We've got a two-week round ahead of us if everything goes to plan. Today will be a ten-series day, beginning with...
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Gizmo. The blue cue is up for Rotation to start the round. Pearl's Watermelon started out lucky with some bounces early in game 1, only to watch Eastside's Gizmo push to tie it. The two exchanged three-ball runs, and then Watermelon surged to the 8-6 win by capitalizing on two of Gizmo's late mistakes. Watermelon has a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon had a much worse break to start game 2, leading to a surge of early offense for the Sharks' Gizmo. Watermelon challenged Gizmo with a couple of late pushes, but Gizmo held strong for the 8-6 win to tie the series at 1. Gizmo began well in game 3, holding a large lead for quite awhile. Watermelon chipped away at the lead over two turns to tie the game, then added a three-ball run-out for the 8-5 win. Watermelon regains the series lead at 2-1. Watermelon maintained an aggressive style against Gizmo in game 4, using a three-ball run to extend her lead over the middle of the game. Watermelon scratched on her first try at a winning shot, but Gizmo under-hit from ball-in-hand, gifting Watermelon the tap-in to win 8-2. Watermelon clinched the series at 3-1. Watermelon did well early in game 5 too, but her lead didn't hold up after an error. Gizmo went on a six-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, the furious charge giving him an 8-6 win to leave Watermelon with a 3-2 series win. Watermelon will be the host in her bracket semifinals appearance.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Mr. Snowman. The silver cue steps up for 12-ball as the visitor begins a personal doubleheader. Golden's Dusty had a pair of balls from the break and a late three-ball run to constitute her offense, but Infinity's Mr. Snowman did work over his first two turns and just buried his final pair to the left corners for the win. Mr. Snowman owns a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman struck twice early in game 2, but that wouldn't be enough to hold off slick positioning from the Pilots' Dusty. Mr. Snowman switched to a defensive style near the end, but Dusty picked up her last ball with a kicked tap-in to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. Dusty was unlucky to be empty on the game 3 break, leading to Mr. Snowman taking solids quickly. Mr. Snowman would give away a wild-card ball at one point, but Dusty scratched to put it back on the table. While Dusty had worse positioning from that shot, she proved more efficient in shooting, as Mr. Snowman's attempts at the bottom side were off-target. Dusty emerged with the win to take a 2-1 series lead. Dusty found herself disorganized as game 4 moved along, thanks to a dizzying pace to Mr. Snowman's attack. Dusty illegally potted a ball at the bottom left as a result, and Mr. Snowman took his final shot to the top side, earning the win to retie the series at 2. Mr. Snowman made a stripe on the break, but left a convenient four-ball run for Dusty. A couple of turns later, Dusty broke Mr. Snowman's defense with a last pair of shots for the win to secure the series at 3-2 in her favor. Dusty goes on to a visiting position in the bracket semifinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Bright v. Mr. Snowman. After the lunch break, the visitor completes his doubleheader with the blue cue in Rotation. Game 1 saw a bit of back-and-forth between the opponents, with Pearl's Bright generally holding small leads. Infinity's Mr. Snowman charged back, winning 8-4 on a three-ball run-out after Bright scratched. Mr. Snowman is up 1-0 in the series. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman made a ball on the break and built up quite a lead over the following turns. The Surfers' Bright chipped away at the deficit, but couldn't even the score before Mr. Snowman banked the 11 to the bottom side for the 8-4 win to push his series lead to 2-0. Bright began with a four-ball run on his first turn in game 3, and then battled with Mr. Snowman from there. The early advantage greatly helped for Bright, who would take an 8-4 win of his own after a slow finish to cut the series to 2-1. Bright made a mess of the break in game 4, allowing Mr. Snowman to play both defensively and quickly on offense early on. Mr. Snowman slowed later on, coasting to an 8-1 win after giving Bright a couple of chances to make it closer. Mr. Snowman secured the series at 3-1. Mr. Snowman's break proved remarkably fruitful for Bright, who had two double-pots over an eight-ball run-out for the 8-0 shutout win. Mr. Snowman still won the series 3-2, and will visit this venue again to take on the Surfers captain Watermelon in the bracket semifinals.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Sage v. Hershey. Two very different rookies collide in 7-ball with the silver cue. Victoria's Sage had a couple of shots early and a chance on the 7, but Stonebridge's Hershey carried the offense on a five-ball run and then buried the 7 on his second chance to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Sage bounced back quickly in game 2, exchanging a pair of shots each with the Wolves' Hershey early on. Sage then made the final three balls over two turns after Hershey couldn't clean up her miss on the 7. Sage's bold finish gave her a win to tie the series at 1. Sage still had the bulk of the offense in game 3, thanks to her three-ball run. Hershey kept things close again, notably after Sage missed on the 6. Hershey took it and then applied a solid contact to put the 7 away as well, regaining the series lead at 2-1 with this win. Hershey almost drained the 7 at the bottom side on the game 4 break, but the late bump just made it easier for Sage to cut a 1-7 combination to the same pocket for the win on her only shot. Sage has retied the series at 2 with the crafty play. Sage fouled on her second shot in game 5, missing contact on the 1. Hershey took over and made a five-ball run-out to claim the win for a 3-2 series win, his high offense prevailing. Hershey will return home to host his bracket semifinals series.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Luigi. An Urban Derby between bitter rivals goes down in 15-ball with the red cue. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy found herself limited to mostly pairs of shots in game 1 after a hot break. North Modernistic's Luigi showed some defense, but got the win because of an early five-ball run and a four-ball run-out at the end to put him up 1-0 in the series. The Nighthawks' Luigi embraced his villain role in game 2, taunting the crowd before an empty break. The Union's Ms. Puppy quickly put the 15 near the bottom right on a controversial legal shot, and she did well for a couple more turns to protect the dangerous position. Luigi broke through on a four-ball run-out, a 5-15 combination extending his series lead to 2-0. Luigi kept one eye on the 15 for most of game 3, leading to a less impressive start on offense. Ms. Puppy pushed the 15 closer to the bottom side in the middle of the game, and Luigi capitalized on this play, deflecting the winning shot off the 10 to bump the 15 home for the win. Luigi clinched the series at 3-0. Ms. Puppy avoided the sweep in game 4, as Luigi brought less than his best with the series already decided. Ms. Puppy still played hard, making the 5-13 combination to the bottom right as a double-pot when the 6 dropped in the top left. Ms. Puppy then made the 5 and a 7-15 combination to the bottom right for the win to cut the series to 3-1. Ms. Puppy had a lucky bounce in game 5, as her shot on the 7 put the 15 in motion where the cue could bump it on track to the bottom side for the surprise win over Luigi. The series ended 3-2 for Luigi, who will advance to the bracket semifinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Sweetheart. The venue tripleheader rolls on with less intensity, as the red cue stays up for 12-ball. Boston's Sweetheart had a three-ball run early in game 1, but a scratch sapped her offense of momentum. Modernistic's Daisy aligned herself well, winning on a three-ball run-out where she double-potted the 7 and 4 to the left corners for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Sweetheart delivered a five-ball run on her first turn in game 2, and then used patience to approach her shot at the top side. The Union's Daisy attacked back later on a four-ball run, but Sweetheart kicked the 4 into the top side on her next turn for the win, tying the series at 1. Sweetheart had plenty of time to build an attack after an initial four-ball run on her second turn of game 3. Daisy provided little to no challenge with her lack of offense, allowing Sweetheart to calmly align and convert her last two shots for a win to earn a 2-1 series lead. Daisy stayed in it with a hot start in game 4, and she addressed her lack of late positioning in one shot. Sweetheart went on a four-ball run to get onto her last ball, but she was out of position, while Daisy easily made her last two shots for the win to even the series again at 2. Sweetheart made a pair of shots early in game 5 and had positioning established everywhere until a scratch and wild-card ball lost put Daisy in control. Daisy worked patiently from here, picking her way around the table until she struck for a three-ball run-out. Daisy won the series 3-2, earning a spot in the bracket semifinals. Sweetheart is the first of many to exit in this round, the 63rd overall, and the second that Daisy is responsible for.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Chimpy v. Slinks. A couple of wily veterans close out the venue tripleheader in 9-ball with the blue cue. Modernistic's Chimpy appeared to play better in a shaky game 1 for both sides. Chimpy did beat Westside's Slinks with a three-ball run-out at the end, as Slinks just couldn't string her shots together. Chimpy leads the series 1-0. The Union's Chimpy could only watch early in game 2 when the Rockers' Slinks assembled a threatening six-ball run. The two players scrapped a bit after that until Chimpy found a three-ball run-out to take the win, extending his series lead to 2-0. Chimpy made a pair on the break of game 3, but didn't do much else for most of the game. Slinks lacked a commanding run on her turns, chipping through the rack until she missed on the 7. Chimpy made the last two shots for the win, sealing the series at 3-0 in the process. Chimpy stormed forward late in game 4, after an exchange of misses early on with Slinks. Chimpy closed out the game on a six-ball run-out for the win to push his series lead to 4-0. Chimpy continued to dominate the offense in game 5, making the last seven shots but scratching as he potted the 9 to gift away a win to Slinks. Chimpy's 4-1 series win puts him into the bracket semifinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Mr. Snowman v. Cobalt. The busy day continues for the host, as his last series of the round comes now in 7-ball with the silver cue. Infinity's Mr. Snowman ran the table in game 1, making all seven shots across every pocket without letting Stonebridge's Cobalt get a shot in response. Mr. Snowman holds a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Cobalt looked like the better player in game 2, but his lack of finish in a chaotic ending cost him. The Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman converted on a frustration-induced two-rail bank of the 7 to the top left for the win, adding on for a 2-0 series lead. Mr. Snowman wasted no time in getting back to a dominant style of play, making a seven-ball run-out on his second turn of game 3 after a brutal miss on the 1 from Cobalt. Mr. Snowman's second deep run clinched the series for him at 3-0. Mr. Snowman finally showed true weakness in game 4, leaving the 7 near the bottom right but failing to use positioning to keep Cobalt away from it. Cobalt converted a 3-7 combination to the bottom right for the win, cutting his deficit to 3-1. Mr. Snowman made five balls over two turns in game 5 as well, but this time his big offense let him down with a miss on the 7. Cobalt tapped it in for the win, leaving Mr. Snowman with a 3-2 series win. Mr. Snowman will take on Cobalt's Wolves teammate, Hershey, in the bracket semifinals from Stonebridge.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane v. Smokey. Two of Brute Force's toughest collide in a massive 8-ball series with the red cue. Midland's Rainmane scratched on the game 1 break, causing her to fall behind to Diamond's Smokey. Rainmane counterattacked in the middle of the game, pulling ahead right before Smokey went on a four-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Smokey struck first in game 2, but ran into some shooting problems in the middle of the game. The Predators' Rainmane made it fairly even before also scuffling, and the two players exchanged scratches. Smokey emerged from his troubles with a four-ball run-out after a few turns, making it a 2-0 series lead in his favor. Smokey had a four-ball run to start game 3, followed by Rainmane making a five-ball run before things slowed down. Rainmane attempted to go through the 8 to pot her last stripe, but Smokey won two turns later as Rainmane never got a clear look on the 8 itself. Smokey's persistence gave him the series at 3-0. Rainmane went off in game 4 after Smokey floundered with a few early wasted turns. Rainmane made a six-ball run, and then played a little defense before making another pair for the win, cutting Smokey's series lead to 3-1. Smokey again showed little effort to play hard in game 5, although a cold stretch by Rainmane allowed him back into the game. Rainmane did find a three-ball run-out in the end for the win, leaving Smokey to take the 3-2 series win. Smokey will be on the road for his bracket semifinals appearance.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Gabe v. Zach. Two reliable contributors clash in today's finale series, using the silver cue for Accuracy. Both players lived up to the reliable tag, as it took until three balls left for Maplewood's Gabe to miss. Pronger's Zach stayed perfect, and then Gabe double-potted the last two balls, assuring Zach of his 0-1 win and 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Gabe missed first again in game 2, another late start to the slip-ups. The Tridents' Zach had a scratch to make things interesting, and both players struggled with the last ball until Zach potted it to take the 2-5 win. Zach is ahead 2-0 in the series. Zach and Gabe again went perfect for a long time in game 3, and they forced overtime without a miss. Gabe's overtime break counted as the first miss, and Zach put the 11 in the top left for the 0-1 win to seal the series at 3-0. The two players exchanged misses earlier than usual in game 4, about halfway through, but remained even for quite awhile. Zach remained the better of the two, inducing a scratch by Gabe that gave Zach the 1-2 to to push his series lead to 4-0. The two players again played perfectly deep into game 5, right up to the final ball, where Zach sportingly took a miss to allow Gabe a 0-1 win. Zach took the series 4-1 to punch his ticket to the bracket semifinals. Zach did take his second kill of the Tournament, making Gabe the 64th eliminated player.
That's all for today's action. We'll have a full ten-series day again tomorrow.
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