We're back for the 50th day of pool in the Tournament. We begin this one with...
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Debby Ryan. The blue cue makes an increasingly rare appearance, this time in Rotation. Westside's Slinks started with a three-ball run from the break in game 1, and then added sufficient offense to hold off Southridge's Debby for the rest of the game. Slinks won 8-6 for a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Debby started stronger in game 2, but this one was more of a back-and-forth battle. The Rockers' Slinks gained the lead in the middle of the game, but let it slip later on, and Debby would close out an 8-6 win with a pair of shots at the end to tie the series at 1. Slinks rallied back with a big start in game 3, and while Debby tied it at one point, Slinks double-potted the 9 and 10 to the right corners to rebuild her lead. Slinks would take the game 8-5, winning the series 2-1, and she will host Anton of the Todavía Stills in the second round. Slinks has six bids advancing.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Debby Ryan v. Gizmo. The host finishes a doubleheader in 8-ball with the silver cue. Southridge's Debby had no issues with her offense in game 1, although she did have to weather a five-ball run from Eastside's Gizmo before making the final pair of shots. Debby held on for a 1-0 series lead with her win. The Defenders' Debby made four balls on her first turn, but only two were hers. The Sharks' Gizmo took the lead with a short run before scratching, but Debby pulled back on a five-ball run to get on the 8, only to put it in the wrong pocket two turns later. Gizmo had set up good defense, and it paid off to get him the win, tying the series at 1. Gizmo started on a four-ball run in game 3, and while Debby matched it later in the game, she missed contact on her last ball, and Gizmo took a pair of shots from ball-in-hand for the win. Gizmo took the series 2-1, and will visit the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Gabe in the second round, one of seven bids to advance for the early MVP candidate, while Debby takes four bids to the next round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Citrus. Two tenured veterans clash in 12-ball with the red cue, the last series for that combination in this round. Oceanside's Snuggle pulled off quite the feat in game 1, giving away a wild-card ball to Diamond's Citrus and still managing to hold her off when she had only one ball left. Snuggle made four balls over his last two turns to poach the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Citrus made five balls over three turns, but chipped her shot on the 10 to the top left late in game 2, allowing the Waves' Snuggle to play off his earlier scratch as strategy. Snuggle made a three-ball run-out, pulling off a remarkable comeback for the win that clinched the series at 2-0. Citrus again had an edge in game 3, taking an early lead, but she failed to position her final shot, and Snuggle rallied back one more time to get the win, this time earning the 3-0 series sweep as well. Snuggle's comeback skills have him into the second round against the Modernistic Union's Chimpy at this venue.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Cowzart. Club-mates meet in another 12-ball series, this one with the silver cue. Westside's Cowzart had a decent game 1, but got a lot of help when Royal's Jake had a scratch that disrupted his momentum. When it came down to the final ball for each player, Cowzart's better positioning gave him the win and 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Cowzart started a bit slow in game 2, but he managed to pick up the pace later on after the Crowns' Jake hit a slow part of the game. At the end, Cowzart made the 13-10 combination to the top side, setting up his last two shots in the process for the win. Cowzart secured the series at 2-0. Cowzart had a decent start in game 3, but he couldn't maintain his offense, allowing Jake to pick up the win after missing contact with his last ball. Jake took the win from ball-in-hand, cutting the series to a 2-1 for Cowzart. The returnee Cowzart will visit Harrison Specters rookie Rudolph in the second round, one of only two of his bids to advance.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Jake. The Crowns star takes on another club-mate, this time in Accuracy with the red cue. Southern's Pounce made three balls on the break, and Royal's Jake played poorly early on, but by the end, both players were off their game. Pounce had multiple chances to secure a win, but only made the last ball to preserve his 6-7 lead for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake had a much cleaner performance in game 2, falling behind initially, but then pushing the Monarchs' Pounce behind late in the game before taking the 2-3 win. Jake's strong late play tied the series at 1. Jake and Pounce kept things close initially in game 3, but Jake fell behind as the game progressed, and Pounce stayed steady for the 2-4 win to clinch the series at 2-1. Pounce will move on to host the Harrison Specters' Rudolph in the second round, one of his three bids to move on.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Mitchell v. B. Chapman. The silver cue comes back to the table for 8-ball. Harrison's Mitchell started out strong in game 1, and while he did fade a little in the middle, allowing North Modernistic's Chapman to get closer, he shut the door in the end for the win. Mitchell's tap-in on the 8 confirmed a 1-0 series lead in his favor. The Nighthawks' Chapman had the first big attack in game 2, but it didn't hold up long-term, as the Specters' Mitchell roared back on a couple of turns later in the game, picking up the win on a short run to secure the series at 2-0. Chapman had the worst possible finish to the series, trying to cut the 5 to the top side on her first shot of game 3, but ending up putting the 8 in the top right while scratching. This gifted the 3-0 sweep to Mitchell, who will host a Northeastern rival in the Everton Eagles' Kirstin in the second round. Both players have five bids going forward.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Mams v. Rosemary. The silver cue stays on this time, playing 12-ball now. Viewpoint Sound's Mams started off slowly in game 1, allowing Commerce's Rosemary to pick up a lot of offense. Rosemary couldn't finish the game, and Mams did her entire suit at once with a six-ball run-out for an impressive win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Mams gave away a wild-card ball on the break of game 2, but managed to earn it back when the Tradewinds' Rosemary scratched. Rosemary then gave Mams a wild-card ball, making it even easier for the host to complete the game victorious for a 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Mams scratched while making one of each suit on the break. She kept solids for herself, but Rosemary made quick work of stripes with a five-ball run-out for the win. Mams still won the series 2-1, and will host the Tysini Hummingbirds' Leandra in the second round. Mams has three bids in the second round, while Rosemary advances four.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Kodiak. A sophomore hosts a rookie as the blue cue comes on for Accuracy. Southridge's Bianca made a ball on the game 1 break, and while she trailed for most of the game, Modernistic's Kodiak fell apart late and ended up tied at the end of the rack. Kodiak did make a ball on the overtime break, but missed his second shot, allowing a little luck to give Bianca the 4-5 win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw a similar pattern of play, although it was the Union's Kodiak surrendering a late lead. The Defenders' Bianca played a soft break in overtime, and it worked for awhile, but upon her second miss, Kodiak busted the rack apart for the 5-6 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a dramatic improvement on the part of Kodiak, who missed only once to defeat Bianca by a 1-3 score. Kodiak's sudden boost in play earned him a 2-1 series win and a trip to Midland to meet the Predators captain Shawn in the second round. Bianca does have six bids of her own in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Twinkie III v. Cheddar. Former teammates clash in an extra-tense 9-ball series with the red cue. Whitewater's Twinkie III lived dangerously at times in game 1, and while it paid off early on, North Modernistic's Cheddar made the 9 by deflecting the cue off the 5 for the win and a 1-0 series lead against her former teammate. The Nighthawks' Cheddar put game 2 away in two shots, burying the 2 on the break and then converting a long-range 1-9 combination to the bottom right, securing the series at 2-0 over a stunned Shores' Twinkie III. Game 3 saw Twinkie III salvage something from the series, ending on a four-ball run-out to get the win over Cheddar this time. Cheddar still claimed the revenge series at 2-1, and will head to Freedom to meet the Cascades' Roxy in the second round. Cheddar has four bids going into the next round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Sally. The silver cue comes back in action for this Accuracy series. Everton's Puff III made a ball on the break in game 1, but Archtown's Sally retained last shot advantage with a double-pot. This came in handy when Sally missed late to make it a tied game, and while Puff III held her own for awhile in overtime, Sally won 2-3 when she faltered. Sally leads the series 1-0. The Arrows' Sally made a ball on the break in game 2, but struggled later in the game, watching her deficit inflate while the Eagles' Puff III toyed around with her Northeastern rival. Puff III would walk away with the 1-5 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a less exciting break, and Sally stayed even with Puff III in a strong game for both sides for much of the rack. Puff III slipped up late, missing her last two shots to give Sally the 1-3 win and 2-1 series win. Sally will travel to Terrace City to face the Knights captain Kiwi in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Vladimir Vasilyev. The blue cue gets one more look today, playing Rotation. Pearl's Watermelon had a four-ball run at the start of game 1, giving herself a large lead. Stonebridge's Vladimir pulled back as Watermelon had some unlucky bounces, but Watermelon won 8-3 with a three-ball run-out, putting her up 1-0 in the series. The Surfers' Watermelon had a slower start in game 2, unable to get a big early run. She did pull ahead of the Wolves' Vladimir, but he tied it in the middle of the game. Vladimir never assembled a second attack, and Watermelon cruised to the 8-4 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Watermelon started slowly again in game 3, and the game was tied when Vladimir made a highlight shot, doing a left-handed jump to cleanly make the 7 at the top right. Watermelon applied pressure after this, but Vladimir pulled back with a three-ball run-out for the 8-7 win. Watermelon settles for a 2-1 series win to get her in a hosting position against the North Modernistic Nighthawks' B. Chapman in the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Dusty. A very good player meets an all-time great in 15-ball with the red cue for today's last series. Golden's Dusty broke open a tight game 1 with a six-ball run that ended in a scratch. Tysini's Leandra made a pair of shots from there, but Dusty made the last pair for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty produced a much slower game 2 from her break, as both players had narrow misses on some of their shots. The Hummingbirds' Leandra opted for defensive positioning when it came to the 14, but Dusty got a perfect kick on it and then made the 15 to the top right for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Dusty took it easy for most of game 3, satisfied to try low-percentage shots, and Leandra didn't give it much either. Dusty still got the win, making a remarkable 10-15 bank combination to the bottom left to earn the 3-0 series sweep. Dusty will visit the Central Warriors' Dustin in the second round. Leandra will still take six bids to second round.
That's all for league activity today. Tomorrow will feature an early start for Elite cricket, followed by Day 51 slightly earlier than normal if all goes to plan.
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