After awhile, Bryant had his breakthrough, making a late pair of shots to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra pulled back in game 2, striking early to give herself a big advantage. The Lumberjacks' Bryant went on a four-ball run to make it close, but Leandra had defended well, and he only had a strategic scratch play. Leandra made her final ball from the kitchen to the top right, winning to tie the series at 1. Leandra had an interesting game 3 break, and then Bryant missed the 11 at the top side. Leandra capitalized in a perfect manner on her second turn, making six balls in six shots to six different pockets for the win. Leandra took the series 2-1, advancing to the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Cheddar. The Urban Derby is renewed in 8-ball with the blue cue between two of the strongest players for their respective teams. Modernistic's Puff I held the lead for much of game 1, although North Modernistic's Cheddar stayed in close range, pulling even later on. Puff I then cut the 8 to the bottom right for the win, earning a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Puff I looked to make a move with a six-ball run from the break in game 2, intimidating the Nighthawks' Cheddar briefly. Cheddar responded well in the end, finding a five-ball run-out on her second turn to snatch the win and tie the series at 1, adding a little fuel to the bitter rivalry's fire. Cheddar made only one ball in game 3 after Puff I stuck her in a tough position to shoot from, and that ball was the 8 to the bottom side on an accidental kick. The brutal error gifted Puff I the game and the 2-1 series win, and the host will return in that role against the Diamond Gems' Citrus in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Ms. Kitty. Big-names stars and club-mates on the Coast clash in 10-ball as the blue cue remains in action. Pacific's Ms. Kitty had a strong appearance in game 1, overcoming a slow start on both sides to blow by Oceanside's Snuggle with a six-ball run-out. Ms. Kitty's great finish gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Snuggle had a better performance in another patient battle in game 2. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty took some early offense, but Snuggle fired back at the end, winning on a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 after Ms. Kitty had a brutal miss on the 7. Game 3 saw Snuggle try to pace play early on, only to fall off that pace later on. Ms. Kitty took over at the end, making five balls over her last two turns, Snuggle's miss on the 9 sealing Ms. Kitty's win and 2-1 series win. Ms. Kitty will visit Southridge Defenders captain Debby for a second round series.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Chicky Phil v. Solaris. The silver cue comes into action for Rotation. Infinity's Solaris jumped out to a big lead in game 1, only to see Pacific's Chicky Phil roar back on a four-ball run to tie it. Solaris held Chicky Phil off with his second lead, eventually wining 8-5 for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Chicky Phil held the lead from the middle of game 2 this time, although a stick violation allowed the Torpedoes' Solaris to tighten the score a bit. Chicky Phil staved off the danger with a kick on the 14 to win 8-6, tying the series at 1 with the bold performance. Solaris had a good start in game 3, and then added a four-ball run to get on the brink of a win before trying and missing on a trick shot. The seemingly innocuous mistake would cost Solaris, as Chicky Phil rallied with a seven-ball run-out to take the 8-7 win and the 2-1 series, putting the home fans into pandemonium as their current hero earns the right to host Boston Swifts superstar Patches in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Paps v. Ted. The red cue now gets a taste of Rotation as a veteran meets a sophomore. Web City's Ted came out on the right side of a back-and-forth battle in game 1 with Tysini's Paps. Ted held various leads throughout the game, the most important being his 8-6 winning score for a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Paps fired back in better form in game 2, notching an 8-3 win as the Spiders' Ted couldn't get his offense started. The game turned to Paps when Ted scratched from ball-in-hand after an error by Paps, who then rallied for the win to tie the series at 1. Paps made game 3 a fairly quick battle, taking a seven-ball run from the break. Ted got some of it back, but not enough, and Paps cut the 9 to the top right to win 8-2 for the 2-1 series win. Paps will host Roxy of the Freedom Cascades in the second round.
Ebay Center, Queens: Briana Livilotti v. Leonardo. The silver cue takes a look at 15-ball this time, in a minor Southeastern derby. Queens' Briana had some troubles keeping her shots legal in game 1, but Midland's Leonardo was not free from fault either. Briana took a stab at the 7 that missed, leading Leonardo to his winning 7-15 combination to the bottom right for the 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Leonardo had flashier shots in game 2, including an elegant kick on the 7 to the top left in the middle of the game, but by the end, the Flames' Briana was able to pick up a hard-fought win, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Briana had a bit more offense in game 3, making her presence known, but when three-ball runs were exchanged at the end of the game, Leonardo came out on top for a 2-1 series win. Leonardo will play on into the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Roxy. Two savvy veterans meet in a series of 7-ball with the blue cue. Central's Dustin weathered a game 1 storm as Freedom's Roxy assembled a four-ball run before missing on the 5. Dustin made sure the game didn't get past his second turn, as he won with a three-ball run-out to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Warriors' Dustin lost his strong touch in game 2, which saw much shorter turns for both players. The Cascades' Roxy eventually rediscovered her shot, potting the last two balls for the win to tie the series at 1 on the confident ending. Roxy had a decent start to game 3, but Dustin launched the 2 to the top left, and added a pair at the end when Roxy's chance at a late run fell short. Dustin took the series 2-1 with this win, and he'll host the Queens Flames' Kyle in the second round. This is the only bid Roxy couldn't advance, the other seven playing on.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Gizmo. The blue cue stays up for a series of 15-ball between solid foes. Neither player could find a remarkable run in game 1, but Eastside's Gizmo had a bit more of the possession against Pronger's Zach. This helped Gizmo late when he made a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Zach improved greatly in game 2, getting quite a bit of offense with a late six-ball run, but a turn later saw him miss the 15 at the top right, and the Sharks' Gizmo erased all that hard work with one tap-in. Gizmo secured the series at 2-0 with the poached win. Zach couldn't figure anything out in a throw-away game 3 performance, showing a little promise late only to miss on the 15. Gizmo's tap-in made it a 3-0 series sweep in his favor, and he'll travel to Freedom to face the Cascades captain Jasmine in the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Twinkie III. The host completes a home doubleheader against a stronger opponent in 10-ball with the red cue. Whitewater's Twinkie III applied good pressure early in game 1, but Pronger's Zach popped up with a five-ball run-out over the last half of the rack, taking the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Zach had a productive game 2, allowing the Shores' Twinkie III some early offense before he played a little defense and turned that into offense late. Zach made the last two shots of the game to get the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Twinkie III erupted for a seven-ball run in game 3, the massive attack nearly giving her the win until she chipped the shot on the 10. Zach cleaned it up to the top side to poach a win, sweeping the series 3-0 and earning the right to host the Capital City Sharpshooters' Lorde in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Whiskers v. Tigerette. The end of the day brings about the end of the first bracket page, as the blue cue plays its last 10-ball series of the first round. Game 1 lived up to the billing as a battle of stars, with Maplewood's Whiskers cranking a four-ball run from the break but never seeing the table again, as Commerce's Tigerette won with a six-ball run-out. Tigerette leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw a more delayed start to the action, but when the Lumberjacks' Whiskers got on a run, she wouldn't stop, making nine straight shots to take the win and tie the series at 1 against a stunned Tradewinds' Tigerette. Game 3 saw Whiskers try a lot of shots early on, but Tigerette made a four-ball run and a pair on the next turn to get the win, taking the exciting series 2-1. Tigerette will visit the Pacific Volcanoes' Leonette in the second round.
The first extended day of Tournament 2018 is in the books. Tomorrow may follow suit should the proper pace develop.
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