This is the promised split day for the weekend. Right now, it looks like there will be three series on Saturday and four on Sunday due to time constraints. We begin with...
Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Paps. The red cue plays both of its Rotation series in the round to start the day. Royal's Nightfur had a ball on the game 1 break, but she had to battle with Tysini's Paps in the early going. Paps made a three-ball run in the middle to take the lead, only for Nightfur to pot a four-ball run before she made another shot on her next turn to win 8-6 for the 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Nightfur had a good start, and took advantage of the Hummingbirds' Paps making a mental mistake by moving the cue when he didn't have ball-in-hand. Paps stormed back at the end, with five balls over his last two turns to win 8-5, tying the series at 1. Paps took the early in game 3, and had to fight off two equalizing attacks from Nightfur before he finally found a three-ball run-out to take the win at 8-5. Paps has pulled ahead 2-1 in the series. Nightfur finally had a bounce-back effort in game 4, weathering a tough start against Paps before finding her way with short turns to take the 8-4 win, ending by banking the 12 to the bottom right. The series is tied at 2. Nightfur dominated with her first two turns in game 5, pulling way ahead of Paps this time. Nightfur held on as the game progressed, taking the 8-1 win to gain a 3-2 series lead. Nightfur took a six-ball run from the break in game 6, asserting her lead quite well. Paps found a four-ball run later on, but Nightfur closed out the win at 8-4 to clinch the series at 4-2. Paps put in a respectable finale effort, winning game 7 by an 8-5 score after finding a three-ball run and a four-ball run at different points in the game. Nightfur took the series 4-3, and will host the bracket finals series against the winner of the next series. Paps is the 127th eliminated player, and Nightfur has her second kill of the year. The Hummingbirds' season is over at the hands of the Crowns.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Strut. Two club-mates battle in the other Rotation semifinal for the red cue. Golden's Strut had a good start in game 1, taking the early lead. It didn't hold for him, as Everton's Cleo pulled ahead on two short runs, and she took the 8-4 win with a pair of shots at the end, putting her up 1-0 in the series. The Eagles' Cleo made two balls on the break, but quickly fell behind as the Pilots' Strut converted an early five-ball run. Strut had some troubles sealing up the game before making a pair of shots on his final turn for the 8-4 win, which tied the series at 1. Strut didn't deliver a good break in game 3, making a mess of the shots afterward. It ended up being very close, with both players shifting momentum in the late stages before Cleo fouled to give Strut a clear look on the last two balls. Strut made both, winning 8-7 to take a 2-1 series lead. Strut had a better break in game 4, but Cleo kept the game close, shooting evenly with Strut for much of the early part of the game. Strut got an edge late, which Cleo evened but couldn't beat as Strut took the 8-6 win for a 3-1 series lead. Strut secured the series in grand fashion, making a pair of three-ball runs very early in game 5 to stake out a lead. He used some defensive positioning to stymie Cleo before potting a pair to finish with an 8-0 shutout win to go to 4-1 ahead in the series. Strut popped up with a big lead again in game 6, while Cleo showed signs of frustration to be losing so badly at home. Cleo rallied all the way back to tie this game, only for Strut to cut the 15 to the top right for an 8-7 win that pushed his series lead to 5-1. Strut built up another lead in game 7, only once being challenged when Cleo pulled off a double-pot to the top corners. Strut ran away with the 8-3 win on a three-ball run-out at the end, sealing his 6-1 series win that sets him up to visit the Royal Crowns' Nightfur in the bracket finals. Cleo is the 128th eliminated player, and Strut marches up to four kills, which is also a team-elimination on the Eagles.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir Vasilyev v. Rudolph. A pair of rookies are set to clash in 8-ball with the blue cue. Stonebridge's Vladimir had a good attack early in game 1, making five balls over his first two turns. Harrison's Rudolph played on defense instead, and it worked, buying him time to line up and convert a four-ball run-out to come from behind for the win. Rudolph leads the series 1-0. The Specters' Rudolph managed a three-ball run with a scratch on the break of game 2, while the Wolves' Vladimir answered by scratching to end his four-ball run. This led to a close game, but Rudolph just held off a late push by Vladimir, who had a three-ball run end with a miss on the 8. Rudolph converted for the win, moving up to a 2-0 series lead. Rudolph got desperate after an empty break in game 3 and two positive turns from Vladimir put the visitor under pressure. Rudolph tried to split the 2 and 8, but ended up double-potting them, the illegal move on the 8 gifting Vladimir a win to cut Rudolph's advantage to 2-1. Rudolph started off hot with a three-ball run from his first turn, followed by a scratch and then another pair. Vladimir stayed cool under the pressure, chipping some offense in before finding and converting a five-ball run-out to nab the win. Vladimir has tied the series at 2. Vladimir had a productive start in game 5, but he couldn't make it last, as Rudolph played defense again at the back end of the game. Vladimir potted Rudolph's 15 as collateral damage, sparking a four-ball run-out by Rudolph for the win to regain the series lead at 3-2. Game 6 came down to the wire, with Vladimir doing well early but Rudolph gathering steam late with a four-ball run to get onto the 8. Vladimir had to strike the 10 to the top left from distance, which he did, helping him take a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 3. Rudolph had control in game 7 from the very start, taking an early four-ball run and then navigating Vladimir's defense for the rest of the game. Vladimir never got to build a countering run, and Rudolph made the 8 to the bottom right for the win and a 4-3 series win to earn his visiting spot in the bracket finals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Chimpy v. Bandit. The split day continues on Sunday with 9-ball and the blue cue. Modernistic's Chimpy managed to take 1 game despite neither player operating at their best level. Swordpoint's Bandit made illegal contact late in the game, one of many errors, and Chimpy used it to convert a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to take the win and a 1-0 series lead. The Union's Chimpy started well in game 2 with a pair from the break, while the Blades' Bandit answered with a pair of his own. Chimpy scratched on the 5, leading to Bandit converting a four-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Chimpy had a pair of scratches in game 3, a troublesome but not concerning facet of his playing style. Bandit gladly took a larger share of offense, making the last two shots to grab the win for a 2-1 series lead. Bandit had a three-ball run near the middle of game 4 after a slow start on both sides, but Chimpy took the win two turns later with a four-ball run-out, a classy run on positioning that helped the host to retie the series at 2. Chimpy showed a dominant side with a four-ball run including a triple-pot on the break shot, and then three balls over his final two turns to force Bandit out of game 5. Chimpy holds a 3-2 series lead with his tricky-to-manage playing style. Bandit had his chances in game 6, making a fair amount of shots but leaving just as many standing. Chimpy played a patient style, then struck at the end with a tap-in on the 9 for the win to seal the series at 4-2. Chimpy continued to attack well in game 7, a three-ball run early on and an additional pair pinning Bandit back. Bandit made some shots, but Chimpy cleaned up at the end for the win and a 5-2 series win. Chimpy will visit the Midland Predators' Fuchsia in the bracket finals. Bandit is the 129th player out of the Tournament, and Chimpy has his second kill this year. The Union have also accomplished a team-kill on the Blades.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Shiny v. Lorde. The red cue will make its last appearance for this league-day in Accuracy, finishing the event for the round. Capital City's Lorde showed no fear in game 1, converting every shot even with Web City's Shiny holding the last shot from her ball on the break. Shiny had a quick pair of misses in the middle to set Lorde up for the 0-2 win that gave the visitor a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw both players take a large step backwards. The Sharpshooters' Lorde didn't have a ball on the break, and she had some awkward misses in the middle of the game. The Spiders' Shiny fared even worse, her stretch of misses lasting longer as Lorde righted herself to win 3-5 for the 2-0 series lead. Lorde scratched while potting two balls on the break in game 3. Shiny fired back with a later double-pot to get the last shot in her favor, and she managed to force overtime after a late slip. Here, Lorde made two improbable shots before a miss, which Shiny matched, followed by a miss two turns later that finally gave Lorde the comeback win at 3-4. Lorde leads the intense series at 3-0. Shiny staved off the danger in game 4, holding a tight grip on the lead once Lorde had a couple of misses. Shiny even showed off with a double-pot to speed the game up, and she held on for the 1-2 win in the end to cut the series to 3-1. Shiny made a ball on the break in game 5, a critical feature to a tight game that saw each player only miss one shot. Lorde's miss came early, and she had a second miss on her only turn in overtime, where Shiny drove the 1 to the bottom right to grab the 1-2 win while getting closer in the 3-2 series. Shiny again made a ball on the break in game 6, hammering her shots around the table quite well. Lorde fell behind shortly after mid-game, and then missed again late, giving Shiny a cushion that she used before finishing with a 2-3 win. Shiny has come back to tie the series at 3, setting up a decisive finale. Shiny scratched while potting two balls on the break in game 7, putting her behind initially. Luckily for Shiny, Lorde couldn't hold the lead, falling behind in the middle of the game and slipping too far back to mount a late comeback. Shiny won 4-5 after a late scratch, and she finished the series ahead 4-3 after a brush with disaster. Shiny will visit the Westside Rockers' Misty in the bracket finals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Anton v. Peach. A rookie meets a sophomore here in a big 7-ball series with the blue cue. Todavía's Anton had a pair of balls on the break, and then he kept North Modernistic's Peach from making a counterattack. Anton closed on a three-ball run-out, deflecting off the 6 to tap the 7 into the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Anton had a ball on the break in game 2, a positive attack to begin with but it went unsupported. The Nighthawks' Peach used ball-in-hand after Anton missed contact on the 3 to ignite her own four-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Peach started game 3 with a ball on the break, and then sparred with Anton for the early shots. Anton opened up on a four-ball run-out, double-potting the 5 and 7 as a combination and follow shot at the top right for the win to restore his series lead at 2-1. Peach bounced back quite effectively in game 4, replying to Anton's two balls on the break with her own five-ball run-out, executed to perfection. Peach's reluctance to fall back has tied the series at 2. Momentum shifted again in a rockier game 5, as neither player could develop a true attacking run. Anton managed to pick up the last two balls at the end after some poor shooting from Peach, giving the host another chance to lead the series at 3-2. Both players had teased winning a game on the break, but Anton finally fulfilled the promise with a solid break that sent the 7 into the top side to quickly end game 6, securing the series for him at 4-2. Anton didn't do a whole lot in game 7, allowing Peach to take a consolation victory with majority possession and a three-ball run-out at the end. Anton took the series 4-3, and will visit the Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi in the bracket finals. This counts for Anton's second kill of the year, making Peach the 130th eliminated player. The Nighthawks' promising entry into this round ends with a loss for every member as the Stills get the team kill.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Ruby v. Cassie. The blue cue ends the split-day with the last Rotation bracket semifinal series. Archtown's Ruby had a tough break in game 1, leading to a back-and-forth between her and Royal's Cassie. Cassie had taken the lead in the middle of the game before Ruby burst forward on a four-ball run-out for the 8-5 win, earning a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Cassie had plenty of chances to take the lead in game 2, missing on the 6 twice to sacrifice some of her opportunities. The Arrows' Ruby stormed ahead, and then held off Cassie at the end by making a pair of shots for the 8-6 win after Cassie had pulled even. Ruby leads the series 2-0. Cassie jumped out to the lead in faltering first few turns for game 3. Ruby chopped back on a couple of bursts of offense, but Cassie found her way at the end, using a decoy shot on the 12 to bump the 13 to the bottom right for an 8-4 victory. Ruby remains ahead 2-1 in the series. Cassie didn't start well in game 4, giving Ruby room to take the early lead. Ruby was cruising until she scratched while potting the 8, leading to Cassie's five-ball run-out, including banks that sent the 10 and 13 to the top side. Cassie won the game 8-5, tying the series at 2. Ruby had the opening attack with a three-ball run in game 5 after Cassie scratched on the break. Cassie turned back with two pairs of shots and good defense to shut Ruby down, followed by a four-ball run-out ending with an 11-15 combination to the top right. Cassie won 8-3, pulling ahead 3-2 in the series. Game 6 saw a very even start between Ruby and Cassie, but Cassie proved to have all the bounces going her way. Her shot on the 6 bumped the 15 to the top side, and she added an 8-9 combination to the top left and a bank on the 10 to the top side to complete a five-ball run-out for the 8-3 win. Cassie secured the series at 4-2. Cassie had at least three lucky bounces over three positive turns to get her on the verge of winning game 7. Cassie's desire for an extra win went unsatisfied, as Ruby stormed back with a lucky bounce of her own to get a five-ball run-out going for an 8-7 win. Cassie still won the series 4-3, and will visit the Infinity Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman in the bracket finals. Cassie took her first career kill to make Ruby the 131st player eliminated this year. The Crowns also converted their second team kill on the Arrows.
Tomorrow, we end the Bracket Semifinals with the remaining six series. The remainder of the next week should be used for the Bracket Finals.
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