We're back for another day of games, likely to be an eight-series day. There is a chance today's action won't get completed. We begin with...
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Nibbles. This Coastal derby pits the players against each other in 12-ball with the red cue. Pacific's Leonette held a lead for most of game 1, but gave back a wild-card ball Viewpoint Sound's Nibbles gave her to set up a pair of shots at the end. Leonette took the win and 1-0 series lead despite both players struggling from long range. The Volcanoes' Leonette put in a three-ball run early in game 2, and this did enough to shake the Meteors' Nibbles. Leonette missed contact on her last ball, but Nibbles couldn't convert on a run, and Leonette cut her last ball in on the second try for the win to push her series lead to 2-0. Leonette continued to have the better of play in game 3, putting down a three-ball run and setting herself up on her last ball rather quickly. Nibbles against missed a chance to ignite a run, and Leonette curved a shot around Nibbles' defense to the top left for the win. Leonette secured the series lead at 3-0. Leonette went even bigger with a four-ball run on the break in game 4, and then she capped the win two turns later with a pair of shots after Nibbles made a pair of his own. Leonette's lead in the series now stands at 4-0. Leonette did make a pair on the break in game 5, but her positioning after that was poor. She still nearly caught up with Nibbles, but he made his last ball from a tough angle to get the win. Leonette settled for a 4-1 series win to put her into the bracket quarterfinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Lize v. Cobalt. The red cue stays in action for a series of Accuracy between less-experienced players. Pronger's Lize continued to show her skill in this event, playing a perfect game 1. Stonebridge's Cobalt kept up for awhile, but a pair of misses produced Lize's winning 0-2 score for the 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Cobalt put up a good effort in game 2, keeping the Tridents' Lize behind for much of the game. Cobalt then stumbled with a late pair of misses, and Lize iced the 3-4 win for herself with a bank of the 8 to the bottom left to make it a 2-0 advantage in the series. Lize took a step back in game 3, mostly due to a bad break, but Cobalt did even worse, floundering in the middle of the game as he dug himself too deep a deficit to come back from. Lize held on at the end to win 4-7, clinching the series at 3-0. Cobalt finally put it all together, ironically after Lize finally made a ball on the break in game 4. Lize would miss a handful of shots before the game ended, and Cobalt had just one late miss, winning 1-4 to cut the series to 3-1. Game 5 started well on both sides, but Lize and Cobalt collapsed in near-matching patterns. Lize had one extra miss near the end, allowing Cobalt to take the 3-4 win. Lize did win the series 3-2, and she will host her series in the bracket quarterfinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Jennifer Livilotti. The silver cue comes up for a 12-ball series after the break. Swordpoint's Dreamy had her chances in game 1, but she couldn't line up her last shot, allowing Terrace City's Jennifer to capitalize on Dreamy's errors to make her last pair of shots. Jennifer's comeback gives her a 1-0 series lead. Both players struggled early in game 2, with the Blades' Dreamy ceding possession too easily with errors. The Knights' Jennifer took her time to unravel the game, and suffered a setback with a scratch, but she ultimately won anyways, extending her series lead to 2-0. Dreamy had her chance to strike early in game 3 after Jennifer scratched on the break, but Dreamy wasted the opportunity. Jennifer quickly caught up, and then showed patience before potting her last three balls over two turns to get the win, sealing the series at 3-0. Jennifer had some struggles early in game 4, but managed to keep up with Dreamy until the end. On the last shot, Jennifer tried a multi-rail bank for her last shot, but accidentally potted Dreamy's last ball instead, making it just a 3-1 series lead for Jennifer now. Dreamy continued to play well in game 5, especially on her closing three-ball run-out to swipe the win away from Jennifer. Dreamy finished with a tough bank to the bottom side to get the win, leaving Jennifer with a 3-2 series win. Jennifer will play on into the bracket quarterfinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi Woode v. Precious. The silver cue goes for another trip in 12-ball. Harrison's Lexi had a good start in game 1, but she needed some subtle defense late in the game to hold off Pronger's Precious after the visitor made a push that ended in a scratch. Lexi got what she needed, taking the last two shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Lexi spread her offense throughout game 2, leading for much of the game. The Tridents' Precious made it look closer than it was with a five-ball run, but Lexi made her last ball on the next shot to get the win, extending her series lead to 2-0. Lexi gave away a wild-card ball on the game 3 break, but looked good anyway with a four-ball run. Lexi would make another ball, but she was unprepared to defend against Precious making all five remaining balls in her suit over two turns for the comeback win. Lexi stills leads the series 2-1. Precious continued to fight well in game 4, battling with Lexi after making one of each suit on the break. Lexi would give back the wild-card ball in the middle of the game, and then pave Precious' path to victory by giving her a wild-card ball near the end. Precious put the 5 in the top left to confirm the win, tying the series at 2. Precious battled with Lexi for every inch of game 5, and Lexi was more than willing to put up an equal fight. Lexi did better near the end to get positioned on her last shot, converting one turn after setting it up for the win. Lexi felled Precious by a 3-2 series margin, and will host her bracket quarterfinals appearance.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Paps. The blue cue makes its first appearance today in this 7-ball series. Tysini's Paps absolutely dominated in game 1, taking a pair of three-ball runs, with the latter enough to defeat the Todavía's Sierra at the end to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Sierra never got a chance to shoot in game 2, as the Hummingbirds' Paps popped two balls in on the break, including the 7 at the top side to push his series lead to 2-0. Paps made two balls on the break in game 3 as well, but the 7 was not included in that this time. Sierra then had a three-ball run, but couldn't convert on the 7 at the top side, and Paps mopped it up instead for the win to secure the series at 3-0. Paps again made a pair of shots on the break in game 4, but his offense mostly fizzled out from that point on. Sierra finally got herself into a game, blasting a four-ball run-out on her second turn to take the win, making it 3-1 in the series. Paps tried a little bit at the start of game 5, but elected to back off at the end as Sierra showed more energy. Sierra needed a couple of tries at the 7 before converting for the win. Paps took the series 3-2, and will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Cubby v. Dusky. The red cue is back to administer a 10-ball series between club-mates. Eastside's Cubby had some success early on, but he scratched when he made the 3, and Archtown's Dusky took over. Dusky made a six-ball run, but came agonizingly close on the 10. Cubby mopped up Dusky's late miss for the win, taking a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Cubby showed significantly more success with creative positioning, especially later in the game. The Arrows' Dusky saw two bad turns for herself near the end, the latter leading Cubby to a four-ball run-out for his win. Cubby is up 2-0 in the series. Dusky performed well early in game 3, but she lost control when Cubby took a four-ball run. Dusky had a chance to counter, but missed contact with the 9. Cubby then made the 9 and got perfect position on the 10, which he sent to the bottom right to seal the series at 3-0. Dusky had her chances to make an impact on the game after Cubby put the 10 near the top right, but Dusky would miss contact on the 3 on her second turn after this play. Cubby took the ball-in-hand, putting the 3 in the top left and the 4-10 combination in the top right for the win to extend his series lead to 4-0. Cubby and Dusky both struggled initially in game 5, but when Cubby got going with a double-pot of the 6 and 7 on a combination starting with the 4, he didn't stop until he had a seven-ball run-out. Cubby swept the series 5-0, the first of the round, and will host his bracket quarterfinals series. Dusky is the sixteenth player out of the Tournament, and Cubby has his first kill this year.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Crystal. The blue cue returns for a series of 12-ball between veterans. Southern's Pounce had a three-ball run from the break in game 1, but Queens' Crystal kept up well, setting up a great duel at the end. Crystal had better position, but twice missed her last shot, and Pounce made sure she didn't get a third chance, slamming his last ball in the bottom left for the win. Pounce holds a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce made a nice run on his second turn of game 2, stalling the offense for the Flames' Crystal in the process. Pounce would need a turn to set himself up before making a pair of shots to finish the win after Crystal failed to strike again, giving Pounce the 2-0 series lead. Pounce buried a three-ball run on the game 3 break to set himself up initially. Crystal bounced back on her second turn with a three-ball run, but Pounce maneuvered well to win with a three-ball run-out just after that, clinching the series at 3-0. Pounce had a scratch on the break in game 4, and this led to a massive five-ball run from Crystal, with her last ball on the edge of the bottom right. Pounce countered with a four-ball run, but his defensive attempt potted Crystal's last ball, giving her the win as his series lead shrinks to 3-1. Crystal thought she was being crafty late in game 5 by giving Pounce a wild-card ball while playing some defense, but she illegally potted her last ball, and Pounce soon made his last ball legally for the win. Pounce took the series 4-1 to earn a spot in the bracket quarterfinals.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Ted v. Dusty. The red cue takes its last series today in 7-ball between a sophomore and a legend. Web City's Ted pounded a three-ball run-out in game 1 after a mixed start that saw Golden's Dusty scratch on a follow-through while making the 4. Ted's strong positioning helped him earn the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Ted made a ball on the game 2 break, igniting his five-ball run that ended with him leaving the Pilots' Dusty in a tough spot. Dusty committed a contact foul, and Ted took the last two shots easily for a dominant win and 2-0 series lead. Ted didn't get anything on the game 3 break, and Dusty instantly made him pay for it, kicking the 1-7 combination to the bottom right almost accidentally. Dusty's stunning shot gave her a win, although Ted remains ahead 2-1 in the series. Dusty didn't put Ted under any extra pressure in game 4, taking things easy at the start. Ted eventually emerged on a four-ball run, but missed the long cut on the 7, and Dusty chopped it to the top left for the win, tying the series at 2. Dusty and Ted battled closely in game 5, with Dusty posting a three-ball run before a brutal miss on the 6. Ted would show no mercy, making the last two shots for the win and a 3-2 series win. Ted is in line to host his bracket quarterfinals series.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Yekaterina Vasilyeva. The marquee match of the day is this one in 9-ball with the blue cue. Victoria's Yekaterina had a decent game 1, although neither her nor Everton's Cleo were at their best this time. Yekaterina got by with a late push past Cleo to take the win for a 1-0 series lead in a choppy game. The Spurs' Yekaterina had her chances in game 2, including a three-ball run over the middle to move the game along, but the Eagles' Cleo shut the door with a three-ball run-out at the end, taking the win and tying the series at 1. Yekaterina bounced back with a fierce five-ball run on her second turn to ignite the offense in game 3. Cleo had a chance to counter with a 7-9 combination, but she chipped the shot, and Yekaterina converted it to the top right instead. Yekaterina is now ahead 2-1 in the series. Yekaterina had a pair of three-ball runs in game 4 to put Cleo under pressure. Cleo tried to be an obstruction late in the game, but she missed her chance on the 9, and Yekaterina buried it for the win, securing the series at 3-1. Yekaterina capped a dominant series with a fantastic finish, making cuts and long shots look easy on her six-ball run-out to win game 5. Yekaterina advances to the bracket quarterfinals on a 4-1 series win.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Wario. Today's finale is also in 9-ball, but with the silver cue this time. Victoria's Wario certainly looked like the more dangerous player in game 1, but it was up in the air after Southern's Dominic twice rattled the 9 out of pockets late in the game. Wario did eventually put it in the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead after some close calls. The Monarchs' Dominic went with an early four-ball run in game 2, and the Spurs' Wario answered back with a four-ball run of his own, narrowly missing the 9 at the end. Dominic picked up the 9 for the win, tying the series at 1. Dominic and Wario battled in a chippy game 3, neither player really able to find much of a run at any point. Wario had some moments early on that were positive, but Dominic bounced back by the end to take the win on a pair of shots after Wario missed on the 8. Dominic leads the series 2-1. Game 4 wasn't much better for offense quality, but Wario had some nice shots early on. Wario couldn't build up a late run to support his offense, and Dominic picked up the win again with a thin cut on the 9 to the bottom left, giving him the series at 3-1. Dominic continued to boss possession despite not having many runs. Wario's patience had clearly left him by the end of game 5, and Dominic made the last two shots for the win and 4-1 series win. Dominic will host a bracket quarterfinals series.
That's all for today. I can not confirm participation in Tournament play tomorrow due to a nagging soreness in my shoulder, which may just need rest.
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