After an unscheduled off day, the Tournament returns with an unconfirmed schedule for the day. We begin with...
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Lorde v. Jennifer Livilotti. The first series is 12-ball with the silver cue. Terrace City's Jennifer started better in game 1, but faced substantial pressure from Capital City's Lorde, who might have had a more realistic chance had she not scratched twice. Jennifer used the second scratch as fuel to pot her last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Lorde answered in game 2, striking on her second turn to claim stripes with shots at the side pockets. Lorde battled to find position on her last ball, and almost lost when the Knights' Jennifer made her last three-balls, but scratch on the two-rail bank she used for the last one. Lorde put the 13 in the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. Both players illegally potted balls at times in game 3, with Lorde doing it in the middle of the game, while Jennifer's came on her last ball. Jennifer's bad play led to ball-in-hand for Lorde on her last ball after some impressive shooting to take care of previous balls. Lorde made it straight in for the win, gaining a 2-1 series lead. Lorde struck on the break in game 4, leading Jennifer into a game of follow the leader. Lorde made a three-ball run and then a pair before Jennifer turned defensive with a strategic scratch. Jennifer couldn't play out of the effort, eventually giving Lorde a clear shot for her final ball, which Lorde converted to clinch the series at 3-1. Lorde started well again in game 5, but couldn't hold off an aggressive push from Jennifer near the end. Lorde's last ball was out of position after she went for a tough shot and missed, and Jennifer made her final pair quickly to take the win. Lorde won the series 3-2, and will host the Golden Pilots' Dusty in the bracket semifinals.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Sage. The blue cue takes a turn in 12-ball as these two league leaders clash. Victoria's Sage had a brilliant four-ball run early in game 1, and continued to use defensive pressure to stall Midland's Fuchsia. Sage's only mistake was missing her last ball from ball-in-hand, allowing Fuchsia to make her own final shot for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Sage again made things too easy for the Predators' Fuchsia in game 2, making a four-ball run but then ceding two wild-card balls at once. Fuchsia gave one of them back, but smartly aligned her shots to make the pair quickly later after Sage couldn't pot her final shot. Fuchsia leads the series 2-0. Fuchsia started off with some heat, quickly getting onto her last ball while giving Sage a wild-card ball. Fuchsia failed to legally pot her final ball multiple times, scratching at the top left and then flailing against Sage's defense at the bottom right. Sage ultimately picked up a three-ball run-out to steal the win, cutting the series to 2-1. Sage took stripes on the break in game 4, and didn't need much time to regret that, as Fuchsia ran all around Sage. Fuchsia lined up her last shot on one turn, and then buried it when Sage couldn't play defense, giving Fuchsia the series at 3-1. Game 5 was an absolute disaster on both sides, with Sage ultimately winning after logjams and awful missed shots. Fuchsia took the series 3-2, earning her spot in the bracket semifinals. Sage's good rookie year is over, the 66th eliminated player, while Fuchsia records her first kill of the year.
Apple Center, Todavía: Prism v. Tigerette. The red cue will start the afternoon with 8-ball between a sophomore and a captain. Todavía's Prism began with a five-ball run from the break in game 1, a fierce attack that slowed down as the game progressed. Commerce's Tigerette fired back on a late four-ball run, but twice missed the last stripe, allowing Prism to pot the 8 for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Tigerette showed better command in game 2, a four-ball run to start and a three-ball run following that getting her onto the 8. The Stills' Prism used a pair of three-ball runs to get close, but her battle with Tigerette favored the visitor's hard cut on the 8 to the top left. Tigerette tied the series at 1. Tigerette and Prism exchanged collateral damage turns early in game 3, although Prism turned selfish after Tigerette gave one ball away. Prism rallied from here with a six-ball run-out for the win, retaking the series lead at 2-1. Prism looked dangerous early in game 4, but her offense faded under pressure from Tigerette's four-ball run. Prism desperately tried to ignite a late run, but instead potted the 8 illegally to gift Tigerette the win to retie the series at 2. Tigerette started with a fierce pair of turns, each yielding collateral damage. Prism timed her strike just right, cutting in with a six-ball run-out for the win and 3-2 series win. Prism will host her bracket semifinals series.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Bright. The silver cue is back for a second straight 8-ball series. Two disparate styles clashed in game 1, as Modernistic's Daisy started slow and ended strong, while Pearl's Bright had a wild finish after a moderately hot start. Bright's three-ball run late left the 8 at the bottom side, ultimately the fifth shot in Daisy's run-out as she took the comeback win for a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Daisy burst out with a five-ball run on her second turn in game 2, countered effectively by a four-ball run from Bright, who eventually met with Daisy on the 8. Bright wasted a handful of chances to win, even wasting Daisy's scratch. Daisy finally put the 8 in the top left to extend her series lead to 2-0. Bright finally bossed possession in game 3, although just barely. Daisy had five balls over two turns in the quick game, while Bright answered with a five-ball run at the start and a well-positioned three-ball run-out on his next turn for the win. Daisy still holds a 2-1 series lead. Daisy threw everything she had into her opening run of six balls in game 4. After this, it took a long time to make her final stripe, and she only made things easier on the 8 by removing Bright's defense on her own. Bright had chipped his way back into the game with short turns, and then made the final pair of shots for the win, tying the series at 2. Bright had full control in game 5, similar to game 2 but with a better first run. Daisy was on her last solid, while Bright missed a few shots on the 8 before Daisy scratched. Bright again failed to strike from the kitchen, and Daisy made a pair of shots for the win and 3-2 series win. Daisy will host the Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi in the bracket semifinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Bandit. Swordpoint Blades teammates meet in a big 9-ball series for club rivalry. Dreamy had a good start in game 1, but missed contact on the 4 led to Bandit striking for a three-ball run-out capped by a 5-9 combination to the top right. Bandit leads the series 1-0 after the good finishing skill. Bandit and Dreamy combined for a quick and balanced game 2 as well, this one going the distance. The quick exchanges of turns ultimately favored Bandit, who made the final pair of shots after an earlier three-ball run, while Dreamy had two pairs in the loss that gives Bandit a 2-0 series lead. Dreamy opened with a three-ball run after Bandit scratched on the break, but Dreamy went quiet after that. Bandit had a late four-ball run, just rattling the 9 away from a pocket. Dreamy then struck, potting the 9 to the top left for the win, cutting the series deficit to 2-1. Dreamy had a strong appearance in game 4, making every ball with two on the break, a five-ball run in the middle, and then the final pair when Bandit failed to offer a counterattack. Dreamy's win ties the series at 2, setting up a decisive finale between the teammates. Dreamy rallied with a five-ball run from the break in game 5, but she missed on the 5 and left a 5-9 combination for Bandit to pot in the top right. Bandit obliged, winning the game and the 3-2 series to earn a visiting spot against the Modernistic Union's Chimpy in the bracket semifinals. Dreamy is the 67th player to be eliminated, with Bandit's first kill this year coming in a bout of friendly fire.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shadow v. Slinks. Two long-time stars meet in another marquee match on the day, playing 8-ball with the red cue. Web City's Shadow made a four-ball run from the break and added a three-ball run after it, but Westside's Slinks jammed things up. Slinks was patient before striking on a seven-ball run-out to claim the win and a 1-0 series lead thanks to her defense. The Rockers' Slinks took no time to imperil the Spiders' Shadow in game 2, striking for a raucous six-ball run from the break and then completing the shutout with a nice pair of shots on her second turn. Slinks leads the series 2-0 after that statement win. Shadow came out vicious in game 3, making a precise seven-ball run against all odds on his first turn. Slinks answered with a five-ball run of her own, but Shadow threaded the 8 between her two defensive marks for the win at the top left, cutting the series to 2-1. Things tightened up a bit on offense in game 4, with Shadow pulling away at a slower pace. Slinks didn't let him get away for long, using a three-ball run to get herself onto her final ball, but Shadow managed to chip the 8 to the top right for the win, tying the series at 2 as these bitter rivals will go the distance. Game 5 saw the players go back and forth the whole time, with Slinks slipping up a scratch being about the only difference. Slinks also had a kick chance on the 8, which she missed, allowing Shadow to take the win on his second try. Shadow will advance with a 3-2 series win, and will host the Diamond Gems captain Smokey in a big bracket semifinals showdown. Slinks' bounce-back year is over, the 68th ousted player, allowing Shadow to join the league lead in kills at 3.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Midnight v. Princess. The silver cue sees two desperate veterans meet in Accuracy. Westside's Midnight made two balls with an aggressive game 1 break, but fell apart after that, while Tysini's Princess maintained a perfect performance to earn the 0-4 win. Princess holds a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Princess made a ball late on the break in game 2, and then scratched on a later turn. The Rockers' Midnight couldn't sustain the lead at the end, dropping into a tie twice that forced overtime. Here, Princess again had a ball fall late on the break, and she won on the second turn when Midnight missed, the 2-3 result extending Princess' series lead to 2-0. Princess finally faltered in game 3, her break coming up empty before a couple of early misses. Midnight gladly took control on offense, holding it down to win 1-4 to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the series. Midnight waited too long to find her way into game 4, unable to do anything about Princess dazzling with shots all around the table. Midnight's chance passed as she missed twice late, giving Princess a 1-4 win to secure the series at 3-1. Midnight had a good finish to the series in game 5, burying most of her shots until a single miss late caused her to miss perfection. Princess struggled in the 1-3 loss, but took the series 3-2 to earn the right to visit the Pronger Tridents' Zach in the bracket semifinals. Princess survived in the do-or-die situation, earning her first kill while making Midnight the 69th eliminated player.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Noelle. The host takes her second series today, this one in 10-ball with the blue cue. Midland's Fuchsia had a shaky start to game 1, then rattled off a five-ball run before scratching while potting the 8. Central's Noelle took over for the last two shots, burying them easily for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle started with a three-ball run off the break, but illegally potted the 10. Things simmered down in the middle, until the Predators' Fuchsia had a bad error that allowed Noelle to take over for a four-ball run-out and the win. Noelle moves to ahead 2-0 in the series. Noelle had a threatening five-ball run to start game 3, scaring Fuchsia a bit given her disadvantage in the series so far, but Noelle made only one of the last five balls. Fuchsia took two pairs of shots to get the win, making it a 2-1 series lead for Noelle now. Fuchsia did what she could in game 4, most notably on a four-ball run in the middle, but this came sandwiched by a pair of three-ball runs from Noelle, the latter of the two giving the visitor a win to clinch the series at 3-1. Noelle eased up after a three-ball run from the break to open game 5. Fuchsia stumbled around for a bit before latching on to a four-ball run-out, taking the win to leave Noelle with a 3-2 series win to advance on.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Twinkie II. A star hosts her former teammate in Accuracy with the blue cue as this day should make it through ten series cleanly. Tysini's Leandra missed twice early, and then another tap-in later on to give Harrison's Twinkie II plenty of runway. Twinkie II used as much as she could, claiming a 2-3 win after a sloppy finish, which gives her a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II saw the tables turn on her very quickly in game 2, as she missed a handful of early shots. The Hummingbirds' Leandra refused to buckle until the very end, satisfied with a 1-4 win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Leandra battled with Twinkie II early in game 3, but Twinkie II got the upper hand and used it to great success. Leandra fell behind, and then missed another shot late in the game, as Twinkie II stayed perfect in her 0-3 win to regain the series lead at 2-1. Twinkie II and Leandra fired off about a half-game of perfection before exchanging misses rapidly in game 4. Leandra was next to fall, and it would be the deciding miss, as Twinkie II held on from here to win 1-2, taking the series at 3-1 in the process. Leandra showed determination to exit the series gracefully, and she matched Twinkie II shot for shot to prove it. Twinkie II ultimately faltered at the end, giving Leandra a 2-4 win. Twinkie II will advance on a 3-2 series win, setting her up to face a Northeastern rival captain and a club-mate, the Central Warriors' Twilight, in the bracket semifinals. Twinkie II took her second kill of the year, making Leandra the 70th player out of the Tournament.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Rosemary. The silver cue closes out the day in this 15-ball series. Freedom's Roxy absolutely poached game 1, acting as the mortar between the bricks of Commerce's Rosemary, who had a pair of five-ball runs go to waste. Roxy made the last two shots for the win, grabbing the 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy did a lot more on offense in game 2, using the 2 as a wrecking ball for a five-ball run early on. The Tradewinds' Rosemary weathered this storm, striking for six balls over her last two turns to get the win when Roxy left the 14 standing. Rosemary's big finish tied the series at 1. Roxy again started well in game 3 despite not having the break this time. Rosemary had to settle for choppy exchanges early on, before working her offense a bit harder at the end, this time making five of the last six balls over two turns for the win. Rosemary pulled ahead 2-1 in the series. Rosemary had a solid break in game 4, and then watched as offense escalated for the rest of the game. Roxy had a three-ball run end with an illegal contact play. Rosemary then had a four-ball run of her own end in a scratch, giving Roxy ball-in-hand for her legal five-ball run-out, which gave the host a win to tie the series at 2. Rosemary held her own on offense in game 5 quite impressively, using a lot of three-ball runs, including on the final turn when she finally vanquished Roxy. Rosemary took the series 3-2, and will play in the bracket semifinals against another Urban player.
That's all for today's action. We hope to be back tomorrow if possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment