This is the last game day until next week, as Premier and Select cricket will be played over the weekend instead. We'll do 16 more series today to bring the round to half-completion, beginning with...
Bear v. Vitaya Grichson. A former captain takes on an unaffiliated player with the red cue to lead off today's games. Bear had a ball on the break in game 1, and then closed with pairs of shots on his last two turns, sandwiching Vitaya's desperate turn that ended in a scratch. Bear's push gave him a win and a 1-0 series lead. Bear didn't make anything on the break in game 2, leading to Vitaya setting the tone early on. Bear fired back with an equal run before engaging in a tight finish. Vitaya had bad positioning, allowing Bear to fail upwards on a couple of shots as he took the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Bear had his chances early in game 3, but late failures erased his good progress in attack. Vitaya started with a three-ball run and finished with the 8 on his second try to avoid the sweep. Bear won the series 2-1.
Cisco Solorio v. Graham. A master tactician meets one of the league's most fearsome players with the blue cue. Graham didn't have a good game 1, scratching twice at a critical point to allow the methodical Cisco to do his work. Cisco took his time before winning, but he got the job done for a 1-0 series lead. Cisco didn't account very well for his scratch in game 2, as he couldn't get into position after the play. He had an error that allowed Graham to make his last solids, and Graham won on the next turn to tie the series at 1. Graham tried with his powerful break to get a lead in game 3, but Cisco struck first and never looked back, just outrunning Graham at the end to take the win. Cisco took the series 2-1, advancing himself to the second round.
Spice v. Lize. A captain meets a sophomore in a battle between league plays with the silver cue. Spice showed a bit more quality in game 1, keeping herself ahead of Lize and burying her shots faster to win the race on the 8. Spice's firm but unremarkable effort gave her the win for a 1-0 series lead. Spice had a good break in game 2, and managed to attack with relative ease for much of the game. Lize countered with a potentially big run, but her miss on the 3 at the bottom left allowed Spice to tap in the 8 at the bottom right for the win. Spice advances with a 2-0 series lead and a game to go. Spice's break in game 3 was less impressive, and Lize stormed through the game in just four turns, her second being a three-ball run to set herself ahead before making three balls over the next two turns for the win. Spice took the series anyway at 2-1, and will host Vincent in the second round.
Steven v. Sally. When we return from a break, these two league veterans play with the red cue. Steven had a big break in game 1, but it didn't work out as planned. Sally stepped up on defense at the end, holding Steven off long enough to make a pair of shots herself for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Steven did better in game 2, working well with his positioning while freezing Sally out of valuable shooting angles. Steven worked his way up to a four-ball run-out at the end for the win, tying the series at 1 with the final burst. Steven and Sally played a balanced game, both players scratching late in game 3 to add a little strategy at the end. Steven emerged with the win on a three-ball run-out, completing his series comeback with the 2-1 win. Steven will host Whiskers in the second round.
Bryant v. Leonardo. Another pair of average league veterans goes with the blue cue. Bryant had a good start that left Leonardo reeling for a few turns. Leonardo bounced back with a five-ball run to take the lead, but both players missed critical shots late in game 1. Leonardo eventually made a pair to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Leonardo assembled the most impressive 13-ball game to date in game 2, burying one of each suit on the break to spark his seven-ball run-out with stripes, executed perfectly. Leonardo clinched the series at 2-0 with this win. Leonardo had a three-ball run from the break in game 3, answered by Bryant's five-ball run with a positioning play. Leonardo poked Bryant from position, and then converted his own three-ball run-out to take the win. Leonardo's 3-0 sweep is unfair to Bryant, who looked good when he had the chance in this epic series.
Luigi v. Puff I. The Modernistic Derby comes outside the league as a Nighthawk faces a Union player. Luigi didn't get much done near the start or the end of the game, his good middle section wiped out as Puff I found the win with a three-ball run-out .Puff I leads the series 1-0. Puff I had a positive break in game 2 and burst out to a big lead initially. Luigi clawed his way back to make it interesting, but Puff I converted her last solid at the top side before banking the 8 to the bottom right to get the win that secured the series for her at 2-0. Luigi had the edge initially in game 3, and looked good enough to win, but his scratch derailed the effort. Puff I used the 8 defensively, and Luigi potted it illegally to give the game away. Puff I took the series in a 3-0 sweep as the Union player prevails this time.
Jason V. v. Chicky Phil. A sophomore is set to take on a veteran with the red cue to begin the third cycle. Jason made one of each suit on the game 1 break, and chose stripes. It ended up being a no-win situation for him, as Chicky Phil ignited for a three-ball run on his first turn, and then found a three-ball run-out at the end to get the win for a 1-0 lead in the series. Chicky Phil had nothing on his game 2 break, while Jason made a three-ball run on his first turn. Jason had to be patient at the end, but he made three balls over his last two turns as Chicky Phil couldn't get positioning for his final ball. Jason's win tied the series at 1. Jason elected to set himself up first in game 3, while Chicky Phil immediately went on attack. Jason failed to get an end-to-end run going, and Chicky Phil made a pair on his final turn to seal the win and his 2-1 series win.
Easter v. Isabella. A captain meets an energetic young player for this series with the blue cue. Easter surprisingly had nothing on her break in game 1, and then took a couple of scratches that slowed her down more. Isabella had to battle through her own late scratch, but she did well at the end to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Isabella had a similar situation in game 2, as Easter was first to strike this time. The game itself went back-and-forth, especially at the end. Easter will rue missing the 8 at the top right, as Isabella made her last stripe at the top side before depositing the 8 for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Easter again stepped up early in game 3, trying to grab the lead, but Isabella proved slippery on later shots, doing what she needed to in order to win the game. Isabella's win here made it a 3-0 series sweep.
Guillem Gamboa v. Sugar. A very under-the-radar unaffiliated player faces a solid league veteran with the silver cue. Guillem began with a three-ball run from the break in game 1. Sugar had virtually no answer to that, so Guillem continued a few turns later on a four-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Guillem didn't do as much in game 2, causing him to engage in a much tighter battle with Sugar. This didn't work out for him, as Sugar managed to get the upper hand late and take the win with a pair of shots, tying the series at 1. Guillem played an obstruction-oriented game 3, unable to do anything with his last two solids. Sugar took a long time to break the defense, mostly out of frustration, but she did enough to win, taking the series 2-1. Sugar will host Cobalt in the second round.
Roxy v. Fluffina. Two very experienced league players clash in this red cue series. Fluffina almost overcame a brutally slow start in game 1, but a miss on the 8 on her only opportunity proved costly. Roxy bounced back from a slow middle of the game to pot the last two shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. Fluffina had her chances again in game 2, working well on offense at the start but stalling out when she had a chance at the 8. Roxy beat the odds with a tough bank of the 2 to the bottom side as the highlight of her winning four-ball run-out. Roxy's amazing late-game work secures the series in her favor at 2-0. Fluffina made a mess of her positioning in game 3, turning a close battle into an easy win for Roxy as Fluffina never properly aligned her shots. Roxy took the series in a 3-0 sweep, not that either veteran needs much preseason time.
Leandra v. Leandro Gamboa. A strong league veteran meets a sly unaffiliated player with the blue cue in action. Leandra came out strong with a pair on the break of game 1, but her offense went cold later on. Leandro fired off a perfect seven-ball run-out after meticulous work in his early turns to set those shots up. Leandro leads the series 1-0. Leandro's game 2 break backfired in his face, as Leandra plucked a four-ball run right from the start. Leandra won with a three-ball run-out after positioning her remaining shots, while Leandro failed to make a shot at all. Leandra' win ties the series at 1. Leandro stormed ahead again in game 3, but it came down to the wire when Leandra forcibly removed Leandro's defense. Leandra couldn't make her last solid, and Leandro escaped with the win for a 2-1 series win. Leandro will face another similarly-named played, Leonardo, in the second round.
Mr. Snowman v. Rodas Nunez. An underrated veteran takes on a young unaffiliated player. Mr. Snowman made a ball on the break but scratched on the next turn, allowing Rodas some time to get started. Mr. Snowman wouldn't linger for long, striking a brilliant six-ball run-out full of crafty shots to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Rodas had to be patient against Mr. Snowman's defensive structure in game 2. Eventually, the two players abandoned defense, and Rodas was first to get onto and convert the 8 for the win, tying the series at 1. Mr. Snowman had better positioning late in game 3, making him able to shoot around Rodas' attempts at defense. Rodas never transitioned to offense, and Mr. Snowman walked away with the win, taking the series 2-1. Mr. Snowman is scheduled to meet Patrido Salazar in the second round.
Lennert Verheyen v. Sydney S. After a short break, the red cue is set to return for the fifth cycle. Sydney got a jump early in game 1, quickly getting down to her last ball. Lennert fired back with five balls over two turns, but he came up short as Sydney put the 8 in the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 took a race-like motif, with Sydney jumping out to a hot start and Lennert staying just behind. Lennert tried to make a late push in the game, but Sydney had a three-ball run-out to stop that as she clinched the series at 2-0 with this win. Sydney got stuffed on numerous attempts at her last ball in game 3, unable to convert a clear shot. Lennert rallied from behind to get this win, although Sydney still advances to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Sleepy B. v. Gradley. Two talented league veterans are in the blue cue's last series today. Sleepy B. looked in line to take the win in game 1, but she had a few too many misses on her final ball. Gradley scratched a couple of times, but assembled a shot sequence from there to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Gradley had plenty of struggles again in game 2, and Sleepy B. also missed some shots, but she found the three-ball run-out in the end, easily avoiding Gradley's loose defense near the left corners. Sleepy B.'s win tied the series at 1. Gradley played well early in game 3, taking the right corners. Sleepy B. pulled even soon after, but Gradley's four-ball run to get onto the 8 served him well, and he converted the winner on his next turn to take the series 2-1. Gradley will meet Barasa Contee in the second round.
Yekaterina v. Martin Badillo. The silver cue's last series pits a rising star against an average unaffiliated player. Martin ripped a number of good shots early in game 1, but he couldn't break Yekaterina's defense at the bottom side, and she cleverly used two turns to clear the stripes off the table en route to a win and a 1-0 series lead. Yekaterina tried a similar strategy in game 2, but when it came down to each player needing a side pocket, Martin had the slight advantage. In two turns, Martin set himself up and won the game, which tied the series at 1. Martin took the lead early in game 3 as well, but Yekaterina stormed back to make it close in the end, just narrowly missing on the 8 at the bottom right with a bank attempt. Martin converted, taking the win and a fortunate 2-1 series win in the upset. Martin hosts Sweetheart in the second round.
Kodiak v. Louvel Lefevre. The final series is with the red cue between a sophomore and a slick unaffiliated player. Kodiak had a good break in game 1, but it didn't pay off when he struggled with his late-game positioning. Louvel used a little of his slick shooting style to get a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Louvel gave Kodiak two balls on the break while claiming solids, but somehow maneuvered his way out of trouble later in the game. Kodiak failed to get positioning for his last ball, and Louvel struck at the bottom right on the 8 to take the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Louvel gave away another ball on the break in game 3, and still easily blew by Kodiak at the end to pick up the final win in a 3-0 series sweep.
Premier is scheduled to play Saturday and Sunday, with Select also taking some time on Sunday. This competition will resume on Monday or Tuesday.
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