2018 Clan Cup

We're ready to start the day of the Clan Cup competition in Oceanside. First up, we've got four quarterfinals, beginning with...

Reality v. Empyre. Reality's Missy struck well on the break in 7-ball, making a shot. She added another one on her second turn, but gave way to Empyre's Jake from there, as he made a five-ball run-out for the win, giving Empyre the 1-0 series lead. In 8-ball, Reality's Patches had a decent start, but received a lot of help from Empyre's Tigerette, who potted two balls of collateral damage. Tigerette couldn't get onto the 8 cleanly at the end, allowing Patches to make a final pair of shots for the win, which tied the series at 1. Reality got another good break from Boots in 9-ball, who started on a three-ball run. Jake shot back for Empyre with a good amount of force, but he left too much on the table at the end. Boots made a pair of shots when Jake missed contact, taking the win and a 2-1 series for Reality. It didn't go so well for Missy in 10-ball, as her break was lackluster, and Empyre's Marsell made a weird deflected shot off the 2 that nudged the 10 around traffic and into the top right for a quick win. Empyre has retied the series at 2, nullifying Missy completely. Reality's Patches returned in 12-ball, attacking with great force in this even. She had a scratch and struggled for position for awhile, while Empyre's Hershey held his own, but a clever cut by Patches at the end gave her the win, which restored a 3-2 series lead to Reality. Spice made two on the break and added a five-ball run on her next turn for Reality to stake out a huge lead in Rotation. Marsell got one back for Empyre, but he didn't have the time to make a comeback, as Spice buried her last shot to win 8-1. Reality is on the brink of victory with a 4-2 series lead. Spice and Tigerette exchanged statement runs early in 15-ball, although Spice supported hers with a later four-ball run. Tigerette had a pair near the end, but she missed twice on the 15, and Spice made it on her second try, the win sealing a series win for Reality at 5-2. Sally made Empyre proud in Accuracy, holding her ground and forcing a few misses from Reality's Twinkie II. Sally maintained a perfect effort to win 0-4, but Reality walked away with the 5-3 series win to punch their ticket to the Semifinals.

Solid Core v. Brute Force. The second quarterfinal pits two of the Rivalry clubs against each other. Solid Core's Dreamy did everything but win in 7-ball, making a six-ball run from the break before a scratch while missing the 7. Brute Force's Smokey converted the one shot he needed to take for a 1-0 series lead, and he won't be seen until a potential tiebreaker. Brute Force looked good in 8-ball despite Rudolph potting one of each suit on his first turn. He elected to shoot stripes, and he got onto the 8 but failed to convert it in time to stop Solid Core's comeback through a three-ball run-out by Leonardo. This gave Solid Core the win necessary to tie the series at 1. Dreamy returned for 9-ball for Solid Core, and put up another good performance, this time actually getting the win despite her offense fading toward the end. Her Swordpoint Blades teammate Bandit scratched while potting the 8 for Brute Force, allowing Dreamy to take the 9 for the win and 2-1 lead in the series. Due to an event selection error, Brute Force had to choose between Rudolph and Bandit for 10-ball. Rudolph was selected, and he gladly cleaned up some loose shooting by Solid Core's Shaggy to take the win with a three-ball run-out. Brute Force has retied the series at 2. Shaggy also had a good start in 12-ball for Solid Core, attacking the top edge of the table at first. Bandit held back a bit at first, but found his way later in the game, and capitalized on Shaggy's scratch at the end to get the win for a 3-2 series lead. Wings had a cluttered start in Rotation for Brute Force, and briefly fell behind Solid Core's Acorn after a scratch. Acorn would suffer the same fate, his scratch paving the way for Wings to make a four-ball run-out for the 8-5 win to push Brute Force up to a 4-2 series lead. Wings continued to play well in 15-ball for Brute Force, battling with Solid Core's Roxy for a few turns after a tough middle section. Wings pulled away with a five-ball run-out for the win, securing the series at 5-2. Accuracy proved to be a fairly even game for Solid Core's Roxy and Brute Force's Bright, although Bright prevailed on a 2-3 win at the end. Brute Force handily took the series 6-2, and will prepare themselves for the Semifinals.

Outcast v. Delila Enterprises. Less bitterness arises from a promising third quarterfinal. Neither player had a great performance in 7-ball, as Outcast's Klaus only took the win after a scratch from Delila Enterprises' Whiskers as she made the 5. Klaus made a pair of shots to put Outcast up 1-0. Outcast's Prism began with a three-ball run with collateral damage to start 8-ball, and she added a pair of scratches to slow her own offense. Delila Enterprises got close at the end as Delila attacked with a little more intent, but Prism won on a four-ball run-out to move Outcast to a 2-0 series lead. Klaus returned to action in 9-ball for Outcast, and after a painfully slow and ugly battle with Delila Enterprises' Leandra, he managed to make the last two shots for the win to push Outcast's series lead to 3-0. Summer had a three-ball run at the start of the 10-ball game for Outcast, and she added ample offense throughout the game as well. Leandra tried to keep up for Delila Enterprises, but Summer's sublime bank of the 10 to the top left for the win assured Outcast's rise to a 4-0 series lead. Prism gave up a wild-card ball on the break for Outcast, selecting stripes after making one of each on the break. Delila had a four-ball run after that, but couldn't finish on her final ball. Prism made her remaining five balls over two turns for the win, sealing the series at 5-0 as Outcast makes quick work of Delila Enterprises, ending the club's run ahead of next year's reorganization. Kodiak had nothing for Outcast in Rotation, getting absolutely trashed by Delila Enterprises' Snuggle. Kodiak scratched on the break, and Snuggle took a small lead at first before connecting with a five-ball run-out to win 8-0. Delila Enterprises is on the board, but trailing 5-1 in the series. Kodiak had better shooting in 15-ball, but Delila Enterprises took this win as well, as Diddley persisted a little longer in a difficult finish to the game. Diddley finally took the 15 at the bottom left for the win, cutting the series down to 5-2. Dewey didn't have the best Accuracy game for Outcast, missing five shots with some sloppy early play and a late fade, while Delila Enterprises' Whiskers held her ground after the rough start to win 2-5. Outcast still won the series 5-3, giving them a chance to face Brute Force in the Semifinals. They also have the only home player left in Dewey, automatically making them the crowd's favorite.

Humanity Junior v. Youth Movement. The two sides known for their youthful energy meet in the last quarterfinal. Humanity Junior saw an aggressive start in 7-ball from Anton, but he couldn't convert on the 7 at the end, missing twice. Youth Movement's Twinkie III made the 7 on her second try for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Humanity Junior again controlled a game, as Zach looked great in 8-ball as he worked on a four-ball run. His attempt to slip the last solid behind defense at the bottom right led to a deflection that illegally potted the 8, gifting Youth Movement's Sierra with the win to put her club ahead 2-0. Anton steamed ahead with a seven-ball run in 9-ball for Humanity Junior, beginning with a fantastic break shot. Twinkie III was having none of it at the end, striking on the last two balls to steal the win for a 3-0 lead in the series for Youth Movement. Vincent refused to let Humanity Junior buckle under pressure, making a pair from the break and a five-ball run-out at the end, smothering any offense Youth Movement's Bianca could have tried. Vincent's dominant game cut the series to 3-1. Vincent had a good break in 12-ball, but Watermelon shredded him on her first few turns. Watermelon got down to one ball before a scratch set her back, and Vincent employed a strategic scratch to get out of a tough position. Vincent would look like a genius when he later made a three-ball run-out for the win, digging into Youth Movement's series lead, which now sits at 3-2. Cassie had a decent start in Rotation for Humanity Junior, although Watermelon kept the pressure up for Youth Movement. Cassie broke free on a four-ball run, and later staved off Watermelon's probing counterattack later on, winning 8-5 as Humanity Junior erases the deficit by tying the series at 3. Kirstin came to play with a mean break in 15-ball, scratching as she made a pair of shots. Bianca kept up for a bit, but Kirstin took a five-ball run and a four-ball run-out on consecutive turns, with Bianca managing just one potted ball in between. Kirstin's dominant finish puts Humanity Junior in a good position, ahead 4-3 in the series. The tension in Accuracy was noticeable, as both Humanity Junior's Zach and Youth Movement's Citrus flubbed a few shots. Citrus came up clutch on the overtime break, leading to Zach missing three turns later by a 6-7 score. Citrus' win tied the series at 4, setting up a tiebreaker in the 8-ball/12-ball hybrid known as 13-ball. Kirstin will play for Humanity Junior while Sierra steps up for Youth Movement. Kirstin led off with a ball of each suit on the break, which does not lead to a wild-card ball situation. Kirstin had a better grasp on the stripes as she navigated the table, but she slowed at the end, and Sierra made a pair of shots after Kirstin had a missed contact. Sierra's pair won the game, with the 8 going as called to the top side for the win. Youth Movement advances on the tiebreaker by a 5-4 margin, with an immediate turnaround as they face Reality in the Semifinals.

Reality v. Youth Movement. Missy wasted no time in establishing Reality's series lead at 1-0, winning the 7-ball game on the break as the 7 went in the top side to prevent Youth Movement's Twinkie III from having any impact on the game. Reality's Patches continued the club's dominance with a six-ball run to start the 8-ball game. She easily took her last stripe after that, but faded when it came to making the 8. Youth Movement's Sierra delivered a four-ball run shortened by a scratch, followed by another miss for Patches on the 8. Sierra closed out an epic comeback with a five-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Boots didn't have much for Reality in 9-ball, but she struck when it counted, answering a three-ball run by Youth Movement's Twinkie III with a 3-9 combination to the bottom right. Boots' win restores Reality's series lead at 2-1. Missy had a strong break and a scratch to start 10-ball for Reality. Bianca looked good at times for Youth Movement, but she lost her touch in the middle, and Missy went off with a five-ball run-out for the win to push Reality's advantage to 3-1 in the series. Patches had an assertive break in 12-ball, getting stripes. Watermelon challenged for Youth Movement, getting some good shots off before missing contact with three balls to go. Patches then spun a brilliant five-ball run-out, capping it by banking the 10 to the bottom side for the win that puts Reality up 4-1. Watermelon stayed in action for Youth Movement, starting out alright in Rotation by keeping an even score. She missed on the 7, a critical mistake, as Reality's Spice constructed a five-ball run-out to win 8-3. Reality will advance, having clinched at a 5-1 series lead. Bianca threw everything she could into her 15-ball effort for Youth Movement, beginning with a four-ball run and adding a six-ball run later, but Spice's late three-ball run shook Bianca's confidence. Spice would make the 15 on the next shot after Bianca missed it, giving Reality their 6-1 series lead. Twinkie II played a good Accuracy game for Reality, but two late misses caused her to blow her lead, and Citrus capped the 2-3 win easily for Youth Movement to save some face. Reality's 6-2 series win puts them into the Clan Cup Finals, with the opponent to be determined in the next series.

Outcast v. Brute Force. The other semifinal is the last series between Rivalry clubs in this competition. Outcast's Klaus had a poor break in 7-ball, allowing Brute Force's Smokey to deliver a dangerous opening turn. Smokey swiped and missed at the 7, while Klaus also had a close call before finally winning with a deflection off the 3 to tap the 7 into the top right. Outcast leads the series 1-0. Brute Force's Rudolph had no problem commanding 8-ball, as Outcast's Prism delivered virtually no offense during the game. Rudolph took his time on the 8, making a clean and simple shot at the end for the win to tie the series at 1. Klaus had a loose performance in 9-ball, unable to control his shots at first. Bandit made a three-ball run to pressure Klaus, but his later offense lacked power, and Klaus managed to buy time before making a pair of shots, restoring Outcast's 2-1 series lead. Rudolph's offense in 10-ball was slow to arrive, but he put up a five-ball run after the slow start. Summer replied with a quick four-ball run and a miss on the 10. Rudolph missed his chance to win the game, and Summer made the 10 on her second try to push Outcast's series lead to 3-1. Prism had a three-ball run on her second turn in 12-ball for Outcast, a push that stunned and slowed the attack of Brute Force's Bandit. Prism struggled to break Bandit's good defense, but Bandit did it himself as he elected to go for it with his club in desperate need of a win. The plan failed, and Prism converted her final ball to the top right after giving up a wild-card ball to clear the way. Prism's win makes it a 4-1 lead in the series for Outcast. Kodiak had his moments in Rotation, but the Outcast rookie struggled in the middle of the game. Wings pulled ahead for Brute Force with short runs and choppy offense, and while Kodiak challenged him late, Wings won the first of their two consecutive meetings by an 8-6 margin. Wings' win cuts the series lead for Outcast down to 4-2. Kodiak made sure not to let Wings get a shot in 15-ball, burying the 3 and 11 on the break and then making a 1-7 combination deflected off the 15 to the bottom right, with the 15 running into the top right for the win. Kodiak's clutch pair of double-pots clinched advancement for Outcast as they secured the series at 5-2. Dewey gave it his all for Outcast in Accuracy, but again came up short safely with the series already in hand. Bright put on a show, winning 1-2 in a fantastic effort to make it only a 5-3 series win for Outcast, which sends them thru to the Finals.

Outcast v. Reality. The upstart young club meet the most dangerous and decorated club in the Clan Cup Finals. Outcast's Klaus didn't have much to brag about in 7-ball, but he managed to poach the win when Reality's Missy left the 7 standing at the top left after a five-ball run. Klaus' tap-in gave Outcast a 1-0 series lead. Prism had her best 8-ball performance of the day for Outcast here, finding a six-ball run to pressure Reality's Patches. Prism faltered near the end, but righted herself in time to bank the 8 to the bottom side before Patches could make a real threat. Outcast leads the series 2-0. Klaus kept up the attack for Outcast in 9-ball, matched early on by Boots for Reality in a competitive start to the game. Klaus broke away at the end on a four-ball run-out, claiming the victory and a 3-0 series lead for an Outcast team that seems to be on the brink of a great series. Summer made a critical push in 10-ball for Outcast, challenging Missy for every shot. Summer picked up a fast win with a four-ball run-out, giving Outcast a 4-0 series lead that assures they will have a chance at a tiebreaker in the worst-case scenario. Prism had a huge five-ball run on her second turn in 12-ball, as Outcast took a favorable position. Patches played defense at the bottom right for Reality, but Prism removed the defense before winning a turn later to seal the series at 5-0. Kodiak and Spice battled in an epic first of two games against each other, with the lead swapping hands multiple times in this Rotation battle. At the end, Reality's Spice struck on a three-ball run-out to win 8-7 over Outcast's Kodiak, cutting the series to 5-1. In 15-ball, Kodiak and Spice again played to a pretty even battle, going back and forth on offense until the very end, where Kodiak made a pair of shots to win, the 15 from range at the bottom right being the winning shot. Kodiak put Outcast up 6-1 over Reality. The hometown player Dewey took the field for Accuracy for Outcast and proceeded to drop another result, as Reality's Twinkie II took a little more skill with her in winning 3-4. Outcast still won the series and the Clan Cup Championship 6-2, a statement from the young club against one of the league's best. Klaus was named Clan Cup MVP for his 6-0 record in 7-ball and 9-ball, setting a tone for the champions in each series.

That's all for the Clan Cup. Tomorrow, the first round of the 16-team City Cup kicks off from Freedom's Toyota Pitch and Toyota Arena.