2018 Tournament of Champions

This year's eight event winners are ready to go in Midland, with seven 7-game series composing the Tournament of Champions. First up...

Cobalt v. Twinkie I: The coin flip went in favor of Twinkie I, meaning the first event will be in 12-ball. The red cue will be used for this playoff event. Game 1 saw Stonebridge's Cobalt bury a four-ball run from the break. Pacific's Twinkie I used ball-in-hand later on to get a three-ball run, but she was too slow in attacking the top side, and Cobalt took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Cobalt looked far less confident in game 2, whiffing on a large portion of his early shots. He played some defense to slow down the Volcanoes' Twinkie I, but she had no problems breaking through that for the win, tying the series at 1. Cobalt bounced back with an early three-ball run in game 3. Twinkie I tried to hold him back, but she couldn't stop him after she surrendered a wild-card ball. Cobalt patiently waited to strike at the right corners, taking the win to regain the series lead at 2-1. Cobalt scratched on the break in game 4, but that didn't seem to hold him back at all, as he attacked well on his next turn. Twinkie I tried to combat it, but she failed to get her offense going, allowing Cobalt to win on a three-ball run-out. Cobalt is up 3-1 in the series. Cobalt didn't have a good performance in game 5 by any measure, scratching early and failing to line up his shots well, but the game remained close at the end. Twinkie I had plenty of trouble on her final ball to the top left, but she eventually made it just in time to get the win, cutting the series back to 3-2. Twinkie I didn't back down at all in game 6, making a five-ball run on her second turn after Cobalt couldn't get a run of his own going. Twinkie I won on her next turn with a tap-in at the top right, tying the series at 3. Twinkie I remained strong with a three-ball run from the break, and she had a solid attack after that, making the last three balls before Cobalt could get down to his last ball. Twinkie I won the series in a 4-3 comeback advancing to the Tournament of Champions semifinals.

Quincy v. Jake: A strong rookie gets his preferred event, as Rotation was chosen when Quincy beat Jake on the coin flip. Royal's Jake got out to a good start in game 1, but Terrace City's Quincy erased it with a four-ball run to take the lead. The two tangled for awhile, until Quincy went on a three-ball run-out to take the 8-5 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake again jumped out to the early lead in game 2, but the result was the same for him. The Knights' Quincy pulled back with one four-ball run, and then won the game 8-4 with a four-ball run-out. Quincy is showing his skills as he moves to a 2-0 series lead. Quincy made a shot on the break in game 3, and he played a strong attacking game with defensive positioning mixed in. Jake had no shot for his first two turns, and only converted one point later on before Quincy used a decoy shot on the 9 to deflect the cue toward the 14, which fell at the top left for the 8-1 win. Quincy is up 3-0 in the series. Jake had a slow forming attack in game 4, but Quincy only took one successful shot early on. Jake chipped in one or two balls on just about every turn and left Quincy with bad positioning, eventually leading to Jake's 8-1 win to cut the series to 3-1. Jake built up a lead again early in game 5, clearly trying an old strategy to see if Quincy was off his game. Quincy evened the score rather quickly, and then double-potted the 4-15 and 7-5 combinations with a kind deflection to ignite a well-made five-ball run-out. Quincy won 8-3, clinching the series at 4-1. Game 6 went very evenly from the start on both sides. Quincy had to catch up a bit initially, but he failed to hold his mid-game lead as well, and Jake took the win with a three-ball run-out for the 8-5 result to pull back to 4-2 in the series. Jake made a four-ball run on his second turn of game 7, and when Quincy didn't launch a large counterattack, Jake cruised to the 8-2 win at the end. Quincy still owned a 4-3 series win here, making him the second Tournament of Champions semifinalist.

Fuchsia v. Tigerette: The home crowd is excited for their player in this one, and she gets her preferred 9-ball event. Midland's Fuchsia excited the crowd with a three-ball run from the break and a later pair of shots, but Commerce's Tigerette tempered their expectations by making the last two balls for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Tigerette scratched on the game 2 break after making a ball, while the Predators' Fuchsia fired back with consecutive turns of four- and three-ball runs, winning with the latter one to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a change of styles from the free-flying runs of before, with pairs and single shots being more common. Fuchsia had two chances to swipe at the 9 while shooting the 7 and 8, but she missed on the latter. Tigerette made the 8 and 9 both to the bottom side for the win, restoring her series lead at 2-1. Fuchsia had two brutal misses in game 4, one due to a miscue and the other from her own bad aim. Tigerette capitalized on both situations to create offense, winning with a pair of shots from the latter of Fuchsia's mistakes. Tigerette is on the brink of advancing as she leads the series 3-1. Tigerette remained relentless in game 5, using her defensive positioning to great effect. Tigerette slipped up at the end, leaving the 7 in a good spot for Fuchsia, who sparked a three-ball run-out to save her season. Fuchsia's win cut the series to 3-2. Fuchsia had arguably her second-best effort in game 6, a fantastic mix of offense and craftiness, but she faded toward the end after making six balls over three turns. Tigerette slammed the 8 into the top left, and then put the 9 in the bottom left for the win to secure the series at 4-2. Tigerette didn't put too much into game 7, but she had some ugly shots in the middle of the game. Fuchsia would attack later on, picking up the 9 on a tap-in at the top right for the win. Tigerette bested Fuchsia in her own event, knocking the home favorite out on a 4-3 series win. Tigerette faces Quincy in the Tournament of Champions semifinals.

Twilight v. Misty: The last quarterfinal series is in Twilight's preferred 8-ball, as the top seeded player in the competition will get one more advantage. Central's Twilight made a ball on the break in game 1, but her offense went cold in the face of a four-ball run by Westside's Misty. The ending was slow, but Misty coasted to the victory with single-ball turns, earning a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Twilight attacked with menace in game 2, building up a significant lead initially. The Rockers' Misty took her time in responding, but made things close enough at the end where two straight misses on the 8 by Twilight proved costly. Misty made the 13 to the bottom left and the 8 at the top right at the end for the win, going up 2-0 in the series. Twilight again attacked well in game 3 after Misty took a ball from the break. Twilight looked poised to get the win, but her last two balls gave her trouble, and a miss on the 8 proved critical. Misty made her last two balls and then the 8 from distance to the top right, pushing ahead to a 3-0 lead in the series. Misty left no room for Twilight to attack in game 4, blasting a six-ball run right away. Twilight made a four-ball run in response, but Misty closed down with a pair of good shots at the end, sealing the series at 4-0. Twilight finally struck with absolutely no mercy in game 5, burying a six-ball run on her first turn. Misty had some chances to pull back, but not enough time before Twilight knocked in the last two balls she needed for the win. Misty remains ahead 4-1 in the series. Misty had a five-ball run to start the offense in game 6, but she never gave it proper support. A four-ball run followed from Twilight, and she added a three-ball run and a shot on the 8 to pull ahead before making the 8 on the next turn. Twilight's win cut the deficit to 4-2. Misty again attacked well early in game 7, but she didn't have enough left in the tank to close it out. Twilight delivered a four-ball run-out on her last turn to snag another win, getting this series to match the rest at 4-3 in favor of Misty. There won't be time for Misty to rest, as she plays in the first Tournament of Champions semifinal.

Twinkie I v. Misty: Leading off the semifinals, Misty will have the game advantage by playing Accuracy. Pacific's Twinkie I held the lead for much of game 1 after an early miss from Westside's Misty, but Twinkie I had a handful of misses late in the game, allowing Misty to pick up the 2-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Twinkie I fell behind early in game 2, but kept close enough to briefly push the Rockers' Misty backwards. Twinkie I couldn't make the last ball to secure a win, leading the game into overtime, where she missed on the overtime break. Misty converted her shot, winning 2-3 again to take a 2-0 series lead. Misty had a poorer break in game 3, but both players remained perfect for a long time. Twinkie I fell off with two straight misses, and another one after Misty had her only miss set up the 1-3 win for Misty, who is up 3-0 in the series. Misty again took care of business despite an ugly miss on her second turn in game 4. Twinkie I had a lead that slipped out of her hands towards the end, as three misses over five turn gave Misty all she needed for the 1-3 win to seal the series at 4-0. Misty predictably eased up on her shooting style in game 5, falling off her pace a bit with a lot of bad misses. Twinkie I didn't fell comfortable until the very end, where Misty scratched to give Twinkie I the 3-5 win. Misty remains ahead 4-1 in the series. Misty put up a good fight as both players stayed perfect deep into game 6, but when she missed, she let the game go to Twinkie I. The result was 1-3 in Twinkie I's favor, allowing her to cut the series down to 4-2. Misty used the same strategy in game 7, competing well with Twinkie I until the game got into a deadlock near the end. Misty missed her last two shots to allow Twinkie I the 1-3 win without the process of overtime. Misty takes the series 4-3, as the lowest-ranked participant in the Tournament of Champions has reached the final series.

Quincy v. Tigerette: The two winners of the most closely-related events clash in the other semifinal, with the breaking advantage in the final going to the winner of this series of Rotation. Terrace City's Quincy started out alright in game 1, but a pair of three-ball runs from Commerce's Tigerette put her ahead. Tigerette finished from ball-in-hand, icing the 8-2 win with a pair of shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Tigerette hit the skids after making a ball on the game 2 break, allowing the Knights' Quincy to take the lead. Quincy remained a few steps ahead of Tigerette for the rest of the game, sealing off an 8-4 win to tie the series at 1. Quincy had the early lead in game 3, but it fell apart when Tigerette pulled off an impressive double-pot to tie the game. The two players tangled for awhile, but Tigerette got away and managed to win 8-4, restoring her series lead at 2-1. Tigerette smashed a five-ball run from the break in game 4, establishing a large lead quickly. She was on the brink of victory before Quincy made a pair of shots, but he faltered on the 9, and Tigerette buried it to seal an 8-2 win. Tigerette moves to a 3-1 series lead. Tigerette remained in control to start game 5, blasting a pair in on the break. The middle of the game went a bit slowly, but two defensive plays by Tigerette helped her to build a late offense of three balls over two turns for the 8-3 win. Tigerette clinched the series at 4-1 with this victory. Tigerette didn't have her best on offense in game 6, allowing Quincy to build his lead almost unchecked for the early parts of the game. Tigerette put a little effort in, but not enough to stop Quincy from winning 8-3 to cut the series back to 4-2. Tigerette built a massive lead early in game 7, unwilling to gift away another game to Quincy as she maintains a fighting mindset. Quincy got some of the deficit back, but much like in the series, Tigerette proved too tough for him in her 8-4 win. Tigerette took a decisive 5-2 series win to earn the breaking position in the Tournament of Champions finals, up next.

Tigerette v. Misty: The Tournament of Champions will be decided in Tigerette's preferred event of 15-ball as two members of the original Tournament compete for the title. Commerce's Tigerette set the tone early in game, and backed it up with a later five-ball run. Westside's Misty made a good defensive play near the end, but a scratch as she tried to get positioning on the 15 ruined her game. Tigerette took the 15 from ball-in-hand for the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Tigerette had a dominant share of offense in game 2, peppering the Rockers' Misty with short runs and attacks all around the table. Tigerette ended with a four-ball run-out, complete with a deflection off the 12 to put the 15 in the top right for the win that gave her a 2-0 series lead. Tigerette began with three balls on the break of game 3, and she added another four-ball run later, but both of those turns and one other ended in a scratch. Misty didn't collect much offense from these situations, but it shook Tigerette's confidence enough for Misty to pot the last two balls at the end for the win. Tigerette still holds a 2-1 series lead. Tigerette continued to impose herself with a dominant share of the offense in game 4, but she faded again at the end. This bought Misty enough time to sneak in on the last two shots for the win, cleaning up Tigerette's miss on the 15 at the top side on the second turn of her final push. Misty's win tied the series at 2, shrinking the margin for error on both sides. Tigerette had her chances in game 5, getting ball-in-hand after Misty scratched but butchering a shot on the 14 that would have given her a chance to win. Misty made the last two balls, continuing her surge on offense that sees her ahead 3-2 in the series at this point. Game 6 proved to be an instant classic, with Tigerette storming back on offense but Misty playing good defense to stall Tigerette's attacks. Tigerette had a clear chance for the win at the end, but she rattled the 15 out of the bottom right, giving Misty the win when she calmly converted the shot. Misty will be this year's Champions Cup winner after clinching this series at 4-2. Misty started game 7 on a four-ball run, just missing her look at a deflected shot off the 5 that would have put the 15 away. Tigerette took over from here, and while Misty had a chance to finish the game, she missed, and Tigerette buried it. Misty won the Champion of Champions title by a 4-3 series win.

That's it for the Tournament of Champions this year. Tomorrow, we will play the Clan Cup tournament to decide the championship club.