It's likely the second-to-last day for the third round, as brackets start closing down a bit more for the round. We begin with...
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Hershey. The silver cue plays the last 7-ball series of the round to begin the day. Viewpoint Sound's Dani had plenty to be proud of with a six-ball run to start game 1, but she missed a tough bank on the 7 toward the bottom left. Stonebridge's Hershey tried a bank to the bottom right, converting for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dani again had a majority of possession in game 2, with a four-ball run on her only attack. The Wolves' Hershey had made a ball on the break, and then potted the last two balls for the win to move ahead 2-0 in the series. Hershey wasted no time in securing the series, winning game 3 as his break pushed the 7 to the top side. Dani couldn't do a thing about Hershey clinching the series at 3-0. Hershey began with a three-ball run in game 4, but after a scratch, play got very choppy. Dani looked to have a couple of chances for runs that didn't amount to anything, and her bank on the 7 missed wide, letting Hershey pot it at the top right to move to a 4-0 series lead. Hershey won game 5 on his second turn, a poorly taken decoy cut on the 1 turning into magic with the carom burying the 7 at the top side. Hershey swept the series 5-0, and he will visit another top-10 seed in the Victoria Spurs rookie Sage in the bracket quarterfinals.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Delila v. Lorde. A captain and a player on a new team clash in Accuracy with the red cue. Atlantic's Delila and Capital City's Lorde started out pretty even in game 1, but Lorde found a groove around the middle of the game that meant a lot of misses for Delila. Lorde would close the game in a 3-6 win, putting the visitor up 1-0 in the series. The Sharpshooters' Lorde blew two leads after misses from the Pirates' Delila at the start and in the middle of game 2, but Lorde made sure Delila's miss on her last turn would be costly. Lorde converted the final ball, earning the 2-3 win to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Game 3 saw Lorde deliver a fantastic break, leading to a quick battle. Both players missed once in the middle of the game, but Delila missed on the last ball as well. Lorde converted a tough bank to put the 14 in the bottom side for the 1-2 win, sealing the series at 3-0. Both players took a step back toward the end of game 4, getting sloppy with their shooting. Delila had a scratch at one point, but Lorde slipped behind after that, only to regain the lead when Delila missed two shots in a row at the end. Lorde took the game 3-4, and moves ahead 4-0 in the series. Delila absolutely crumbled in game 5, while Lorde had only one flimsy mistake in her performance. Lorde took the 1-4 win to make it a 5-0 sweep, and she will visit Dewey of the Oceanside Waves in the bracket quarterfinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Puff III v. Tigerette. A star and a captain meet in the red cue's last 8-ball series of the round. Commerce's Tigerette struck first in game 1, and then had a later four-ball run to put Everton's Puff III under pressure. This worked, as Puff III couldn't counterattack, allowing Tigerette to make the 8 to the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Puff III struck first in game 2, but couldn't sustain her offense for long. The Tradewinds' Tigerette found a lead, and then made a four-ball run-out, with a deflected shot on the 8 glancing off the 2 and into the top left as the winner to put Tigerette up 2-0 in the series. Tigerette had a five-ball run to get onto the 8 in game 3 after starting stronger than Puff III. Tigerette would have a scratch slow her down, but Puff III's offense barely existed, and Tigerette had no trouble picking up the win to secure the series at 3-0. Puff III again struck first in game 4, but only managed a three-ball run in response to Tigerette's five-ball run late in the game. Puff III gave herself no shot on her last ball, missing contact and giving Tigerette a free shot at the 8, which was easily converted as Tigerette extends her series lead to 4-0. Puff III had a pair of three-ball runs early in game 5, staking out a good offense, but missed contact on her last ball allowed Tigerette to make five balls over the last two turns. Tigerette illegally potted the 8 at the end, gifting a win away to Puff III to make it a 4-1 series. Tigerette still will visit the Todavía Stills' Prism in the bracket quarterfinals.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Leonardo. The red cue departs for today after its last Rotation series of the round. After a fairly even start in game 1, Midland's Leonardo pulled ahead on a four-ball run before rattling the 9 out of the bottom right. Eastside's Graham proved stronger with a six-ball run-out from there, glancing the 14 off the 15 into the top right to win 8-6 for a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Leonardo staked out his game 2 lead with a three-ball run, and then added modestly to it for awhile. The Sharks' Graham countered with a four-ball run to get close, and then a three-ball run-out capped by banking the 15 to the top left on the next turn to steal the 8-7 win. Graham leads the series 2-0. Graham had a better start in game 3, making a double-pot to take the early lead after Leonardo struck first. Leonardo kept things close with a double-pot of his own to tie the game, but Graham pieced together a three-ball run-out soon after for the 8-5 win and 3-0 series lead that secures his advancement. Graham slipped up after taking the lead in game 4, wasting a lot of chances to get a second wind on his offense. Leonardo charged ahead on a five-ball run, and then eventually made a final pair of shots for the 8-4 win to cut the series to 3-1. Game 5 started with an exchange of half-chances and poor shots before Leonardo erupted on a five-ball run. Graham made one ball before scratching, and Leonardo took over with a three-ball run-out on his next turn for the 8-1 win. Graham still took the series 3-2, but lost some confidence heading into his bracket quarterfinals series with the Everton Eagles' Cleo. Graham has his second kill of the year while Leonardo becomes the 58th player to exit the Tournament.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Kodiak v. Klaus. Two of Outcast's top performers this year meet in a big 15-ball series with the blue cue. Modernistic's Kodiak started slow, letting Atlantic's Klaus pace the early parts of game 1. As the game progressed, offense remained slow, but Kodiak ended up making the last three balls over two turns for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went faster thanks to the Union's Kodiak making improvements for himself on offense. Still, the game had a choppy feel to it, especially at the end, where Kodiak made a pair, then got a chance on the 15. He scratched, gifting the win to the charging Pirates' Klaus to tie the series at 1. Klaus had a load of offense in game 3, pacing the attack individually quite well. Kodiak struggled to keep his performance on the table, but he caught a break when Klaus butchered a shot on the 14. Kodiak would make the final pair of shots to get the win, regaining the series lead at 2-1 despite a lack of momentum. Kodiak made a ball on the break and then played most of game 4 pretty evenly with Klaus, who might have had an edge on offense. It didn't matter when Kodiak took Klaus' failed trick play on the 6 and used it to deflect the 15 into the bottom right for the win to clinch the series at 3-1. Kodiak dominated early in game 5, a burst of offense very much unlike his other efforts. Klaus pulled back later in the game with a four-ball run, but couldn't finish it off, as Kodiak took a pair at the end for the win to finish a 4-1 series win. Kodiak will host the Queens Flames' Hannah in the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Nicole. The silver cue is back in action, administering a series of 9-ball this time. Terrace City's Kiwi made a pair of balls on the break in game 1, but illegally contacted and potted the 9 on a failed kick play two shots later, gifting the win and 1-0 series lead to Lighton's Nicole, who didn't take a shot. The Prestige's Nicole made a ball on the game 2 break, and used a three-ball run to counter a four-ball run by the Knights' Kiwi, but Nicole missed on the 9 near the end. Kiwi put it in the bottom right with ease, another strong game ending in a win for the host to tie the series at 1. Kiwi didn't have much to be happy about in game 3, scratching on the break and looking shaky at best during the course of play. It took Nicole some time to grab the game, but she did win with a three-ball run-out, retaking the series lead at 2-1. Kiwi bounced back a bit on offense in game 4, showing some more command but still taking too many loose shots. Nicole capitalized on one of them late, as Kiwi's miss on the 8 set Nicole up to pot the last two balls for the win. Nicole's win sealed the series at 3-1. Nicole continued to play better in game 5, dominating the offense at first and capitalizing on a miss on the 7 by Kiwi. Nicole buried the 7 from range, and then did the same on the 8 before a tap-in on the 9 for the win. Nicole's 4-1 series win puts her into a visiting position against the Harrison Specters' Sydney in the bracket quarterfinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Brownie v. Violetta. A little cross-highway action occurs in Accuracy with the blue cue. Tysini's Brownie slipped behind around the middle of the game with a pair of misses, but adjusted her strategy to drag Queens' Violetta down quickly at the end. Brownie ended up winning 2-3 after Violetta couldn't get the proper positioning, giving Brownie a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Brownie again made a ball on the break in game 2, but it was a mid-game skid that put her out of contention this time. The Flames' Violetta had her only miss around the same time, but made plenty of more impressive shots to lock up a 1-3 win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Violetta scratched on the break in game 3, but managed twice to get Brownie to miss with her in this game. Brownie then crumbled at the end, unable to convert from distance after Violetta did just that on the prior shot. Violetta closed out the win at 2-3, pulling ahead 2-1 in the ever-close series. Violetta made a ball on the break in game 4, but missed after Brownie hit a double-pot to reclaim the final shot advantage. Violetta stayed in range but couldn't find a hole in Brownie's game this time, as Brownie went on to win 0-2 after Violetta's late miss. The series is tied again at 2. Brownie made a ball on the break in game 5, and Violetta quickly had a miss to fall behind. Brownie would miss later in the game, but Violetta couldn't hold onto the tied position, and Brownie walked away with a 1-2 win to take the series 3-2. Brownie will host the Central Warriors captain Twilight in the bracket quarterfinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Strut. Longtime veterans meet in the blue cue's final 15-ball series of the third round. Golden's Strut popped up quickly after Todavía's Bells scratched on the break in game 1. Strut's offense dried up by the end, as Bells had a four-ball run before a cagey finish ultimately favored her as well. Bells' win gives her a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Bells made a ball on the break of game 2, and put the 15 perilously close to the bottom right. Bells had one eye on this on every turn, controlling the offense initially, but the Pilots' Strut struck all at once. Strut made a five-ball run-out, double-potting the 8 to the top side and the 15 at the bottom right for the win to tie the series at 1. Strut had a positive start with a three-ball run in game 3, but after some contested possession in the middle of the game, a pair of four-ball runs put Bells back in the lead for the series at 2-1. Bells used wonderful positioning to get the go-ahead win. Strut did his part in game 4, making things difficult for Bells by slowing the game down. Strut broke out on a late four-ball run, just missing on the 14, but Bells missed the 15 and Strut was able to put it away for the win, retying the series at 2. Bells brought the heat on offense with a six-ball run that put the 15 on the edge of the bottom right, but this time Strut protected it for himself. Eventually, Strut found a three-ball run-out capped with an 11-15 combination to the bottom right for the win, giving him the 3-2 series win as well. Strut will visit the Lighton Prestige's Katelynn in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Fuchsia. The blue cue closes another bracket when it plays its last 10-ball series of the third round. Game 1 started very slowly, but once the offense showed up, it almost exclusively belonged to Midland's Fuchsia. Freedom's Roxy did make one shot after Fuchsia illegally potted a ball, but Fuchsia replied with the last two shots for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went faster, as the Predators' Fuchsia made a ball on the break. The Cascades' Roxy had a chance for a 2-10 combination to the top right, but she rattled it out, and left the 10 by the bottom left. Fuchsia then cut a 2-10 combination there, the tap-in finish enough for the win and 2-0 series lead. Roxy had some good looks in a shaky start to game 3, but a scratch after illegal contact while going for the 5 derailed her game. Fuchsia took over with a six-ball run-out, double-potting the 6 and 8 to the bottom side and bottom right before converting on the 10 three shots later. Fuchsia's win secured the series at 3-0 in her favor. Roxy again had an early error in game 4, and Fuchsia really made her pay for this one, ripping a massive eight-ball run-out with excellent execution of each shot to get a win, extending her series lead to 4-0. Fuchsia dominated again in game 5, starting with a four-ball run from the break and ending on a five-ball run-out a couple of turns later after exchanging misses in the middle of the game with Roxy. Fuchsia swept the series 5-0, and will host the Central Warriors' Noelle in the bracket quarterfinals.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Kirstin v. Precious. The final series today is with the silver cue playing Rotation. Everton's Kirstin never really got out of the gate in game 1, while Pronger's Precious made small runs early on to take a lead. Precious also double-potted the 3 and 15 to the bottom right and bottom side after Kirstin fouled. Precious capped the 8-0 win on a three-ball run-out, earning the 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Kirstin persisted in game 2, taking advantage of an error from the Tridents' Precious to spark a five-ball run. Kirstin later closed out the win at 8-1, tying the series at 1 after striking first with a big run. Kirstin and Precious exchanged three-balls runs rather quickly in game 3, but Kirstin took the lead on her second turn and never looked back. Kirstin would win 8-4 with a three-ball run-out, pulling ahead 2-1 in the series. Precious began with a relatively quick four-ball run to gain the lead in game 4, but she couldn't hold it. Kirstin pulled back with a three-ball run to take the lead, and she eventually closed the game at 8-6, clinching the series at 3-1. Precious started out well in game 5, but this effort also fell on its face, as Kirstin used three short bursts of offense to win 8-3, claiming a 4-1 series win. Kirstin will visit the Terrace City Knights rookie Quincy in the bracket quarterfinals. Precious is the 59th player eliminated from the Tournament, giving Kirstin her first kill of the year.
That's all for today. We will play the last eight series of the round tomorrow.
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