We're back for another full day of games. Leading off...
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Boots. The red cue is first up, playing 9-ball between these strong players. Golden's Valencia made a ball on the break in game 1, but erred in trying to hit the 1. Pearl's Boots took over with ball-in-hand, blasting an eight-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots had a majority of possession in game 2, highlighted by her four-ball run, but she scratched when she made the 9, gifting the win away to the Pilots' Valencia. The series is now tied at 1. Valencia finally showed a little comfort in game 3, opening with a four-ball run and then capitalizing on Boots' scratch to make the last two balls from ball-in-hand. Valencia pulled ahead 2-1 in the series with this win. Boots had another scratch in game 4, but early enough this time to recover from. Valencia failed to really develop a run, and her miss on the 7 gave Boots two easy shots to convert for the win, retying the series at 2 to set up a decisive final game. Valencia floundered a number of times in game 5, her shot on the 2 leaving it aligned with the 9 for Boots to create a successful combination play at the bottom right. Boots takes the win and 3-2 series win back to Pearl, where she hosts the North Modernistic Nighthawks' Cheddar in the bracket quarterfinals. Boots' second kill came here, making Valencia the 53rd player out of the Tournament in the win-or-go-home series.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Missy v. Marsell. The blue cue ends its 7-ball for the round in this series. Whitewater's Marsell needed only two turns in game 1, a four-ball run on the first and a three-ball run-out on the second after Capital City's Missy had illegal contact while aiming at the 5. Marsell's big attack earned him the win and 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell opened with a three-ball run in game 2, but scratched while attempting to pot the 4. The Sharpshooters' Missy wouldn't let this game get away, making a four-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Neither player had their best in game 3, with a couple of errors from Missy leading to Marsell wasting two chances for big runs. Missy bounced back with a clean pair of shots at the end for the win, which puts her ahead 2-1 in the series. Marsell rocked a four-ball run early in game 4 after a slow start, but he made illegal contact on the next shot. Missy took over from ball-in-hand, her three-ball run-out giving her the clinching win in the 3-1 series. Missy made it quick and painless in game 5, sending the 7 to the top side on the break for the win and 4-1 series win. Missy will visit the North Modernistic Nighthawks captain Peach in the bracket quarterfinals.
Sprint Hall, Victoria: Sage v. Stinky. Representatives of two good teams clash in 7-ball with the silver cue. Victoria's Sage only made a ball on the break in game 1, but still got the win when Freedom's Stinky saw his game-ending six-ball run end with a scratch as he potted the 7. Sage leads the series 1-0. The Spurs' Sage had a tougher time in game 2, missing a few shots, but the Cascades' Stinky didn't pick up the slack at all. Sage ended up winning when she made the 2 to set up a 3-7 combination to the bottom right that also fell. Sage's series lead is now at 2-0. Stinky did just about all he could in game 3, providing plenty of offense but just rattling the 7 out of the top left corner at the end. Sage made the tap-in to secure the win, sealing the series in her favor at 3-0. Sage eased up a bit in game 4, leading to a back-and-forth battle between the players. Sage just missed contact on the 7 when she had a chance, leading to Stinky taking the win from ball-in-hand to cut the series to 3-1. Sage had no problems in game 5, watching as Stinky scratched on a bad attempt at the 5. Sage then made a three-ball run-out to cap the win and her 4-1 series win. Sage will move onto the bracket quarterfinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Kirstin v. Nikolai. Two reliable players meet in 10-ball with the red cue after the lunch break. Freedom's Nikolai made a crucial decision in game 1, taking possession after Everton's Kirstin sank the 6 in an uncalled pocket. Nikolai's turn last four shots, finishing the game in a win to put the visitor ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 saw a massive step back from both players, leading to a choppy game. The Eagles' Kirstin had plenty of chances for a strong finish that went to waste until the Cascades' Nikolai finally buried the last three shots for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Game 3 had another slow start, and Kirstin sputtered again, eventually allowing Nikolai to break out on a six-ball run-out for the win. Nikolai's victory here clinched the series for him at 3-0. Nikolai left the 10 remarkably close to the top right on the game 4 break, leading both players to taking half-chances at combination shots. Kirstin finally came through with a combination on her third turn for the win, cutting the series to 3-1. Nikolai bounced back in game 5, making a pair of four-ball runs separated only by Kirstin's scratch. Nikolai's latter run was the winning play, giving him a 4-1 series win as he heads home to take on Vincent of the Viewpoint Sound Meteors in the bracket quarterfinals.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Gal Gadot. The blue cue will wrap up its 9-ball for the round with this series. Midland's Fuchsia had a clear majority of possession in game 1, highlighted by a four-ball run. North Modernistic's Gal struggled late, with Fuchsia making the last three shots over two turns for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gal provided more offense in game 2, pacing the game with a lot of short runs. The Predators' Fuchsia had some chances late, but wasted the big shots, and Gal managed to scrape together enough for the win to tie the series at 1. Gal kept up her offense early in game 3 with a three-ball run, but the middle of the game saw the opponents tangle up a bit. Fuchsia came out stronger, closing with a three-ball run-out, the close win giving her a 2-1 series lead. Gal controlled the early stages of game 4 pretty well, but again let her grip slip late, allowing Fuchsia to storm back with a four-ball run-out for the win. Fuchsia also clinched the series at 3-1 with the late surge. Fuchsia dominated in game 5, a six-ball run highlighting her powerful shooting skills. Gal tried to poach the win late, but her miss on the 9 allowing Fuchsia to take the win for a 4-1 series win win. Fuchsia will host the Web City Spiders captain Shadow in the bracket quarterfinals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Sweetheart. The last 12-ball series for the red cue is a massive all-Swifts battle. Gradley had a three-ball run from the break in game 1, but managed to butcher a couple of shots after that and never made another ball. Sweetheart took a slower approach that eventually paid off as she took the win and a 1-0 series lead. Sweetheart started with a three-ball run in game 2, and she came to a point where she elected to shoot to get onto her last ball. Gradley nearly made a rally from there, but he scratched in an attempt to get into position for his last ball. Sweetheart made her own last ball to the top side from the kitchen to push her series lead to 2-0. Sweetheart potted a pair of balls from the break in game 3, but she struggled on offense from there. Gradley's four ball run pressured Sweetheart, but she couldn't position herself faster than Gradley, who battled with her on the left side of the table before making his final ball for the win. Sweetheart remains ahead 2-1 in the series. Gradley delivered an ugly break in game 4, leaving clusters that slowed the game down. Gradley had just gotten onto his last ball after some creative shooting when Sweetheart pulled off a difficult three-ball run-out to secure the series in her favor at 3-1. Sweetheart had a strong break in game 5, and she raced Gradley to the bottom left, where a fierce positioning battle occurred. Sweetheart eventually bested her younger teammate to get the win for a 4-1 series win, which sends her on the road against the Modernistic Union's Daisy in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Kiwi. Two highly competitive players are set to clash in Accuracy with the silver cue. Freedom's Nikolai brought an energetic start to game 1 that quickly fell apart when Terrace City's Kiwi imploded after her first two turns. Nikolai still won easily, but by an ugly 4-10 score to take a 1-0 series lead on. The Knights' Kiwi had a more impressive game 2 effort, while the Cascades' Nikolai crumbled in his shooting form. Kiwi held her ground even with some difficult shots, taking the win 2-5 to tie the series at 1. Kiwi only had to hold a lead after Nikolai had consecutive misses early in game 3, but she lost the lead a few balls before the end of regulation. Kiwi then missed on the final ball to fall behind, and Nikolai closed out the 2-3 win to put himself ahead 2-1 in the series. Nikolai seemed distracted in game 4, taking a lead at first but letting it slip away under pressure from Kiwi, who managed to hold on at the end for a 3-4 win to retie the series at 2 games each. Kiwi had two double-pots and a scratch with a potted ball in game 5, thrice shortening the runway she would eventually need and not have against Nikolai, who played perfectly this time in a 0-1 win to take the 3-2 series win. Nikolai is set to host a series in the bracket quarterfinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra v. Marsell. An established star takes on an up-and-coming one in 10-ball with the silver cue. Tysini's Leandra had a decent attack and took a couple of creative chances in game 1, but Whitewater's Marsell was the one picking up the 10 at the end of the even game for his win and 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Shores' Marsell might have had a slight edge on offense, but he couldn't corral the 10 at the end. The Hummingbirds' Leandra mopped up Marsell's late miss, taking the win and tying the series at 1. Leandra finally provided a burst of offense in game 3, a late five-ball run that ended with her missing the 10 while scratching. Marsell put the 10 in the top side from ball-in-hand to poach the win, regaining his series lead at 2-1. Leandra had most of the offense in game 4, but she showed little command over her shot with a late and costly scratch. Marsell took over from here, a three-ball run-out all he needed to take the win that clinches the series at 3-1. Leandra finally struck back in game 5, getting the win as consolation on her second attempt at the 10 after Marsell had a feeble look at a bank to the top left. Marsell still won the series 3-2, and will visit the Swordpoint Blades captain Snowball in the bracket quarterfinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Bright. The blue cue's last appearance of the day is in Rotation. Southridge's Bianca had a slow start, and fell into a tie with a small surge from Pearl's Bright early on. Bianca then ripped a six-ball run-out, capped by a double pot of the 8 to the bottom right and the 9-15 combination to the top right for the 8-2 win that gave her a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Bright returned the favor in game 2, lacking the one big run but slowly chipping his way ahead of the Defenders' Bianca before closing out an 8-2 win. The series is now tied at 1. Bianca had a couple of critical scratches in game 3, wasting opportunities to keep things close. Bright took off after the second scratch, rallying with a three-ball run-out to close his 8-1 win. Bright now leads the series 2-1. Bianca continued to waste chances to produce offense, leaving two shots short and scratching when she had a chance to make a run, leading to Bright finishing off another 8-1 win with a double-pot 7-8 combination to the top right. Bright secured the series at 3-1 with this win. Bright couldn't keep it going in game 5, slipping up at times with errors as Bianca played her strongest game since the opener. Bianca walked away with an 8-6 win this time, but Bright advances to host the Infinity Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman after his 3-2 series win.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Shadow. In a preview of a future series between these players, they will close today's action with the red cue in 8-ball. Midland's Fuchsia demonstrated a bit more precision early on, and while Web City's Shadow made a small comeback effort, Fuchsia had plenty of time to put the 8 in the top left for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Fuchsia tried a similar strategy to her game 2 offense, but the Spiders' Shadow quickly changed Fuchsia's mind. Shadow began with a four-ball run, and remained ahead for the entire game, eventually picking the 8 from distance to the top left to grab the win. Shadow has tied the series at 1. Shadow had a good four-ball run to start game 3, but went cold on offense after that, allowing Fuchsia to briefly pull ahead on a five-ball run. Fuchsia failed twice on the 8 before Shadow knocked in the last two shots for the win to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. Shadow didn't have anything on the break in game 4, leading to a back-and-forth battle between him and Fuchsia during the rest of the game. Fuchsia had the last push, making a well-crafted three-ball run-out for the win to retie the series at 2. Shadow brought the heat in game 5, battling with Fuchsia on the early turns before erupting with a six-ball run-out to grab the win. Shadow's massive finish gave him a 3-2 series win, and he will return home to host the Westside Rockers' Slinks in the bracket quarterfinals.
We'll be back with likely a full set of games again tomorrow, as we remain on track to finish the round on Friday.
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