We're gearing up for another full day of games, beginning with...
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Blizzard v. Mr. Snowman. The reigning MVP hosts a resurgent veteran in 7-ball with the silver cue. Everton's Blizzard had some difficulty with offense early in game 1, getting a three-ball run but just in time to watch Infinity's Mr. Snowman counter with the last two balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman wasted no time in extending his series lead to 2-0, stunning the Eagles' Blizzard by double-potting the 5 to the bottom right and the 7 to the top left on the game 2 break. Game 3 returned to a back-and-forth style, with a failed shot from distance at the end ruining Blizzard's chance to stay in the series. Mr. Snowman cashed in on the majority of possession by putting the 7 in the top left for the win to clinch the series at 3-0. Blizzard had everything but the win in game 4, making a six-ball run on her only turn but leaving the 7 painfully short at the top right. Mr. Snowman made the tap-in for the win, pushing his series lead to 4-0. Blizzard scratched late in game 5 while on a bit of a run, killing her chances of saving face this time. Mr. Snowman made the 7 from ball-in-hand, sweeping the series 5-0 to earn the right to host Cobalt of the Stonebridge Wolves in the bracket quarterfinals from Infinity. Mr. Snowman has his first kill of the year, with Blizzard's follow up to the MVP ending as the 45th player to be eliminated.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Patches. The silver cue continues its opening binge today with this 8-ball series between stars. Boston's Patches used a four-ball run to get ahead in game 1, and then managed to hold the lead as Lighton's Spirit had some shaky play late in the game. Patches won with a deflected shot on the 8 off the 15 to the bottom side to give the visitor a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit struck first again in game 2, but the two players played very evenly in this game. Spirit had a three-ball run to get onto the 8 before she missed, and the Swifts' Patches followed it up with a four-ball run-out, that extra push helping her make it a 2-0 series. Patches couldn't command the ball well enough in game 3, allowing Spirit to linger even without her best offense. Spirit eventually got onto the 8 and made it after Patches missed her only chance on it. Spirit has cut the series to 2-1. Spirit couldn't ignite her offense in game 4, falling very flat in the face of a five-ball run-out by Patches, which was enough for the win and the series clincher as the visitor moves ahead 3-1. Patches had another good start in game 5, but she couldn't hold on this time, as Spirit made six balls over her final three turns to poach the win. Patches settled for a 3-2 series win that puts her on the road again in the bracket quarterfinals. Spirit is the 46th player to exit the Tournament, giving Patches her first kill of the year.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Kirstin. A couple of less-experienced players meet in 8-ball with the silver cue after the lunch break. Modernistic's Daisy was the first to unravel a sloppy break in game 1, finding a four-ball run. Everton's Kirstin had some good looks, but Daisy made the last two shots right after her run to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Daisy couldn't replicate her offense in game 2, allowing the Eagles' Kirstin a bit more space to work with. Kirstin lacked a big defining run, but she still overcame a scratch to pick up the win, tying the series at 1. Daisy returned to form in game 3, using a two-part attack at the end to get ahead of and then beat Kirstin in similar fashion to game 1. Daisy restored her series lead at 2-1 with this victory. Daisy and Kirstin engaged in an epic battle in game 4, with Daisy using a pair of four-ball runs to defeat Kirstin's six-ball run in between. Daisy clinched the series at 3-1. Daisy tried to keep up the pace in game 5, but she fell short this time, and Kirstin was there to make a pair of balls at the finish for the win. Daisy took the series 3-2, and will host the Pearl Surfers' Bright in the bracket quarterfinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. B. Chapman. The blue cue is ready to go with this 7-ball series. Pacific's Twinkie I nearly empty on the game 1 break, but the 1 fell in the top side, igniting her table-running performance to stun North Modernistic's Chapman. Twinkie I leads the series 1-0 after the seven-shot victory. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I had a five-ball run on her second turn in game 2, an assertive attack but not enough to stop the Nighthawks' Chapman, who made the last two balls to take the win. The series is now tied at 1. Game 3 started even sloppier, but Chapman made a couple of shots before a scratch derailed her efforts. Twinkie I took over with ball-in-hand, sparking a four-ball run-out for the win to put her ahead again at 2-1 in the series. Game 4 featured a back-and-forth style, with Twinkie I twice failing to find herself a good long run to finish the series. Chapman hung around and struck right at the end to get the win, retying the series at 2 games apiece. Chapman took game 5 on the break, potting the 7 in the top side after a couple of deflections. Twinkie I has no one but herself to blame for giving Chapman the 3-2 series win, which sees the visitor assume that role again in the bracket quarterfinals against the Queens Flames' Violetta.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Dusty. The silver cue is back for a series of 9-ball between a rising star and a legend. Southridge's Bianca had a decent push in game 1, but she couldn't do enough to close out Golden's Dusty, who took the win with a three-ball run-out. Dusty leads the series 1-0. Neither player took hold of game 2 in any meaningful way, leading to many short turns. The Pilots' Dusty had a look at a win, but she scratched as she made the 9, gifting the game to the Defenders' Bianca as the series goes to a 1-1 tie. Bianca had some mistakes early in game 3, but she cleaned up her performance and capitalized on Dusty missing on the 6. Bianca ignited a four-ball run-out at the end, good positioning and execution included as her win gives her a 2-1 series lead. Dusty got herself back in the series with a three-ball run-out in game 4, including a lucky bounce off the 7 to set up a nice cut on the 9 when the time came. Bianca couldn't counterattack that, as Dusty tied the series at 2 on thin shooting margins. Bianca had game 5 in her hands, cutting the 9 to the bottom side, but she gave it away with a scratch at the bottom left. Dusty took the series 3-2, and will move on to the bracket quarterfinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Ms. Kitty. The host plays her second series today, this time in 10-ball with the blue cue. Pacific's Ms. Kitty had a pair of early three-ball runs, but her offense went cold from there. Modernistic's Daisy pulled back with a four-ball run-out for the win, giving her a well-earned 1-0 series lead. The Union's Daisy struck quickly in game 2, as the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty missed on the 1 and never got back to the table. Daisy made a five-ball run-out, ending with a double-pot of the 4 to the top right and a deflected 7-10 combination to the bottom right to put the host ahead 2-0 in the series. Daisy and Ms. Kitty exchanged three-ball runs in the middle of game 3, keeping things fairly even, but Daisy replied to Ms. Kitty's run with a pair of shots. Daisy's finisher was a bank of the 10 to the bottom right to clinch the series at 3-0. Ms. Kitty looked at her best in game 4, while Daisy appeared to take a step back with the series in hand. Ms. Kitty supplied a massive five-ball run-out to get the win, cutting the series to 3-1. Daisy fired back against Ms. Kitty good offense in game 5, making the 7-10 combination at a bad angle to the top side for the win. Daisy took the series 4-1, and will host the Whitewater Shores' Shaggy in the bracket quarterfinals.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Violetta. Two of the best this season meet in a massive Rotation series with the blue cue. Westside's Slinks had a big early run, a five-ball run to put her ahead. Queens' Violetta would tie it on a later four-ball run, and pull ahead a couple turns after that, but Violetta's scratch allowed Slinks to make the last two balls for an 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Slinks began game 2 on another five-ball run, making a crazy double-pot of the 4 at the top right and 7 at the bottom right with initial contact on the 2. The Flames' Violetta slowly worked her way into a tie on a four-ball run, but missed the 14 once and scratched a second time to gift Slinks ball-in-hand for the 8-7 win again. Slinks is up 2-0 in the series. Slinks had a slower start, but still made a four-ball run to establish her lead in game 3. Violetta never found a clear path forward, allowing Slinks to get a commanding 8-3 win to clinch the series at 3-0, silencing one of the brightest rising stars in the league. Slinks did even better in game 4, preventing Violetta from getting hardly any good shots as Slinks claimed an 8-1 win to move ahead 4-0 in the series. Slinks couldn't complete the sweep in game 5, struggling mightily while Violetta saved face with an 8-2 win. Slinks took the series 4-1, and will advance to the bracket quarterfinals.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Goatee v. Vladimir Vasilyev. The red cue comes on for 9-ball to complete this venue doubleheader. Stonebridge's Vladimir couldn't get much traction on offense in game 1, while Westside's Goatee took things at her own pace. Goatee would pick up the win on a three-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. Neither player could develop a run in game 2, leading to a lot of short turns and weak attacks. The Rockers' Goatee played perilously at the end, and it cost her, as the Wolves' Vladimir finally made the 9 on his second try to get the win, tying the series at 1. Vladimir again fell into a weak position on offense in game 3, making very few of his shots. This precarious effort didn't pay off, with Goatee rallying at the end on a four-ball run-out to regain the series lead at 2-1 after a slow start. Vladimir wasted a chance to win game 4, whiffing on a tap-in range 3-9 combination to the top right. Goatee showed mercy, banking the 3 to the bottom right. Vladimir would repay her by stealing the game anyway, burying a four-ball run-out capped by a 7-9 combination to the top right to tie the series at 2. Vladimir would show no mercy to Goatee's generosity in game 5, fighting with her on every shot before ultimately winning the game on a 7-8-9 bank combination to the top side to take the series 3-2. Vladimir will host an Eastern Hills rival in the bracket quarterfinals when the Pronger Tridents' Spot pays a visit. Vladimir took his second kill of the year, making Goatee the 47th eliminated player.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Nicole. A returning captain faces a veteran on a new team in 8-ball with the blue cue. Eastside's Graham gave away game 1 on his second turn, illegally potting the 8 in the bottom right to gift a win to Lighton's Nicole, who will take an early 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Nicole actually did some work to earn her game 2 win, never really finding a true run but managing to stall the Sharks' Graham pretty well. Graham tried to leave defense up late, but his play failed, and Nicole easily put the 8 in the bottom right to make it a 2-0 series lead in her favor. Graham had a four-ball run in game 3, but it ended in a scratch, a poor response to Nicole's early five-ball run. Nicole took her time with positioning and still comfortably found the win, clinching the series at 3-0. Graham had a couple of errors in game 4, but he still managed to win with a three-ball run-out, answering a prior four-ball run that got Nicole close but not close enough. Graham cut the series to 3-1 with this win. Nicole looked better at the start of game 5, but she couldn't hold on. She got onto the 8 with a four-ball run, but left it at the bottom side, where Graham converted a four-ball run-out for the win. Nicole will take a 3-2 series win with her into the bracket quarterfinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal Gadot v. Noelle. Today's final series is in Rotation with the silver cue. North Modernistic's Gal had a good start in game 1, although her sustained offense looked a bit weak. Central's Noelle had trouble with fouls throughout the game, and Gal marched on to an 8-2 win with a lot of plays from ball-in-hand. Gal holds a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gal began with a four-ball run in game 2, and then closed out the 8-0 win with a three-ball run-out after the Warriors' Noelle left the 6 vulnerable at the top side. Gal's dominant win pushes her series lead to 2-0. Gal started with a pair from the break in game 3, but Noelle quickly flipped it around with a four-ball run. Gal had some moments after that, but Noelle's pressure would not fall this time. Gal's scratch led Noelle to win 8-3, cutting the series to 2-1 with a dominant game. Gal used a game 4 strategy of short runs to put herself back on track. She started with a pair of shots early, and then added a three-ball run before Noelle got on the board. After a late foul by Noelle, Gal ended the game with a three-ball run-out for an 8-2 win, which secured the series for her at 3-1. Gal made things quick and painless in game 5, smacking a couple of runs and adding some other shots to gain an 8-0 shutout win over Noelle for the 4-1 series win. Gal will visit the Freedom Cascades captain Jasmine in the bracket quarterfinals.
That's all for today. We close the week out tomorrow with just eight series, completing the three-quarters mark of the round.
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