A new day of Tournament play is ready to go, beginning in...
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Kiwi. The blue cue gets the first series today, playing 12-ball. Swordpoint's Bandit had a good start to game 1, but gave away a wild-card ball as collateral damage. Terrace City's Kiwi sparked a three-ball run and nearly made her last ball, but Bandit charged back on a three-ball run-out, banking the 2 perfectly to the top left to win. Bandit leads the series 1-0. The Knights' Kiwi received a wild-card ball early in game 2, as the Blades' Bandit gave it away in an attempt to clear space for himself. Kiwi then made a four-ball run, and patiently positioned herself until she could make the last ball for her win. The series is tied at 1. Bandit had none of his previous generosity in a close game 3, watching as Kiwi got close to the win. Bandit stepped up his defense late, and it worked when he made Kiwi miss contact on her last ball. Bandit won with two shots from ball-in-hand, taking the series 2-1 to advance into the third round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Quincy. The silver cue comes on in the second series, playing 7-ball. Pearl's Boots had a productive game 1, getting a three-ball run and some good looks late, but she missed the 7, and Terrace City's Quincy added it to a modest attack for the win. Quincy holds a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots had some good looks again in game 2, but she failed to execute a well-positioned late run. The Knights' Quincy again stepped up, making the last two balls for the win, which clinched the series in his favor at 2-0. Quincy remained strong in this game, scratching on the break but covering that up with a four-ball run-out to beat Boots in a 3-0 series sweep. Quincy has a spot in the third round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Snowball. Two good players clash in 12-ball with the silver cue. Eastside's Chelsea had positive intentions for most of her shots in game 1, but Swordpoint's Snowball converted a lot of her offense from Chelsea's misses. This led to Snowball making her last ball after Chelsea left the visitor with a good shot. Snowballs holds a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Snowball had a decent break in game 2, but the Sharks' Chelsea immediately grabbed control of the game on a four-ball run. Chelsea spent a couple of turns getting her final shots lined up, and she executed right after Snowball pulled even. Chelsea's nice second wind tied the series at 1. Chelsea again had a good break in game 3, but the game remained close throughout. Chelsea did make a mistake with one of her shots, but it was Snowball using favorable positioning that earned her the win in the end. Snowball claimed the series at 2-1 to make it into the third round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Chelsea. The visitor completes a personal doubleheader in Rotation with the blue cue. Southridge's Bianca had a twisty path to an 8-7 win, taking three-ball runs twice to overcome a four-ball run that briefly put Eastside's Chelsea ahead. Chelsea can only blame herself for blocking a chance at the winning shot. Bianca leads the series 1-0. The Defenders' Bianca took full advantage of some early shaky shots by the Sharks' Chelsea, building up a massive lead. Chelsea had a brief run to close the gap, but Bianca replied with a pair of shots for the 8-3 win, clinching the series for herself at 2-0. Bianca dominated the early going of game 3 as well, and while Chelsea made a more impressive response this time, Bianca still took the win at 8-4. Bianca swept the series 3-0, earning her spot in the third round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir Vasilyev v. Crystal. The blue cue wraps up its obligations for today in 8-ball. Stonebridge's Vladimir had a dominant effort in game 1, aided by a complete lack of skill shown by Queens' Crystal. Vladimir made a three-ball run late to set up for the 8, and potted it from ball-in-hand after Crystal scratched with no solids potted. Vladimir took a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal saw a great uptick in quality in game 2, making all of her shots over two turns, but her five-ball run at the end saw the 8 and the cue go in on the same shot, gifting the win to the Wolves' Vladimir instead, who was no slouch. Vladimir secured the series at 2-0 due to Crystal's misfortune. Crystal had some impressive shots in game 3, including a four-ball run and a three-ball run, but she missed on the 8 both times she tried, and the latter of those was without contact. Vladimir won the game from ball-in-hand, earning a 3-0 series sweep to get into the third round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Diddley. Two friends and club-mates meet for a 10-ball series with the silver cue. Maplewood's Diddley had cleaner possession in game 1, but made a mistake in deferring possession back to Golden's Strut when the latter illegally potted the 7. Strut banked the 8 to the bottom right, and then made the 9-10 combination to the top right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Diddley scratched on his only shot in game 2, while the Pilots' Strut started with two balls from the break and finished with an eight-ball run-out for a stunning and dominant win to secure the series at 2-0. Strut made two balls on the break in game 3, doing well at the start, but Diddley took the win with a 2-10 combination to the top left to avoid the sweep. Strut settled for a 2-1 series win as he advances into the third round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Chicky Phil. The silver cue stays on to play a series of 12-ball. Pacific's Chicky Phil started out hot with a four-ball run early in game 1, but he found himself out of position and gave away a wild-card ball to Infinity's Mr. Snowman. In the end, Mr. Snowman cruised to the comeback win for a 1-0 series lead, easily making his late shots. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman had a fascinating game 2, taking the lead early but getting rattled after the Volcanoes' Chicky Phil gave him a wild-card ball. Mr. Snowman eventually overcame his struggles, taking the win to secure the series at 2-0. Mr. Snowman had an energetic break in game 3, but gave away a wild-card ball and scratched all at once. Chicky Phil used the flexibility to help him with a four-ball run-out at the end, beating Mr. Snowman to the punch despite the latter's good positioning. Mr. Snowman still won the series 2-1, and will be on the road in his third round series.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Americus. The red cue makes its first of five straight appearances to close the day, playing 12-ball this time. Central's Twilight couldn't get a grasp on game 1, slipping around the table with clusters of balls not breaking up well. Midland's Americus had much more success, setting up and converting a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Americus had a fantastic start to game 2, making a five-ball run to immediately pressure the Warriors' Twilight. It worked, as Twilight made a three-ball run but lost her defensive shape, allowing Americus to tap the 15 into the bottom left for the win. Americus clinched the series at 2-0. Americus had some collateral damage with her three-ball run from the game 3 break, allowing Twilight a bit of hope. Twilight couldn't convert enough after this even with a wild-card ball, and Americus made a pair of shots at the end to seal a 3-0 sweep. Americus will host the Pearl Surfers' Boots back in Midland in the third round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Shadow. Two cool-headed veterans are set to face each other in 8-ball with the red cue. Web City's Shadow showed his dangerous side in game 1, answering a three-ball run off the break from Infinity's Mr. Snowman with a table-running eight-ball run-out for the win. Shadow's dominant turn gave him a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman controlled the early part of game 2, and his four-ball run saw him illegally and intentionally make his last stripe. This gave the Spiders' Shadow ball-in-hand, which he used to build a six-ball run, but he came up short on his last ball, and Mr. Snowman drove the 8 to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. Both players saw early five-ball runs end in scratches in game 3, keeping the game close. Shadow remained a step ahead for the entirety of the game, taking the 8 before Mr. Snowman could get a second chance on it. Shadow won the series 2-1, and will play in the third round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi v. Oreo. The red cue's tour continues with this 7-ball series. Game 1 saw a close battle, as Harrison's Lexi made a ball and scratched on her break. Terrace City's Oreo took a pair on her first turn, and then made the 5-7 combination Lexi left after her second turn, giving Oreo the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Oreo took a much more dominant stance in game 2, burying two balls on the break and winning on a four-ball run-out after the Specters' Lexi committed a foul. Oreo's big win this time secured the series for her at 2-0. Oreo's break in game 3 bounced the 7 off the rest of the rack twice before it found the bottom side, while the 5 dropped in the top right for a quick ending on a double-pot. Oreo swept Lexi 3-0, and will again be the visitor in her third round series.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Luigi. Pillars of last year's expansion franchises collide for 15-ball, again with the red cue. The 15 found its way near the top right early in game 1, leading to both players trying half-chances to make it. Midland's Shawn had some otherwise shaky shooting, while North Modernistic's Luigi won with a four-ball run-out, including a 9-10 combination behind the 15 that also double-potted the 9 at the top left, followed by the winning 11-15 combination for the 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Luigi and the Predators' Shawn had a much less entertaining battle in game 2, exchanging possession frequently until Luigi made his four-ball run-out to win in the end, clinching the series at 2-0. Luigi had a tougher game 3, but he made it work out in the end. Shawn was controlling possession, until Luigi's 8-15 bank combination deflected off the cue and landed in the top left unexpectedly. Luigi won the series in a 3-0 sweep.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jeremias v. Pedey. Today's final series sees the red cue playing 8-ball. Game 1 saw both players perform well, but Royal's Jeremias was a touch faster than Diamond's Pedey. Jeremias had good offense and ended on a three-ball run-out to take the 1-0 series lead on this win. The Gems' Pedey had game 2 in his hands late, after selecting stripes very early on. The Crowns' Jeremias rallied back with a four-ball run and a three-ball run, but it took Pedey scratching while potting the 8 to gift Jeremias the win. Jeremias clinched the series at 2-0 with the sequence at the end of the game. Jeremias didn't have as much offense in game 3, struggling at times to create his shots. Pedey didn't erupt for offense immediately, but he soon made a five-ball run, and won on the next turn with a three-ball run-out. Jeremias still took the series 2-1 to get to the third round.
That's it for today. Premier will be in the spotlight for much of tomorrow, with one more Tournament day in order before the weekend as well.
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