We're opening the first round of the Heart of the Game preseason 13-ball competition today. If all goes to plan, the first round will be 8-10 days long. All series in the first four rounds are three games long. First up...
Whiskers v. Dreamy. Two longtime veterans of the league battle in the first series. It looked every bit the part of the first league activity in pool in seven weeks, as Dreamy started off well but couldn't corral the last ball from a good position. Illegal contact helped Whiskers get ball-in-hand for the last two shots, winning as she put the 8 in the bottom side to go up 1-0. Dreamy fired back with a hot start again in game 2, and she kept it even with a hard-charging Whiskers until the latter missed contact with her last solid. Dreamy made a pair of shots to get the win, tying the series at 1. Dreamy went empty on the break in game 3, and Whiskers dominated the rest of the game, with a three-ball run of her own aided by Dreamy potting two balls for her. Dreamy didn't make a shot until her final turn, and Whiskers soon finished the game on a pair of shots, winning the series 2-1. Whiskers heads to the second round.
Twilight v. Porfirio Cazares. The blue cue's first appearance with a new tip is here. Porfirio made a push with a four-ball run at one point after Twilight started game 1 with a successful attack. Porfirio just couldn't corral the 8, and Twilight eventually made the last two shots for the win, taking a 1-0 series lead. Porfirio put up a good fight again in game 2, getting onto the 8 at almost the same time as Twilight, who struggled in the late game. Porfirio's long shot on the 8 rattled out of the top left, and Twilight made the tap-in, poaching the win to seal the series at 2-0. Twilight had a great look on the break in game 3, making a ball to spark her offense. Porfirio never pulled ahead, as Twilight quickly shut the door to take the win for a 3-0 series sweep of the unaffiliated player.
Rudolph v. Nightfur. A sophomore meets a veteran with the silver cue in the third series. Rudolph showed some youthful creativity in game 1 after a scratch slowed his starting attack. Nightfur couldn't firmly grasp the lead here, and Rudolph rallied with a four-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. Rudolph did alright to start game 2, but two scratches and difficulty with positioning allowed Nightfur to pull far ahead. Nightfur had to be patient at the end before kicking the 8 to the top left for the win that tied the series at 1. Nightfur had a commanding break and started well in game 3, but still needed a comeback after Rudolph's late push saw him just miss on the 8. Nightfur finished with a three-ball run-out for the win, taking the series 2-1 in the process.
Jerry Burke v. Shawn. The red cue steps in again as an unaffiliated player hosts for the first time. Shawn managed to overcome a good break by Jerry in game 1, rallying at the end with five balls over his last two turn to grab the win. Shawn leads the series 1-0. Shawn didn't make anything on the break, but Jerry's game fell apart with a scratch in game 2. Shawn had a three-ball run to pressure his opponent, and then made a late pair of shots a couple turns later to grab the win when Jerry proved unable to make much of a counterattack. Shawn did the bulk of the attacking again in game 3, following a similar pattern as before to take the win again, good for a 3-0 series sweep and a ticket to the second round.
Niki v. Chimpy. A pair of understated league players clash with the blue cue. Niki had a good start but a weak middle in game 1. Chimpy tried to attack that flaw, but his shooting was generally poor, and Niki escaped for a quick finish to go up 1-0 in the series. Niki didn't have much to start with in game 2, and she felt pressured when Chimpy hit a four-ball run late in the game, but Chimpy never got onto his final ball. Niki played good defense and managed to gather enough shooting power for the win, ending with a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0. Niki couldn't complete the sweep in game 3, as Chimpy used just enough defense to stymie Niki's last attack. Chimpy then made a pair of shots to get the win, but he did fall to Niki 2-1 in the series.
Princess v. Sarah Brookes. A veteran and the rookie that replaced her on the Tysini Hummingbirds meet in this silver cue series. Sarah started off alright in game 1, but a late scratch derailed her attack significantly. Princess won the war of attrition in the end, converting the 8 to the bottom right for the 1-0 series lead. Sarah showed a bit more resilience in game 2, fighting back against pushes from Princess a couple of times. Sarah got the win when a shot at the bottom side aligned for her perfectly, and she made the 8 on the next shot to the top right for the victory that ties the series at 1. Sarah had a tough time in game 3, barely managing to get the win under pressure from the very forceful attack from Princess. Princess' only mistake was missing her last stripe, as Sarah made the 8 on the next turn for a 2-1 series win.
Charlie Thompson v. Sage. A big and hard-hitting unaffiliated player takes on the crafty sophomore with the red cue. Sage started well as Charlie hit an empty break and two scratches early in game 1, but Charlie had a five-ball run later on. Sage couldn't bounce back, giving Charlie a clear path to the end as he grabbed the win for a 1-0 series lead. Charlie had some good play in game 2 as well, but an illegally potted ball ruined everything. Sage found herself on a three-ball run, and she would eventually complete the game for a win, tying the series at 1. Charlie lost his cool in game 3, his opportunity for a big run ruined by a near miss. Sage stayed composed a bit better, but did not play well herself, winning more due to Charlie's incompetence. Sage will head to the second round after a 2-1 series win.
Rosemary v. Florent Claes. A soft-hitting sophomore takes on a similar unaffiliated player with the blue cue. Rosemary had some good play early in game 1, but Florent unraveled the rack a bit faster in the end, taking a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went with a much faster pace, as Florent found some success early on, only for Rosemary to fight back with a pair of attacks that won her the game. Rosemary took ball-in-hand and created a four-ball run-out on the latter of the two attacks, her win tying the series at 1. Rosemary looked to have the upper-hand in game 3, getting onto her last ball fairly quickly. Florent gave it his all at the end, finding a three-ball run-out to save his bid in the competition as he won the series 2-1.
Zach v. Panda. The silver cue gets a look in a series with two quietly strong players. Zach was faster to get to the end-game part of game 1, but Panda found more success when he got there, making a pair of shots before taking the 8 at the top right on the next turn after Zach failed to make his last ball. Panda owns a 1-0 series lead. Zach again had a chance to make a play late in game 2, but he blocked his own shot on his final ball. Panda had already put the 8 in a good position on the previous turn, and he converted to the top side with ease, securing the series at 2-0. Game 3 had a very defensive finish, as both players needed the top side and bottom left to win. Zach eventually carved out his path to victory, breezing by a stagnant Panda to avoid the sweep. Panda will advance on a 2-1 series win, earning a chance to face Nightfur in the second round.
Ms. Puppy v. Katelynn. Another pair of league veterans square off, using the red cue. Ms. Puppy struck first on the break and had a good game going, but after the two players traded collateral damage, Katelynn found a pair of shots on her final turn to nab the win. Katelynn is up 1-0 in the series. Ms. Puppy attacked with a three-ball run and made another pair after a scratch by Katelynn in game 2. Katelynn bounced back with a five-ball run, and she converted a pair of shots on her next turn to steal the win and the 2-0 series win from Ms. Puppy's grasp. Ms. Puppy ran out of steam as game 3 progressed, her inability to make her last ball leading to a scratch that she never accounted for. Katelynn eventually made the 8 to the top left to ice the 3-0 series sweep.
Pounce v. Ms. Kitty. Two more league veterans are paired for a blue cue series. Pounce made a deep push in game 1 early on, which Ms. Kitty struggled to answer. When she did, Pounce was there to strike for four balls over the next two turns, which gave him the win and a 1-0 series lead. Pounce again controlled the attack in game 2, but a number of misses by Ms. Kitty put her in a position for a three-ball run late in the game. Pounce converted on the 8 at the bottom side to stop the bleeding, but he gave Ms. Kitty a lifeline when he scratched. Ms. Kitty took the gifted win to tie the series at 1. Pounce came out hot again in game 3, but he failed to even get onto the 8 this time, allowing Ms. Kitty to surge by him as she took the win with a strong finish. Ms. Kitty came back to win the series 2-1, earning her spot in the next round against Sage.
Zuri Okafor v. Barasa Contee. The first series between two unaffiliated players pits countrymen against each other. Barasa stood out early on with two pairs of shots, but that sandwiched around a six-ball run by Zuri that allowed the host to play patient at the end. Zuri did well, eventually putting the 8 in the top side for a 1-0 series lead. Barasa started out with a similarly strong effort, but he managed to do enough defensively to prevent another counterattack by Zuri. Barasa's smart play helped him stay ahead, and he calmly made a three-ball run-out at the end for the win to tie the series at 1. Barasa stayed calm in game 3 even against a fiery attack early on by Zuri. The fire burned out later on, as Zuri missed contact after Barasa had a four-ball run, allowing Barasa to claim the 8 from ball-in-hand to the bottom side for a 2-1 series win. Barasa advances to the second round.
Corentin Aerts v. Shelley. Another unaffiliated player hosts as the red cue cycles back into action. Shelley had a good start in game 1, but could have won in two or three turns. Corentin didn't pressure Shelley when she made mistakes, and Shelley eventually won on a five-ball run-out for a 1-0 series lead. Shelley didn't have the benefit of good positioning in game 2, leading to a much longer battle that saw Corentin hold the advantage for a majority of the play. Corentin was unable to cleanly finish the game, and Shelley swooped in on a three-ball run-out for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw Shelley jump out to a lead and carry it until the end of the game, where tempers flared after multiple misses at the bottom left. Corentin emerged from the doldrums with a three-ball run-out, winning to avoid the sweep as Shelley takes the series 2-1.
Ken Howard v. Mitchell. The unaffiliated hosting spree continues with the blue cue's last series today. Ken played a defensive game 1 after Mitchell quickly got down to his final ball after two pairs of shots. Ken slowed Mitchell down well, but didn't do anything to get positioning for himself, and Mitchell had no trouble playing patient before striking down a pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. Ken played a stronger attacking game 2, hitting a three-ball run at one stage. Mitchell followed the same pattern in his shots, and a scratch evened the game, which Mitchell won by deftly banking the 8 to the top right around Ken's loose defense. Mitchell has the series in his hands at 2-0. Mitchell made an odd choice to go for a jam play in game 3, which predictably caused the 8 to fall early, gifting Ken a win in a game where he had virtually no offense. Mitchell will be satisfied with a 2-1 series win to get him in the next round.
Josie v. Sparkles. A sophomore plays host to a veteran as the silver cue exits the action for today. Josie left game 1 livid after many of her turns produced no clear shot. Sparkles maintained her composure a bit better, which helped her rally at the end to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Josie still hadn't calmed down and saw her emotions flare up again in game 2 after a handful of early misses. Sparkles began to lose her cool as well, especially as Josie composed a three-ball run a turn before finishing the game. Josie's tap-in on the 8 at the bottom left was good for her win, tying the series at 1. Josie started well in game 3, but she wouldn't have to do much, as Sparkles put the 8 in illegally on her first shot, a loose play at the bottom right with an unfortunate carom. Josie gladly took the win, escaping an ugly series with a 2-1 win.
Citrus v. Trevor Watson. Today's final series is played with the red cue. Citrus asserted herself quickly in game 1, getting onto the 8 in just two turns. Trevor made a bold reply with a four-ball run, but Citrus held her own, burying the 8 to the top right for the 1-0 series lead and a win. Citrus didn't have it as easy in game 2, but it proved to be mostly a personal struggle, as Trevor got no closer this time than he did in game 1. Citrus eventually found the right path forward to get the win, sealing the series at 2-0 in the process. Citrus couldn't complete the sweep, barely keeping even with Trevor for most of the game. Citrus had a late foul go against her, allowing Trevor a clean look for two shots that gave him the win. Citrus took the series 2-1 to punch her ticket to the second round.
That's it for the opening day of the preseason competition. We'll have more tomorrow, likely alongside Elite cricket.
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