We're back for another day of Tournament play, returning to a morning start time that we've grown accustomed to recently. First up...
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Spice. A talented veteran meets a captain in 15-ball with the blue cue in the first series of the day. Both players were unequivocally bad in game 1, but Freedom's Nikolai struck the 4-15 combination to the top left when the opportunity presented itself, beating Victoria's Spice for a shaky 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Spice took a positive step forward in game 2, getting three runs of at least three balls to dominate in possession. The Cascades' Nikolai had a chance to play defense late in the game, but Spice broke it with a four-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw the players mostly go back-and-forth at an acceptable pace, with Nikolai breaking the trend on a three-ball run-out in the end to get the win. Nikolai took the series 2-1 over Spice, and will host the Modernistic Union's Daisy in the third round.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Rosemary v. Luigi. An Urban Derby is the last Accuracy series with the red cue in this round. Commerce's Rosemary made a ball on the game 1 break, which was the extent of the positive play. North Modernistic's Luigi stayed close for awhile, but he faded at the end, and Rosemary held on enough to win 5-7 for a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Luigi made a massive improvement in game 2, playing perfectly, while the Tradewinds' Rosemary stayed stagnant and plagued by scratches. The result was Luigi winning the middle game 0-5, tying the series at 1 and putting the host in a tough position. Rosemary had another pair of scratches in game 3, but this aligned to give her last-shot advantage. It worked, as regulation ended tied, but Luigi made a ball on the overtime break, leading to a flurry of turns that ultimately ended when Rosemary missed her fifth shot in overtime. Luigi won 3-4, and will visit the Boston Swifts' Patches in the third round after a 2-1 series win.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Jason N. v. Gizmo. The blue cue is back in this series of Rotation. It took a few turns to get the offense going, but Eastside's Gizmo erupted with a six-ball run-out after Swordpoint's Jason erred. Gizmo's highlight was double-potting the 3 and 4 to the right corners, and he won 8-0 for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Gizmo held a lead about halfway through game 2, but a miss on the 6 led to a long stretch of stagnation. The Blades' Jason lost his cool, and he never had a chance to simmer down, as Gizmo popped a four-ball run-out soon after that to win 8-3, clinching the series at 2-0. Gizmo made a mess of game 3 completely, letting Jason build up a large lead. Jason was on the brink of victory when shot quality dropped again, but he did pick up the 8-5 win to avoid the sweep. Gizmo's 2-1 series win puts him in position to host an Eastern Hills rival, the Pronger Tridents' Zach.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jeremias v. Twinkie I. Another series of Rotation awaits, this one with the red cue. Royal's Jeremias had a decent performance in game 1, although he did briefly fall behind Pacific's Twinkie I. Jeremias corrected this on a five-ball run, and he would win 8-5 on his next turn, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Crowns' Jeremias had a hot start in game 2, making a five-ball run on his second turn and winning two turns after that with a pair of shots, while the Volcanoes' Twinkie I saw no offense at all. Jeremias' 8-0 win sealed the series in his favor at 2-0. Jeremias had a rougher start in game 3, watching Twinkie I get all the way to the brink of victory with short runs. Twinkie I couldn't finish the job in the end, allowing Jeremias to rally all the way back on his last two turns for an 8-7 win. Jeremias swept the series 3-0, and he will host a Southeastern rival, the Golden Pilots' Strut, in the third round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Gizmo. The visitor's second series today is in 15-ball with the blue cue much closer to home. Eastside's Gizmo seemed to have the better of play as game 1 progressed from an even start, but he missed the 14, and Freedom's Jasmine came up with a pair of shots to win on the final turn for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Gizmo played aggressively in game 2, especially after the break from the Cascades' Jasmine left the 15 near the top right. On his second turn, Gizmo connected with a 2-15 combination to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. Jasmine and Gizmo both brought urgency to game 3, leading to a quick pace of play. Jasmine got a fortunate position around the middle of the rack, converting the 8-15 combination to the bottom side, and the 8 fell in the top side to make it a game-winning double-pot. Jasmine also took the series 2-1, and will host another Eastern Hills rival, the Stonebridge Wolves' Vladimir, in the third round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli v. Cobalt. The red cue comes back for this series of 10-ball between less experienced players. Stonebridge's Cobalt did a four-ball run in game 1, but didn't have much else to brag about. Tysini's Charli nearly gave the game away with a short-range miss on the 10, but Cobalt also missed, and Charli made it on the second try to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Wolves' Cobalt started a bit slower in game 2, letting the Hummingbirds' Charli pace the attack early on. This strategy worked, as Cobalt struck late on a four-ball run-out to grab the win, tying the series at 1. Charli had a four-ball run near the middle of a tense game 3, loosening things up but then missing on the 7. This proved costly, as Cobalt made a three-ball run-out, measuring the perfect weight to cut the 10 to the top left for the win. Cobalt took the series 2-1, earning a trip back home to host the Midland Predators' Shawn.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer Livilotti v. Paps. The silver cue is done with 12-ball for the round after this series. Tysini's Paps tangled with Terrace City's Jennifer early in game 1, but Paps broke out with better positioning at the end, and when Jennifer couldn't convert to the top left, Paps made his last shot at the top side for the win. Paps leads the series 1-0. The Knights' Jennifer showed just how dangerous she can be in game 2, striking for a five-ball run on her first turn. The Hummingbirds' Paps did well to make three balls over two turns, but Jennifer made her last shot to the bottom left on her second turn, earning the win to tie the series at 1. Jennifer wasted no time in game 3, making five balls over her first two turns to put immediate pressure on Paps. The play worked, as Jennifer made her final ball while Paps was still setting up his last shot. Jennifer won the series 2-1, and will visit the Swordpoint Blades' Dreamy in the third round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Cubby. The red cue returns to action in this series of 9-ball. Central's Twilight managed to be productive in game 1 despite some scattered shooting, which threw Eastside's Cubby off his game. Twilight struck late on a short run to pick up the win, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Warriors' Twilight came up with another win in game 2, despite rattling the 3 out of pockets twice, the first ending a four-ball run. The Sharks' Cubby had the same issue with the 6, leading to Twilight's 6-9 combination at the bottom side for the win. Twilight secured the series at 2-0. In game 3, Cubby fought back a bit more against Twilight, and he was rewarded when she whiffed on the 9. Cubby made it on his second attempt, and this left Twilight with a 2-1 series win. Twilight will host the Whitewater Shores' Marsell in the third round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Bandit. The silver cue gets a look in 8-ball in this series. Pearl's Beth had a good game 1, running circles around Swordpoint's Bandit early on. Beth got a bit lucky when she cut the 15 to the top left from a bad angle, setting her up nicely on the 8, which she also made for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Beth continued to just outplay the Blades' Bandit, starting right after Bandit missed his first shot. Beth was twice as fast on potting the solids in game 2, and she had no trouble on the 8 either, winning again to seal the series at 2-0. Bandit jumped out to a lead initially in game 3, but he stalled soon after that, and Beth was right there to rally herself ahead. Beth would pick up the win with a late pair of shots, sweeping the series 3-0. Beth will host a former Surfer, the Central Warriors' Wings, in the third round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Ted v. Gabe. A strongman against a veteran marks a Northeastern Derby in 7-ball with the red cue. Web City's Ted didn't look to be in a good position as Maplewood's Gabe launched a five-ball run, but Gabe missed on the 6 and Ted struck for a pair of balls at the end for the win. Ted leads the series 1-0. Game 2 had much more of a choppy feel to it, with no big game-changing runs being performed. The Lumberjacks' Gabe knew he lost it when he missed contact on a cut attempt on the 7, and the Spiders' Ted confirmed this with a ball-in-hand shot on the 7 to the bottom left for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Ted didn't start so well in game 3, watching Gabe make a four-ball run, but Gabe again failed to sustain the attack, and Ted had a three-ball run-out for the win. Ted swept the series 3-0, and will host the Golden Pilots' Dusty in the third round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus v. Panda. The red cue closes up its 15-ball action for the round in this series. Offense took some time to develop in game 1, but Midland's Americus started to pick up the pace just after the halfway mark. Southern's Panda shut this down on a three-ball run-out, ending with an 11-15 combination to the bottom left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Panda had the better of play in game 2, but that all went away when he scratched while double-potting the 9 to the bottom right and the 15 to the top side. The Predators' Americus hadn't done much prior to that, but she has the win and has tied the series at 1. Americus threw everything she had at the early parts of game 3, trying to strike quickly, but the plan failed, and Panda mopped up a fairly easy win with a 10-15 combination to the top side. Panda won the series 2-1, and will visit the Diamond Gems' Cassandra in the third round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Princess. Veterans meet in Accuracy with the silver cue, its last series in the event for the round. Boston's Sweetheart made a double-pot on the break in game 1 and then another one two turns later, but a miss in between put her behind. Tysini's Princess then missed late in the game, and Sweetheart maintained her last-shot advantage to the end. Princess went empty on the overtime break, and Sweetheart converted to win 1-2 for the 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Sweetheart tried a similar strategy in game 2, making a double-pot about halfway through the game to take the last-shot advantage from the Hummingbirds' Princess. Sweetheart had a later miss though, and Princess remained strong, taking the 1-2 win in regulation to tie the series at 1. Princess and Sweetheart battled for every shot in game 3, but a quick finish left Sweetheart on the outside looking in at Princess winning 3-4. Princess took the series 2-1, and will visit the Diamond Gems captain Smokey in the third round.
That's all for today's games. We're at two to go in the round, still on track to end on Friday.
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