We're back with a standard 12-series day of pool today, beginning with...
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Mr. Snowman. The blue cue will make the first appearance today in 9-ball. Midland's Shawn survived an ugly game 1 appearance, getting the last two balls to fall after Infinity's Mr. Snowman had an untimely miscue. Shawn leads the series rather meekly at 1-0. The Predators' Shawn made a better impression in game 2 with a three-ball run from the break, and then followed up with a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand after the Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman scratched making the 3. Shawn won with a deflected shot off the 7 that potted the 9 to the bottom right, clinching the series at 2-0 in the process. Shawn had a weaker effort in game 3, but a lucky bank of the 7 to the top left in game 3 set him up to finish a three-ball run-out, icing the 3-0 series sweep over Mr. Snowman. Shawn will host the North Modernistic Nighthawks captain Peach in the second round. Mr. Snowman will take six bids to the next round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Spot. The red cue dips in for the second series today, playing 15-ball between two talented players. Game 1 saw timid balance between the players for the most part, until Pronger's Spot made a three-ball run-out to win over Infinity's Fluffina with a deflected shot off the 12 to put the 15 in the bottom right. Spot leads the series 1-0. The Tridents' Spot had his best play in the middle of game 2, controlling on offense, but the Torpedoes' Fluffina fought back a bit later on. She came up short on her last turn, with Spot making the last two balls to secure the series at 2-0 with this win. Fluffina took over in game 3, going on a five-ball run and a four-ball run-out on her last two turns to push herself to a win over Spot. The visitor Spot took the series 2-1, and will travel to Harrison to meet the Specters captain Twinkie II in the second round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Sprinkles. The red cue continues after lunch with a 7-ball series between veterans. Modernistic's Puff I needed just the break in game 1, getting the 7 bumped into the top side perfectly for a quick win and 1-0 series lead over Capital City's Sprinkles. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles did better in game 2 with a three-ball run, but after a contested middle of the game on the 4, the Union's Puff I took the win with a four-ball run-out, sealing the series in her favor at 2-0. Puff I had to play more in a reactive way in game 3, as Sprinkles pressured her with a three-ball run. Both missed their first try at the 7, and Puff I escaped with the win by putting it in the top side the second time, earning the 3-0 series sweep. Puff I will host the Midland Predators' Rainmane in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Shelley. The red cue gets another series, playing Accuracy this time. Royal's Nightfur had a frustrating early and middle part of the game, but Infinity's Shelley missed a bunch of shots in a row, giving up her lead far too easily. Nightfur took the win at 4-7, and leads the series 1-0 as well. The Torpedoes' Shelley bounced back with a much more convincing game 2 performance, and while she fell behind early, four scratches throughout the game doomed the Crowns' Nightfur. Shelley closed the game at a 3-5 win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw a surprising jump in playing quality, as Shelley missed once early but managed to force Nightfur into a late miss, and eventually overtime. Nightfur had a long shot for the overtime break and went empty, allowing Shelley to make the 15 at the top side to secure a 1-2 win and 2-1 series win. Shelley will travel to Midland to face the Predators' Americus in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Blizzard. A journeyman meets a struggling MVP in 10-ball, with the red cue again in charge. Southern's Dominic had the better of offense in game 1, even with a pair of scratches toward the middle of the game. Everton's Blizzard failed to string together a run, and Dominic made the 9-10 combination to the top right for the 1-0 series lead on his win. The Eagles' Blizzard found her offense a bit in game 2, with an early three-ball run pressuring the Monarchs' Dominic. Blizzard would surge again late, winning on a three-ball run-out as Dominic faltered after good middle-game showing. Blizzard tied the series at 1 with her streaky win. Blizzard hammered three balls in on the break of game 3, and added another three-ball run later on, but Dominic held her up late in the game, taking the last three balls over two turns to give himself the win instead. Dominic had quite the fight on his hands to win the series 2-1, and he will host the Boston Swifts' Gradley in the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Midnight. We stay on the same bracket for more 10-ball with the red cue. Westside's Midnight stayed quiet early in game 1, allowing Stonebridge's Hershey to showcase his creativity, but Midnight made two pairs of shots late to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Midnight scratched on her break in game 2, leading the Wolves' Hershey to a three-ball run. Play remained even throughout, with Midnight working a three-ball run late before missing the 10. Hershey banked it to the bottom right to pick up the win instead, tying the series at 1. Game 3 proved to be an early struggle, with Hershey partially breaking through early. Midnight dominated the back half of the game with a four-ball run, and then she made the 10 a turn later for the win and 2-1 series win. Midnight will visit Victoria Spurs captain Spice for a second round series.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Potter. The red cue's long tour continues in a 9-ball series now. Viewpoint Sound's Dani had a strong start in game 1, and while Pronger's Potter pushed the pace of the game, Dani fought back and won with an 8-9 bank combination to the top right, giving her the 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dani eased off her attacking pace in game 2, allowing the Tridents' Potter to have a majority of the offense, but he missed on the 8, and Dani struck for the last two balls to take the win. Dani clinched the series at 2-0 after Potter's three-ball run came up short. Dani didn't bring her best offense to game 3 either, and Potter capitalized on this late in the game, making a pair of shots to nab a win. Dani still won the series 2-1, advancing to host Oceanside Waves captain Snuggle in the second round, one of her five bids to play on, while Potter takes only two bids forward.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi Woode v. Bryant. The red cue goes again in 7-ball in this potentially explosive Northeastern rivalry match. Maplewood's Bryant had the first surge of offense in game 1, but it petered out too soon, and Harrison's Lexi made the last two shots for a win and a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Lexi made game 2 a bit more concise than game 1, as the Lumberjacks' Bryant hit a three-ball run on his first and only turn, followed by Lexi's four-ball run-out to win and clinch the series at 2-0. Lexi made game 3 rather quick, getting a well-weighted bump on the 7 to put it in the top left on the break, while the 2 also fell in the bottom side for good measure. Lexi swept Bryant 3-0, and will host the Terrace City Knights' Oreo in the second round. Lexi will play five series in the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir Vasilyev v. Leonardo. The red cue marches on, getting a look in 12-ball with this series. Midland's Leonardo hung even with Stonebridge's Vladimir for much of game 1, and they tangled defensively late in the game. Leonardo eventually made his last two around the defense of Vladimir, which came about when the host missed a shot. Leonardo took a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the Predators' Leonardo jump out to a big lead as the Wolves' Vladimir struggled. Vladimir did get himself positioned well, but faced another crisis when he illegally potted his last ball. Leonardo missed his last ball a couple more times before Vladimir finally took the dramatic win to tie the series at 1. Vladimir opened game 3 on a four-ball run, and while Leonardo seemed to have pulled even, the visitor's last shot was illegal. This set Vladimir up to make his last two shots on his second turn for the win and 2-1 series win. Vladimir will host the Modernistic Union's Daisy in the second round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Taylor Swift v. Cubby. The silver cue finally butts in for an intriguing Accuracy series. Eastside's Cubby slipped early in game 1, falling behind quickly, but Commerce's Taylor couldn't hold the lead. The game went into overtime, and Taylor's break was empty, allowing Cubby an easy shot to win 2-3 for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a similar circumstance, with the game tied for most its time, but the Tradewinds' Taylor missed two shots late to fall behind. The Sharks' Cubby sent the small visiting fan section into a frenzy when he pulled off an unlikely double-kiss bank to the bottom side to win 2-3, avoiding overtime and clinching the series at 2-0. Taylor saved face with a strong performance in game 3, and she got Cubby to miss a shot late to break the tie. Taylor took this win 2-3, but Cubby advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win, one of his six bids to make it that far.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Graham. Future club-mates and current regional rivals clash in 7-ball with the blue cue. Eastside's Graham had the more realistic contributions to the offense in game 1, making the last two balls and pacing play as he took the win from Freedom's Nikolai. Graham leads the series 1-0. The Sharks' Graham maintained a large portion of the offense in game 2, doing just about everything except for winning the game. Graham left the 7 at the bottom left, and the Cascades' Nikolai stepped in late to poke it in for the win, tying the series at 1. Graham did all the work in game 3, making a six-ball run early on before leaving the 7 in a workable shot for Nikolai. The host Nikolai missed this one, allowing Graham to tap the 7 to the top right for the win and 2-1 series win. Graham will visit the Capital City Sharpshooters' Missy in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Katelynn v. Nicole. Club-mates and Prestige teammates meet in a friendly 9-ball series with the silver cue to end Day 43 action. Katelynn did everything but win in game 1, an eight-ball run from the break leaving her with a tough bank on the 9 that rattled out of the top left. Nicole capitalized with a tap-in to win, taking a 1-0 series lead rather cheaply. Nicole did a bit more on offense to earn a result in game 2, exchanging pairs of shots early before making a late pair to defeat Katelynn. Nicole secured the series at 2-0 with this win. Katelynn got a long-overdue win in game 3, surviving Nicole's attacks early on before breaking out with a six-ball run-out to make it a 2-1 series. Nicole will visit the Terrace City Knights' Jennifer, another of her club-mates, in the second round.
That's all for Day 43 in Tournament play. We'll likely get back into full force next week with both cricket and pool planned for Monday.
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