It's the 100th day of Tournament action this year, and we will play ten series again. First up...
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty v. Josie. The red cue plays first today, doing Accuracy between a captain and a rookie. Westside's Misty kept things close with Oceanside's Josie for the whole game, and while she briefly fell into a tie on the last ball, Josie failed to force overtime and Misty walked away with a 2-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 started slowly on both sides, with the Waves' Josie missing twice early on but the Rockers' Misty proving unable to hold the lead. The game went to overtime, where Josie's break was empty, and Misty converted a shot to win 2-3 for the 2-0 series lead. Misty couldn't get a grip on her performance in game 3, floundering for most of the game. Josie was nearly perfect until a miss on the final ball, but Josie took the 1-5 win anyway to cut the series to 2-1. Misty looked tense on a few shots in the middle of game 4, and she fell behind rather quickly. Josie managed to hold on for a 2-3 win despite a late miss, tying the series at 2 this time. Misty and Josie presented quite the tense and challenging finale to their series, with Josie ultimately missing twice late in the game to fall behind as Misty won 6-7 for the 3-2 series win. Misty will host her bracket quarterfinals series.
Apple Center, Todavía: Prism v. Klaus. The red cue remains in action as club-mates tangle in an 8-ball series. Todavía's Prism had a five-ball run as a counterattack against a decent start in game 1 from Atlantic's Klaus. Prism and Klaus battled closely at the end, with Prism ultimately getting onto the 8 and converting faster for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Klaus again started well in game 2, using a five-ball run, but the Stills' Prism came back with shorter runs and positioning. Klaus tried to get around Prism's defense, but the play failed, and Prism made the 8 to the top side to extend her series lead to 2-0. Prism led off with a bold attack in game 3, doing most of the early offense. Klaus tried a defensive stature this time, buying himself enough time as Prism had to relocate the 8 to have a chance of making it. Klaus fired back on a three-ball run-out, grabbing the win to pull to a 2-1 deficit in the series. Klaus returned to a hot start strategy in game 4, and he had a chance to go deep with his five-ball run, but a carom knocked the 8 illegally into the top right to gift the win away to Prism. This also gave Prism the series at 3-1. Prism kept up her offense in game 5, while Klaus did all he could on defense to prevent her from having an easy time. Klaus' defense failed, and Prism took the win with a cut on the 8 to the bottom right to make it a 4-1 series win. Prism will be the host again for her bracket quarterfinals series.
Intel Center, Diamond: Citrus v. Vladimir Vasilyev. An Eastern Hills Derby sees more 8-ball on the way, but with the blue cue's only appearance of the day. Diamond's Citrus had an explosive start with a seven-ball run and nearly potting the 8 as well. Stonebridge's Vladimir answered with a five-ball run, but Citrus had no trouble tapping the 8 to the bottom left for a win and 1-0 series lead. The action was a little more suppressed in game 2, as the Wolves' Vladimir started with a four-ball run before a foul slowed things down. The Gems' Citrus came close but never quite caught up, as Vladimir downed the 8 with a two-ball advantage for the win to tie the series at 1. Citrus looked better to start game 3, making a five-ball run, but Vladimir used a pair of three-ball runs and tough defense to keep Citrus at bay from there. Vladimir would pick up the win, his comeback completed with a pair of shots at the end to give him a 2-1 series lead with this win. Vladimir proved savvy in game 4, starting with a pair early on and adding a four-ball run to make things extremely tough for Citrus. Vladimir missed contact at one point, leading to a three-ball run for Citrus from ball-in-hand, but Vladimir made his last two shots on the next turn for the win. Vladimir clinched the series at 3-1. Vladimir didn't get much on his game 5 break, allowing Citrus to boss the game. Vladimir did pull back late, but Citrus closed with a clean pair of shots to get the win. Vladimir takes the series 3-2 to earn a visiting spot against the Oceanside Waves' Josie in the bracket quarterfinals. Citrus is the 43rd player out of the Tournament, and Vladimir has his first career kill.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Shelley. A Southwestern Derby leads us off after the lunch break with the red cue playing 7-ball. Capital City's Chris didn't make anything on the break, but replied to one shot from Infinity's Shelley with a five-ball run-out capped by a 6-7 combination to the top right for the win. Chris leads the series at 1-0. The Torpedoes' Shelley played a more even game after the Sharpshooters' Chris broke the chalk to start game 2. Shelley made the 7 after Chris couldn't convert on it late, with the win helping her to tie the series at 1. Shelley didn't let Chris get to the table in game 3, making a ball on the break and ending on her seventh shot by banking the 7 to the bottom right to go up 2-1 in the series. Shelley kept the shooting streak going in game 4, making a ball on the break, a double-pot of the 1 to the bottom left and the 4 to the bottom side on her second shot, and a 3-7 bank combination to the top left for the win that clinched the series at 3-1. Chris finally had a chance to fight back in game 5, counterattacking Shelley's early three-ball run to secure the win. Shelley took the series 3-2, and will be on the road against the winner of the next series.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Cassandra. The visitor here begins a personal doubleheader on the road with more 7-ball using the red cue. Royal's Jake won game 1 on the break, triple-potting the 1 to the bottom side, the 2 to the top right, and the 7 to the top left most importantly. Jake leads Diamond's Cassandra 1-0 in the series. The Gems' Cassandra won game 2 in two turns, a four-ball run early and a clean-up job on the 7 after the Crowns' Jake could only make two balls on his second turn. Cassandra gladly tied the series at 1 with this win. Jake fired back with a confident performance in game 3 after a slow start, ripping a seven-ball run-out as his war of offense continues with Cassandra. Jake regained the series lead at 2-1 with this latest showing. Cassandra fired back in game 4, answering Jake's three-ball run two turns later with a three-ball run-out to give herself a win. Cassandra has tied the series again at 2. Neither player wanted to be responsible for a mistake in game 5, and in the end, neither player messed up. Jake won the game and the 3-2 series with an impressive 5-7 bank combination to the bottom left to earn a position hosting the Infinity Torpedoes' Shelley in the bracket quarterfinals.
Intel Center, Diamond: Cassandra v. Panda. The red cue remains on hand as the host completes her doubleheader at home in 15-ball. Diamond's Cassandra seemed pretty good in game 1, but Southern's Panda found an extra burst of offense, winning on a three-ball run after Cassandra couldn't corral the 13. Panda is up 1-0 in the series. Game 2 saw the Monarchs' Panda take a step back on offense with a couple of fouls holding him back. The Gems' Cassandra stayed consistent, and battled with Panda at the end before she won on a decoy shot on the 13 that bumped the 15 to the top side. The series is tied at 1. Cassandra and Panda didn't do too much at the start of game 3, keeping an even balance until Cassandra's five-ball run just around halfway. Panda made the 12 after that, but Cassandra took the last two shots for the win and a 2-1 series lead. Cassandra had a bit of luck on her side in game 4, mostly stemming from fouls by Panda. Cassandra earned a late four-ball run, the most notable attack, after Panda had a stick foul, and then Cassandra made the 15 a turn later after Panda couldn't cut it to the bottom right. Cassandra secured the series at 3-1 with this win. Panda put on a dominant eight-ball run in game 5, and then followed it up at the end on the 15 to get the win, leaving Cassandra to take a 3-2 series win. Cassandra will visit the Everton Eagles' Kirstin in the bracket quarterfinals. Cassandra has her second kill this year, while Panda exits the Tournament 44th.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Rudolph. The silver cue will take over for the rest of the day, beginning with this 12-ball series. Harrison's Rudolph had a quick four-ball run on his second turn of game 1, and Freedom's Nikolai failed to provide defensive cover. Rudolph easily took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Rudolph had a slower start in game 2, having to come back from a three-ball run by the Cascades' Nikolai. Rudolph stayed patient and found good positioning, setting up his final shot before Nikolai could make his own last ball. Rudolph's conversion at the top side gave him the win and a 2-0 series lead. Nikolai looked a bit more decisive with his shots in game 3, helping him to another late lead. Nikolai did foul again, but Rudolph failed to take advantage this time, and Nikolai won on his next turn at the top left. Rudolph is still ahead 2-1 in the series. Rudolph had the edge in game 4 for quite awhile, but a wild-card ball he surrendered would cost him later, as Nikolai held Rudolph off long enough to earn the win that tied the series at 2. Nikolai began with a three-ball run in game 5, and quickly got down to his last ball before Rudolph began his counterattack. Rudolph also made it to his last ball, but his bank toward the bottom left failed, and Nikolai converted his last shot for the win. Nikolai takes the 3-2 series win with him on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Shelley v. Bianca. The host plays her second series today, this one in 8-ball with the silver cue. Southridge's Bianca came out of the gate strong in game 1, but faded after a couple of turns. Infinity's Shelley picked up her pace with a six-ball run and then made the 8 from distance to the bottom left a turn later for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Shelley started with back-to-back runs of four and three balls before the Defenders' Bianca replied on a six-ball run. Shelley held her off in the end, putting the 8 in the top right to push her series lead to 2-0. Bianca had the better of the offense early in game 3, but Bianca never put together a decisive run to tip the scales. Shelley provided that right at the end, making a four-ball run-out with some collateral damage to remove Bianca's defense on the second-to-last shot. Shelley then converted the 8 cleanly to the top side for the win, clinching the series at 3-0. Shelley had a four-ball run near the middle of game 4, but never quite managed to corral the 8, allowing Bianca to slip in with a game-ending five-ball run-out for her first win in the 3-1 series. Bianca and Shelley had a slow start in game 5, leading to Bianca eventually pulling slowly away with the lead. Bianca was too slow at the end, allowing Shelley to strike on a five-ball run-out for the win and 4-1 series win. By the end of the day, Shelley will know her bracket quarterfinals opponent for this bid.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Celestia. This venue will host today's last two series, with 7-ball between young players first on the list. Terrace City's Quincy held a majority of the offense and neutralized all threats levied by Oceanside's Celestia, easily winning game 1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Quincy left the 7 tantalizingly close to the top left on the game 2 break, leading to two missed attempts at trick shots on it by the Waves' Celestia. Quincy also missed a combination there, and missed contact on the 5 later, leading to a three-ball run-out that gave Celestia the win to tie the series at 1. Celestia had just enough power on her break to pot the 7 to the top left on a single shot, even slowing the target ball down as it approached the pocket. Quincy could only watch as Celestia moved ahead 2-1 in the series. Celestia took her turn to leave the 7 close at the top right in game 4, and Quincy stormed on with a six-ball run-out on his second turn to gracefully pick up the win despite some difficult shots. Quincy retied the series at 2. Game 5 was unlike the rest of the series, as Quincy and Celestia combined slowly in a back-and-forth battle. Quincy had a chance go to waste when he knocked the 7 wide of the bottom right, which Celestia mopped up for the 3-2 series win. Celestia will host the Everton Eagles' Puff III in the bracket quarterfinals from Oceanside.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Gizmo. The final series today is in 8-ball, continuing a run for the silver cue. Terrace City's Oreo went empty on the game 1 break, and Eastside's Gizmo began with a four-ball run on his first turn. Oreo never let him back in it, making eight straight for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Oreo scratched on the break in game 2, but the Sharks' Gizmo didn't make her pay for it, struggling to find his offense quickly. The two played an even game until Oreo's four-ball run-out at the end secured another victory to make her series lead sit at 2-0. Oreo again went empty on the break in game 3, giving Gizmo another chance to strike first. Gizmo had a three-ball run, but Oreo fired back with a four-ball run, and then added a four-ball run-out on her next turn for the win to seal the series at 3-0. Game 4 had a similar start as the previous game, led by a four-ball run from each player. Things got tougher after that, but Oreo eventually pushed through and won with the 8 at the top side to go up 4-0 in the series. Gizmo did get some consolation in game 5, as Oreo's runs dried up and Gizmo continued to be good on offense. Gizmo won in a shutout, while Oreo took the series 4-1 to earn the right to host the Infinity Torpedoes' Shelley in the bracket quarterfinals.
That's all we've got for today. We'll try to play again tomorrow if everything goes well.
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