We return for another ten-series day of action. Leading off...
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Jason N. v. Cubby. A rookie and a returnee clash in 8-ball with the blue cue to start the day. Eastside's Cubby struck first in game 1, but watched as Swordpoint's Jason got to the late game on a four-ball run. Under pressure, Cubby emerged with the win, answering on a five-ball run-out two turns later to go up 1-0 in the series. The Sharks' Cubby came out of the gate with a four-ball run, and then a three-ball run to get on the 8 early in game 2. The Blades' Jason played a defensive game, which worked out as he won with a pair of three-ball runs and a second chance tap-in on the 8 at the bottom right after frustrating Cubby. Jason's win tied the series at 1. Jason continued to use defense to his advantage in game 3, and he mixed that with a pair of three-ball runs at each of the game to overwhelm Cubby, putting Jason ahead 2-1 in the series. Jason had a slower offense in game 4, and his defense faltered as well, presenting a great chance to Cubby, who made a four-ball run that ended with a scratch. This late error proved costly for Cubby, as Jason picked up the last two balls in three turns while Cubby had to work on positioning. Jason's win clinched the series for him at 3-1. Cubby looked ready to pick up the game 5 win with his most aggressive attack of the series, but Jason held him off in the middle of the game and beat him at the end to advance on a 4-1 series win. Jason will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Josie v. Twinkie III. An Aquatic Derby series follows, also using the blue cue in 8-ball. Oceanside's Josie had a slow start while Whitewater's Twinkie III attacked early in game 1, but they flipped roles multiple times. Josie finished well, a three-ball run-out pacing her win as she takes a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Josie attacked with more purpose in game 2, making a six-ball run on her second turn. The Shores' Twinkie III had a staggered response, but an illegal contact foul gave Josie ball-in-hand, and she made her last two balls for the win and 2-0 series lead. Josie did pretty well in game 3, making an early three-ball run. Twinkie III didn't make it easy for her, keeping up her attack at a similar pace, but Josie closed the door quickly at the end to get the win. Josie clinched the series at 3-0. Josie kept going, suffering a slow start in game 4 but capitalizing on a pair of scratches from Twinkie III. Josie kept a consistent pace in the later parts of the game, and picked up another win to move up 4-0 in the series. Josie couldn't held giving Twinkie III a gift in game 5, as collateral damage and Twinkie III's plucky attack finally earned the visitor a win. Josie will take a 4-1 series win into another hosting position in the bracket quarterfinals. Twinkie III is the 31st player to be eliminated this year, and Josie is now responsible for two kills.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Wings v. Charli XCX. A venue doubleheader begins after the lunch break, using the red cue for Rotation. Central's Wings had a productive game 1, making a ball on the break and establishing a good lead. Tysini's Charli came close at times, but never caught up, as Wings pulled away twice more to win 8-5 for the 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Wings went empty on the break in game 2, allowing the Hummingbirds' Charli to strike first, but Wings fired back with a lucky and impressive eight-ball run-out to win 8-1, moving ahead 2-0 in the series. Neither player had much offense early in game 3, until Wings made a triple-pot to break a stalemate. Charli got a couple of them back, but Wings ultimately ran away with the 8-3 win, securing the series at 3-0 in the process. Wings found another massive run early in game 4, a six-ball run erasing Charli's small first strike. Charli got some back again, but errors doomed the game in the end, as Wings won 8-3 again to extend his series lead to 4-0. Wings would not back down in game 5, making a three-ball run after an error from Charli and another three-ball run at the end to stave off Charli's counterattack for the 8-4 win. Wings swept the series, and will be a visitor in the bracket quarterfinals. Wings has his second kill of the year, and Charli is the 32nd player to be eliminated from the Tournament.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Twinkie II. The other half of the doubleheader keeps the red cue up for 15-ball. Central's Dustin had a strong start in game 1, while Harrison's Twinkie II couldn't get clear looks most of the time. Dustin ended the game quickly, making the 4-15 combination to the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Dustin had a more difficult time in game 2, sharing possession with the Specters' Twinkie II very evenly. Dustin still found an early finish, deflecting a shot off the 8 to put the 15 in the top right, the win extending his series lead to 2-0. Dustin and Twinkie II again battled closely for much of game 3, neither player able to find a game-changing run. Dustin struck a little later this time, but deflected a shot off the 10 to push the 15 into the top right for another win, sealing the series at 3-0. Twinkie II had some of her best turns in game 4, a three-ball run to move things along in the middle being the highlight. Dustin answered with five of the last six balls over two turns to get the win through good positioning, giving him a 4-0 advantage in the series. Offense didn't come easily in game 5, but Dustin broke through the noise for another early finish, making the 1-15 combination to the bottom right when Twinkie II left it for him. Dustin swept the series 5-0, a perfect home doubleheader for the Warriors seeing their star set to face Northeastern rival Bryant of the Maplewood Lumberjacks in the bracket quarterfinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Puff I v. Starlight. Reality club-mates battle it out as we stick with 15-ball but switch to the blue cue. Modernistic's Puff I didn't do a lot in game 1, but she didn't have to, as Pacific's Starlight made illegal contact on the 13, illegally potted the 15, and scratched to add insult to her injury. Puff I was gifted the win and a 1-0 series lead very quickly. The Union's Puff I ripped a four-ball run in the middle of game 2 to intimidate the Volcanoes' Starlight. This didn't work at first, as Starlight made a three-ball run, but Puff I answered with a three-ball run-out from there for the win and 2-0 series lead. Starlight actually had a majority of the offense in game 3, with a three-ball run in the middle and a late four-ball run pushing her offense. Her one mistake was leaving the 15 at the top right, which Puff I tapped in at the end for the win, securing the series at 3-0 for the host. Puff I came up on the wrong end of a back-and-forth battle in game 4, as the chippy game ended with her missing on the 15 and Starlight tapping it in at the bottom left to avoid the sweep as she cuts the series to 3-1. Starlight did a lot in game 5, congesting the table at times to keep Puff I off the run. In the end, Puff I made a pair of shots to beat Starlight anyway, taking the series 4-1. Puff I will visit the Freedom Cascades' Nikolai in the bracket quarterfinals. Starlight is the 33rd player to exit this year's Tournament, and Puff I took her first kill of the year.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Wario v. Shadow. The red cue returns to the table in this 12-ball series. Victoria's Wario had a strong start on a four-ball run, and while he did scratch at a later point, he was set up to beat Web City's Shadow in a short race to the finish. Wario put the 3 in the bottom side at the end for the win, taking a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Shadow fought back in game 2, keeping even with the Spurs' Wario. Shadow's advantage came in positioning, as he easily made his last ball just after Wario got down to one ball to go. Shadow's win tied the series at 1 game apiece. Wario had a three-ball run late in game 3 to get down to his last ball, but Shadow again stopped him here before Wario had a chance to win. Shadow made his last pair of shots with good positioning, taking the win for a 2-1 series lead. Wario started with a four-ball run in game 4, but a wild-card ball he gave up to get onto his final ball proved costly, as Shadow made his final pair of shots cleanly, winning the game and taking the series at 3-1. Wario had a much better defensive effort in game 5, keeping Shadow from lining up his preferred shots. Wario closed out this win with a pair of well-placed shots, but Shadow still takes the series 3-2, earning himself a visitor position in his bracket quarterfinals series. Wario is the 34th player out of the Tournament, and Shadow has his second kill this year.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Jasmine v. Steven. These Eastern Hills rivals meet for a big series of Rotation using the silver cue. Atlantic's Steven had most of the early offense, and while Freedom's Jasmine had a couple of turns to pull ahead, Steven closed out his 8-5 win on a four-ball run-out. Steven leads the series 1-0. The Cascades' Jasmine made her attack in game 2 much quicker, a five-ball run staking out a large lead. The Pirates' Steven tried to cut into the deficit, but Jasmine would ice the 8-5 win just in time, tying the series at 1. Jasmine had the initial lead in game 3, and while Steven kept it close for awhile, Jasmine burst to the finish on a five-ball run-out. Jasmine's best shot was a double-pot on the 8 to the top left and 11 to the bottom right, which gave her a look on the 9 at the bottom side for the 8-2 win. Jasmine's up 2-1 in the series. Jasmine and Steven grappled for the lead for a bit in game 4 as well, and then each had a three-ball run separated by a rough middle section. Steven pushed back right at the end, but left the 12 on the edge of the top left, and Jasmine converted for the 8-6 win to secure the series at 3-1. Jasmine had an early lead again in game 5, but Steven stormed past her on a three-ball run. Jasmine made a push back, but Steven would take this one 8-5, although Jasmine still won the series 3-2. Jasmine will be the host for her bracket quarterfinals series.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Caitlin Woode v. Zach. Two reliable players meet in a series of Accuracy with the silver cue. Pronger's Zach was perfect for much of game 1, but with some help from Southridge's Caitlin, he butchered the effort. Caitlin did enough to force overtime, where Zach's hard break ultimately helped him win 4-5 after Caitlin's miss. Zach leads the series 1-0. The roles reversed in game 2, with the Defenders' Caitlin blowing a lead she held nearly all game. The Tridents' Zach made one difference, missing the shot that would have sent the game to overtime, and Caitlin converted, winning 3-4 to tie the series at 1. Zach played well but fell behind early in game 3, and Caitlin had a good early performance, leaving Zach worried about his chances. Caitlin fell apart in the end, missing twice, which was enough for Zach to swoop in for the 1-2 win, restoring his series lead at 2-1. Zach held the lead early in game 4, and then fell even with Caitlin as his bad break caught up to him. Caitlin couldn't keep it even, falling apart at the end as Zach secured a 4-6 win to seal the series at 3-1. Caitlin was always a shot behind Zach in game 5, never quite able to stick with him. Her last-ditch effort to force overtime failed, and she lost 2-4 as Zach won the series 4-1. Zach will visit the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Gabe in the bracket quarterfinals. Caitlin is the 35th player eliminated from this Tournament, and Zach has earned his first kill of the year.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Midnight. More Accuracy is on the way, with the silver cue again being used. Westside's Midnight had a couple of small leads in game 1, but she couldn't hold either one, and she lost the game on the last ball, allowing Commerce's Niki to grab a 2-3 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Midnight played a similar style in game 2, but showed much more precision on her shots, while the Tradewinds' Niki continued to struggle early on. Midnight's good play turned perfect at the end, and she won 0-2 to retie the series at 1 game apiece. Midnight maintained her solid offense in game 3, and while Niki applied pressure in a tense battle early on, the host couldn't stick with Midnight in the end. A handful of misses ended Niki's game and gave Midnight the 1-5 win for the 2-1 series lead. Midnight kept another fantastic ledger of shots, giving Niki no room for error. Niki did not stay the course, scratching once and missing on her next turn, which was enough to flip the game to Midnight by a 1-2 score. Midnight clinched the series at 3-1 with the result. Midnight slipped up a couple of times in game 5, and then missed twice on the last ball in a tied game. Niki gladly took the 3-4 win, but Midnight still advances on a 3-2 series win. Midnight will host the Tysini Hummingbirds captain Princess in the bracket quarterfinals. Midnight got her first kill of the year, making Niki the 36th player eliminated from the Tournament.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Sage. Today's finale is in 10-ball, using the red cue as a journeyman takes on a rookie. Southern's Dominic had a chance to set up a win on a deflected shot on the 3, but the play failed. Victoria's Sage responded with a four-ball run, and then a three-ball run-out on her next turn for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Dominic had a decent start to game 2, but a scratch on the 4 derailed his offense. The Spurs' Sage didn't take immediate advantage, waiting until later before striking a crafty four-ball run-out for the win to push her series lead to 2-0. Sage scratched while making the 3 on the game 3 break, leading to Dominic patrolling the table well early on. Dominic's mistake was missing the 5 on a bank and leaving it near the top side, which Sage used to ignite a five-ball run-out capped by the 9-10 combination to the bottom right. Sage's combo clinched the series at 3-0 in her favor. Dominic had a three-ball run on his first turn in game 4 before a scratch, and then there was no stopping Sage. Her highlight was a double-pot of the 6 to the top left and 7 to the bottom side, as part of a larger seven-ball run-out that boosts her series lead once again to 4-0. Dominic actually paced game 5, mainly with a four-ball run, but his miss on the 6 as he tried to build a second run led to Sage winning two shots later with a 7-10 combination to the top left. Sage swept the series 5-0 in dominant form, and will visit the Commerce Tradewinds' Taylor in the bracket quarterfinals.
We will likely be doing only eight series tomorrow for a couple of reasons.
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