We've got another standard set of games for today's action, beginning with...
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Jason N. v. Luigi. The blue cue is up for a series of 8-ball to lead off the day. Swordpoint's Jason had the better start in game 1, building up a sizable lead before sparring with North Modernistic's Luigi over the later turns. Luigi made a three-ball run to get closer, but Jason eventually corralled the 8 to get the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Luigi struck first in game 2, but also made two balls for the Blades' Jason before Jason potted anything. Luigi got on track later in the game, winning with a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1 before Jason could counterattack. Game 3 saw another slow start, albeit with better breaks than the first two games. Jason and Luigi kept things close until the end, where Jason's three-ball run and subsequent potting of the 8 closed Luigi out. Jason won the series 2-1 to get into the third round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Anton. The host begins a personal doubleheader with this Accuracy series using the blue cue. Todavía's Anton went to great lengths to overcome an early deficit in game 1, forcing Pearl's Beth into two misses late in the game. Anton then undid his hard work with a miss on the last ball, which Beth made to win 3-4, giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Beth had another solid break in game 2, and she managed to stay a step ahead of the Stills' Anton throughout the game. Beth only briefly fell into a tie with a bad miss, and Anton missed his next shot to restore her lead. Beth took the win on another 3-4 result to clinch the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw a similar pace of play, but Anton held on when Beth tripped up late in the game, forcing overtime. Beth's overtime break was empty, and Anton converted a shot to win 2-3. Beth takes the series 2-1, and will host her third round series.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Beth. The visitor completes her doubleheader against a captain in 7-ball with the silver cue. Westside's Misty made two balls on the break, but saw a close game after that, with Pearl's Beth picking up the last two shots to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Beth wasted no time in securing the series, winning game 2 on the break as the 4 went to the bottom right and the 7 soared to the top left for the win. Beth leads the Rockers' Misty 2-0 in the series now. Beth brought game 3 to an early end again, capitalizing on a scratch from Misty to make the 3-7 combination from ball-in-hand. The home fans were displeased, but Beth walked away with a 3-0 sweep to earn a visitor spot in the third round.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Citrus. Two veterans meet after the lunch break in 8-ball with the blue cue. Diamond's Citrus had a couple of short bursts of offense to propel her to the game 1 win, holding off a flatter effort from Modernistic's Puff I toward the end of the game. Citrus leads the series 1-0. The Union's Puff I came back stronger in game 2, running circles around the Gems' Citrus for most of the game. Puff I even had a scratch during her performance, still getting the win on a short run at the end to tie the series at 1. Puff I and Citrus combined for a close game 3, with both players showing their skills at various times. A scratch near the end cost Puff I her chance at the win, as Citrus made the last two shots right after that to take the series win at 2-1. Citrus will host Stonebridge Wolves rookie Vladimir in the third round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Slinks. Quiet veterans meet in 9-ball, also using the blue cue. Westside's Slinks had a great turn in game 1, and seemed to have an edge throughout, topping Capital City's Missy at the end with a well-crafted four-ball run-out. Slinks holds a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Slinks tried to deflect a shot off the 2 to drive the 9 to the top right early in the game, but it failed. The Sharpshooters' Missy would be the next to take a look, making the 3-9 combination to the top right but also scratching to gift the win and the 2-0 series lead to Slinks. Game 3 saw an even bigger performance by Slinks, who did well early on and then unleashed a five-ball run-out at the end to claim the win against an ailing Missy. Slinks swept the series 3-0, and will visit the Golden Pilots' A. Charlton in round three.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Taylor Swift v. Bear. A star meets a struggling captain for 10-ball with the red cue. This Industrial Derby series started heavily in favor of Commerce's Taylor, who scratched on the break but also had a run and won on a 9-10 combination after Whitewater's Bear couldn't sustain any offense late in the game. Taylor is ahead 1-0 in the series. The Tradewinds' Taylor remained strong on offense early in game 2, but she did let the Shores' Bear make an attack. Bear's plays fizzled out on the 4, leading to Taylor making a difficult spinning kick combination that sent the 4-10 to the top right for the win as called. Taylor's dazzling highlight clinched the series for her at 2-0. Taylor did not have her best effort in game 3, allowing a lot more possession for Bear. This culminated in Bear making two shots at the end to grab the win. Taylor won the series 2-1 and will host the Midland Predators' Leonardo in the third round. Bear is officially out of the Tournament, the third player to fall, with the new Taylor striking for her first kill.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Zach. Now the Eastern Hills gets the spotlight, with another 8-ball series using the blue cue. Pronger's Zach had a strong start with a four-ball run in game 1, but he faded later on with a scratch, allowing Eastside's Graham to take the win on a three-ball run-out. Graham has a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Graham had a couple of scratches in game 2, and the Tridents' Zach had a strong defensive presence, but Graham still assembled a timely four-ball run-out in the end to get the win. Graham sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. Graham showed off a bit in the middle of game 3, but had trouble approaching the finish. Zach had an aggressive attempt at making a late run, but it ended with him illegally potting the 8 to gift a win to Graham, who took the series in a 3-0 sweep. Graham will be the host in his third round series.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Yekaterina Vasilyeva v. Shiny. The red cue steps in again for some Accuracy. Game 1 started with a ball on the break from Victoria's Yekaterina, who suffered some late misses. Web City's Shiny gained and gave away the last shot advantage, eventually winning 4-5 after each player missed twice on the last ball. The Spiders' Shiny put together a solid performance in game 2 after a rough start, watching as the Spurs' Yekaterina crumbled later in the game. Yekaterina missed on the last ball, and Shiny potted it on her first try, securing the 4-5 win and 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went much faster and cleaner than the previous two, with Yekaterina nearly playing a perfect effort. Shiny had a couple of tough misses, giving Yekaterina the 1-2 win to make it a 2-1 series. Shiny will return home and host the Swordpoint Blades' Dreamy in round three.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Klaus. A rising veteran meets a hotshot sophomore when the blue cue gets a look in 10-ball. Atlantic's Klaus had a pair of three-ball runs during game 1, giving him a distinct edge in possession and helping him to defeat Tysini's Brownie pretty handily. Klaus owns a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Klaus looked to be on the hunt for another win in game 2 until his glancing kick combination attempt on the 4-10 failed. The Hummingbirds' Brownie soon took over the pace, winning with a pair of shots at the end to tie the series at 1. Brownie had a good break in game 3, dangling the 10 near the top right. Klaus had a couple of attempts toward it, but Brownie took the win controversially on a 3-10 combination to the top right that detractors say clipped the 9 before the 3. Brownie nonetheless won the series 2-1, and will host the Oceanside Waves' Celestia in their third round series.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Chimpy. The red cue takes its last appearance of the day in 12-ball. Modernistic's Chimpy had a four-ball run at one stage of game 1, and established defense later on, but Oceanside's Snuggle made a cut after Chimpy couldn't convert his last ball with a wild-card ball advantage. Snuggle's good cut earned him a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Chimpy thought he had another good performance going in game 2, but he faltered late again, allowing the Waves' Snuggle to rally back in better position. Snuggle used this advantage well, picking up the win and securing the series at 2-0. Snuggle started with a three-ball run from the break in game 3, and while Chimpy made some progress, Snuggle finished the game just after Chimpy covered the initial run. Snuggle swept the series 3-0, and will host his third round series.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Avril Lavigne v. Ted. The day ends with a venue doubleheader, the first half of that being 15-ball with the blue cue. Southern's Avril had a slightly sharper game 1 performance than Web City's Ted, besting the visitor in the end with a three-ball run-out after holding a slight possession edge. Avril is up 1-0 in the series. The Monarchs' Avril looked good again in game 2, but the Spiders' Ted intervened with a near make on the 2-15 combination to the top right. Rattled, Avril missed on the 2, and Ted made the 2-3-15 combination to the top right with a helpful deflection off the 11. Ted's winning shot tied the series at 1. The 15 found itself under siege right from Ted's game 3 break, which put it near the bottom right. Both players had plenty of chances to pot it, until the chase ended on Avril's deflected shot off the 12 that sank the 15 in the top right while narrowly missing a double-pot. Avril claimed the series 2-1, and will visit a Coastal rival, the Oceanside Waves' Celestia, in the third round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Stealth. The blue cue ends the day with a series of 12-ball. Southern's Pounce had a four-ball run from the break in game 1, and then took two balls on his last turn despite Swordpoint's Stealth spending some time to play defense. Pounce's fast win gives him a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce brought fire on the game 2 break, but he couldn't get positioning on his last ball, forcing him to take a strategic scratch. The strategy failed, as the Blades' Stealth roared back on a three-ball run-out to claim the win, tying the series at 1 in the process. Game 3 brought plenty of energy on both sides, with Pounce prevailing after a close battle saw an opening for him to make a three-ball run-out. Pounce's strong conversions there gave him a 2-1 series win to propel this bid to the third round.
That's it for this session of games. We will return with Tournament play on Monday, while the weekend will see us close out the Hutton Cup first round.
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