After a long journey, and over 2000 games played in 672 series, the first round of this Tournament comes to a close on the 55th game day. Leading off the final twelve series...
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Dusky. Two veterans go at it in 8-ball with the silver cue. Golden's Sparkles had a chance to create success in game 1, but she couldn't solve defensive pressure from Archtown's Dusky, who slowly but surely rallied back to take the win. Dusky leads the series 1-0. The Arrows' Dusky had a chance to go big on offense in game 2, but a scratch and some off-target shots allowed the Pilots' Sparkles to stay in the game. Dusky changed strategies, going back to defense toward the end of the game, and it worked to hold off Sparkles for another win, giving Dusky the series at 2-0. Both players left shots on the table in game 3, Dusky committing some of the worst offenses. Sparkles had two major runs and then took her time before potting the 8 to get her only win in the 2-1 series win for Dusky. In the second round, Dusky visits the Southridge Defenders' Bianca with one of her four advancing bids.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Lize v. Crystal. A rookie coming off of an injury meets a captain in 15-ball with the silver cue. Pronger's Lize had a large share of the offense in game 1, making a three-ball run in the middle and a five-ball run that came up just short on the 15. Queens' Crystal buried the 15 to the bottom right to poach the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal stepped up on offense in game 2, driving play with a seven-ball run. The Tridents' Lize got a couple of balls back, but Crystal broke out for a three-ball run-out to take the win, clinching the series at 2-0 as well. Crystal dominated possession in a more subtle way in game 3, with three short-to-medium runs. Lize had a chance to strike with a run of her own late, but she missed short on the 14, and Crystal took the last pair of balls for the win and the 3-0 series sweep. Crystal will visit the Southridge Defenders' Bianca in the second round, one of her four bids to move on. Lize will play three bids in the next round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Princess. The host goes for her second series today, keeping the silver cue in action for Accuracy. Golden's Sparkles missed once early in game 1, but played pretty close with Tysini's Princess, who eventually fell into a tie. Sparkles had Princess dead to rights, but missed her shot, and Princess cleaned up for a 1-2 win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Princess made a ball on the game 2 break, but proceeded to scatter a handful of misses throughout the game. The Pilots' Sparkles kept a perfect mark, winning 0-5 to tie the series at 1. Princess had a lead for most of game 3 thanks to ineptitude by Sparkles in making shots multiple times. Princess faded a bit toward the end, but held on for the 4-5 win, taking the series 2-1 in the process. Princess will visit the Boston Swifts' Sweetheart in the second round. Sparkles has four bids going into the next round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney Sierota v. Ice Cream. The red cue steps in for the first time today, playing 8-ball. Game 1 started off a bit slow, but picked up steam with a four-ball run by Boston's Ice Cream. Harrison's Sydney refused to step back, charging to the win on a six-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sydney started with a five-ball run from the game 2 break, but she stalled out, barely even getting onto the 8. The Swifts' Ice Cream stayed back a bit before striking for a three-ball run-out at the end to get the win to tie the series at 1. Ice Cream had hardly any offense in game 3, unable to get the solids to line up favorably. Sydney took full advantage of this, pressuring Ice Cream early on and then winning with a four-ball run-out to take the series at 2-1. Sydney hosts the Atlantic Pirates' Klaus with one of her five remaining bids in the second round, while Ice Cream advances six bids of her own.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Puff II. The silver cue will wrap up its 8-ball for the round here between two strong players. Boston's Puff II had a four-ball run on her first turn to answer a three-ball run by Oceanside's Snuggle. The second surge came from Snuggle who left the 8 near the top right, and Puff II accidentally knocked it in to give Snuggle the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Puff II had a six-ball run on her first turn of game 2, giving the Waves' Snuggle a steep deficit to dig out of. Snuggle did get a lot of the shots back, but Puff II slammed the door at the end, tying the series at 1 with her gutsy win. Snuggle took a large lead early in game 3 after Puff II struggled early on. Puff II used defense to make it a close game in the end, but her shot on the 8 missed badly, and Snuggle took a pair of shots to grab the win for a 2-1 series win. Snuggle will face another captain, the Freedom Cascades' Jasmine, in the second round. Puff II didn't win a series in this round, but one strong qualifier lets her last bid keep her alive into the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Hannah. The silver cue finishes another bracket, playing Accuracy as the host completes a doubleheader. Oceanside's Snuggle made two balls on the break, but also had the first miss in game 1. He played smart from here, and eventually made Queens' Hannah miss two shots in a row at the end before burying the last ball to secure his 1-2 win. Snuggle's savvy veteran moves put him up 1-0 in the series. The Waves' Snuggle employed a similar style for game 2, but a late scratch put him down by two shots. He still got the Flames' Hannah to miss twice, but he couldn't convert the last ball from ball-in-hand, and Hannah avoided overtime with a tap-in to win 2-3, tying the series at 1. Snuggle tried to make a comeback effort in game 3 again, but he fell too far behind, and Hannah pinned him down before easing up at the end. Hannah won the game 3-5, taking the series 2-1, and earning a trip back to this arena in the second round to face Waves rookie Jason V. Hannah moves on with six bids intact, while Snuggle takes five bids to the next round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Jason N. v. Dusty. A rookie takes on a legend as the red cue steps in for a series of 7-ball. Golden's Dusty had the better of two bad performances in game 1, getting luck on her side a couple of times to take the win and a 1-0 series lead over Swordpoint's Jason in an otherwise pitiful showing. The Blades' Jason had a stronger performance in game 2, controlling everything after the break. Jason set the tone with a three-ball run, and the made the last pair of balls at the end to beat the Pilots' Dusty this time. This put the series in a 1-all tie to set up a decisive finale. Dusty had to make a push in game 3, struggling at first but getting the better of Jason by the end with a four-ball run-out. Dusty won with a cut to the bottom side, the 2-1 series win sending her on the road to face the Lighton Prestige's Katelynn in the second round. Dusty advances six bids into the next round, while Jason's three byes help him take five bids forward.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Pedey. The red cue finishes up its 8-ball for the round here. Midland's Shawn had some good looks in attack in game 1, but he couldn't convert, allowing Diamond's Pedey to take the lead on a four-ball run and then win with a four-ball run-out. Pedey leads the series 1-0. The Gems' Pedey ripped a six-ball run from the break in game 2, putting immediate pressure on the Predators' Shawn, who replied with a three-ball run. Pedey didn't get bothered by that attack, answering with the last two shots to earn the win and clinch the series at 2-0. Pedey had a five-ball run on his primary attack in game 3, but he never got a secondary one, as Shawn made a three-ball run early and a five-ball run-out at the end to take the win. Pedey won the series 2-1 anyway, and will visit the Royal Crowns' Jeremias in the second round. Pedey has three bids going forward, while Shawn advances with six.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Dominic. The silver cue returns to action in this series of 15-ball. Everton's Goldy likely had a slight edge in game 1, controlling possession late with a three-ball run until illegal contact happened with the 15. Southern's Dominic struck with an 11-15 combination from ball-in-hand, giving him the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Goldy answered quickly with an early three-ball run-out in game 2, making the 1 to the top left two shots before driving the cue off the 2 to pot the 15 at the top right. The Monarchs' Dominic never had a chance to stop it, as Goldy's savvy play tied the suddenly vicious series at 1. Game 3 saw both players tighten up defensively at the expense of some shot quality. Dominic had the momentum late, but he could rattle the 15 to the bottom right, leaving it short after a bunch of caroms. Goldy tapped it in to take the series 2-1, and she'll host the Freedom Cascades' Roxy in the second round. Both players have four bids going forward.
Intel Center, Diamond: Rosalina v. Bright. The red cue is up for 7-ball this time between a sophomore and a veteran. Diamond's Rosalina won game 1 on the break, as the 2 and 7 matched their rolls to the bottom side, with the 7 dropping to give the host a 1-0 series lead over Pearl's Bright. The Gems' Rosalina had a bit of success early in game 2, making a ball on the break and another one on the next shot, but the 3 hung up both players. The Surfers' Bright eventually made it, but scratched as he did so, and Rosalina made the last two shots from ball-in-hand for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Bright worked a three-ball run early in game 3 after Rosalina's empty break, but Rosalina shot back on a four-ball run-out to take the win, earning the 3-0 series sweep as well. Rosalina will host the Eastside Sharks' Chelsea in the second round. Both players move to the next round with three bids.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Sweetheart. Another 7-ball series, the red cue's last of the round, is the next to be played. Royal's Jake left the 7 temptingly close to the bottom right on his break, so both players took half-chances at it. Boston's Sweetheart eventually rattled it away, only to unleash a six-ball run-out on the next turn to win game 1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake had a better effort in game 2, making a four-ball run before missing on the 7. The Swifts' Sweetheart took a shot at it but missed, and Jake made it on his second try to win the game, tying the series at 1. Jake had a near-disaster on the game 3 break, watching as the 7 neared but missed the top side while the cue scratched. Sweetheart saw her offense abandon her at a bad time, and Jake ended the game on a four-ball run-out to win the series 2-1. Jake hosts Archtown Arrows captain Ruby in the second round. Jake has two bids going forward, while Sweetheart goes with a mighty six bids.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Princess. The first round ends with the silver cue playing 15-ball between club-mates. Game 1 went at a moderately slow pace initially, although Tysini's Princess made it interesting when she missed a combination on the 15 toward the bottom right. Everton's Cleo wouldn't be that unlucky, converting the 12-15 to the same pocket for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Princess had more of the highlight runs in game 2, making a three-ball run and looking good late before a scratch. This proved costly, as the Eagles' Cleo made the last pair of balls from ball-in-hand, clinching the series at 2-0 with this win. Princess had two illegal contacts and a scratch in game 3, but still managed to push possession favorably, winning late with a pair of shots. Cleo still took the series 2-1, and she will host the Web City Spiders' Jack in a Northeastern Derby in the second round. Cleo takes five bids onward, while Princess has just one.
That's all for today's action. I'll have a standings update in a few minutes as posted on Twitter @UnitedPCL. I'll be doing administrative work in between sessions of the United Cup for the rest of the week, and Tournament play will resume on Monday.
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