We're winding down the first round of the preseason event, with just one more day after today. We begin with...
Nikolai v. Noelle. Two strong league veterans are ready to meet with the red cue in the first series today. Noelle had most of the offense early in game 1, and while Nikolai made a late push to get back into the game, Noelle soon made a pair of shots to grab the win for a 1-0 series lead. Nikolai took the early lead in game 2 with his four-ball run, establishing control on the table with the good attack. Noelle had little patience, making three balls over her last two turns before missing the 8 on a long cut toward the bottom right. Nikolai tapped it in for the win, tying the series at 1. Nikolai made a defensive play after a hot start to game 3, pushing Noelle out of position. Noelle scuffed her shot from ball-in-hand, and Nikolai made a pair of shots to close the win, taking the series 2-1 for himself.
Gwandoya Makeba v. Cleo. Another rising star league veteran plays as visitor to an unaffiliated player in this blue cue series. Game 1 saw a back-and-forth battle, with Gwandoya striking early before Cleo potted a four-ball run to take the lead. Gwandoya played defense as he got onto the 8, knocking Cleo out of position before potting the 8 himself for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Gwandoya had an impressive four-ball run stalled by a scratch in game 2, which led to Cleo taking over on offense. Cleo's bold play got her ahead and forced Gwandoya to make a defensive play. It didn't work, and Cleo made a pair of shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Cleo had some good work to set up a potential final run in game 3, but it didn't matter, as Gwandoya used those set-up plays to protect from a scratch as he made his final two shots for the win. Gwandoya took the series 2-1 and will host Niki in the second round.
Kitty v. Jax Puente. A rookie is matched with the superstar face of the unaffiliated players group, playing with the silver cue. Kitty had a positive start in game 1, but couldn't do anything about Jax's strong defense. It wouldn't have mattered, as Kitty was caught with an illegally potted ball after Jax put the 8 in the top right to go up 1-0 in the series. Jax had a decent break to start game 2, but Kitty found a couple of lucky shots and better positioning for herself, blocking Jax near the end of the game to pick up the win with ease. The series is tied at 1. Jax struck first in game 3, but it would be an early exit for him, as his next shot illegally potted the 8 at the top right. Kitty didn't have to make a ball to end up with the win, taking the series 2-1 as she earns a second round series against Hershey.
Wario v. Shadow. A powerful young talent takes on a league superstar with the red cue. Wario blasted a massive break to start game 1, making one of each suit. Shadow scratched to give his gift back before intricately rallying over the next three turns, winning on a four-ball run-out after doing just enough defense to stop Wario. Shadow has a 1-0 series lead. Wario had the lead again in game 2 after Shadow scratched on the break, but Shadow put an end to that with a four-ball run. Shadow got onto the 8 on the next turn, but Wario stalled him a bit. Wario tried a two-rail bank for his last ball, but came up short at the bottom right, and Shadow made the 8 to the bottom left. Shadow sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. Shadow double-potted on his game 3 break, a mistake he never recovered from. Shadow attempted to defend late in the game, but Wario pushed on to get the win, cutting the series to 2-1. Shadow's series win sends him to a second round series with the unaffiliated Thabo Chahine.
Hughbert v. Chris. The blue cue rotates back in for a series between league players. Hughbert couldn't bank to save his life in game 1, a number of turns going to waste while Chris rallied from an awful start to pick up the win. Chris can thank Hughbert's poor aim for the 1-0 series lead. Chris began with a four-ball run that ended in a scratch in game 2. Hughbert answered to keep it close, but his scratch took his whole game plan out of wack. Chris held on in a close finish, sending the 8 to the top left to get the win that clinched the series at 2-0. Hughbert had the jump in game 3, starting with a good run, but Chris attacked with patience and ruined Hughbert's set-up play on his last ball. Chris ended up taking this win too, sweeping the series at 3-0.
Curtis Caldwell v. Sierra. A strong unaffiliated player takes on a very good league veteran with the silver cue. Curtis had a strong break in game 1, and he outplayed Sierra in conversions and positioning throughout the game. Curtis' high level of play gave him a win and a 1-0 series lead. Curtis had a pair of balls from the break and managed to convert and position well at the same time as game 2 went on. Sierra had decent positioning but couldn't get past Curtis' remarkable pace, falling in the end when Curtis put the 8 in the bottom right to cap a three-ball run-out. Curtis sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. Curtis made two solids and a stripe on the break, but he ran out of momentum late in game 3, and Sierra picked up her pace to get the win. Curtis will settle for a 2-1 series win that pits him against Sierra's sister Valencia in the second round.
Mams v. Sander Lambert. A former captain takes on a deceptively strong unaffiliated player with the red cue. Mams and Sander battled closely in game 1, but Mams was called for illegally potting her last ball, and Sander cashed in with a pair of shots to get the win at the bottom left. Sander holds a 1-0 series lead. Sander had another good start in game 2, but he couldn't quite corral the 13 at the top side. Mams made sure she was clear to attack and then unleashed a three-ball run-out on her final turn, coming from behind for the win to tie the series at 1. Mams took stripes from the break in game 3, and then engaged in a race with Sander. Both players needed the top side at the end, and Mams struck first, then made the 8 turns later to get the win for a 2-1 series win. Mams will face Quincy in the second round.
Smudge v. Snuggle. Two long-tenured captains in the league battle with the blue cue. Smudge got down her last ball quickly in a sloppy game 1, but she missed every time at the top right, and Snuggle slowly clawed his way back to pick up the win. Snuggle's long-term strategy paid off as he took the 1-0 series lead. Smudge put in a lot of effort in another defensive battle, keeping even with Snuggle right up to the end. Smudge was cited post-game for illegally potting a ball and then the 8, ceding the win to Snuggle on the technicality, which secured the series at 2-0 for Snuggle. Snuggle had a good start in game 3, taking stripes on the break, but he didn't have the legs at the end to do anything as Smudge roared to a win. Snuggle will advance with a 2-1 series win, and he's set to face Manolito Avalos in the second round.
Ruby v. Dominic. Another pair of league players are set to go with the silver cue. Ruby took stripes on the game 1 break and added a sublime cut on the 9 to the top side on her opening three-ball run. Dominic had his chances to catch up later, but Ruby was faster and got the win for a 1-0 series lead. Ruby took stripes on the break again in game 2, and again paced her attack well, but Dominic got close at the end. Dominic couldn't quite make a shot at the top side, giving Ruby the time to put the 8 in the top right for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Dominic rallied quickly in game 3, attacking with a five-ball run-out all over the table to get the win after Ruby seemed to back off her earlier pace. Ruby will still take the series at 2-1, and she's set to face Lionel in the second round.
Paps v. Pepillo Gamboa. Another longtime veteran takes on a lesser-known unaffiliated player with the red cue. Paps had a good rally in the middle of game 1, making a four-ball run with a double pot at the right corners to get onto the 8. Paps failed to finish the game, as Pepillo bounced back with an eventual three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. Pepillo and Paps battled back-and-forth with quick spurts of offense throughout game 2. Each player had a couple of bursts, with Pepillo prevailing on a three-ball run-out at the end to get the win. Pepillo sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. Paps probably should have walked away with the win in game 3, getting onto his last ball first, but Pepillo kept bumping him out of position before finally pulling ahead with the win at the end. Pepillo swept the series 3-0 and will host Slinks in the second round.
Pieter Hendrickx v. Diddley. The blue cue returns to action for a couple of scrappy-type players from the two player groups. Pieter had the better of play in game 1, but he didn't do anything to earn the win. Instead, Diddley's quest for positioning went all wrong with an illegal potting of the 8 to gift Pieter the win for a 1-0 series lead. Pieter struggled to get into position late in game 2 after another hot start on offense. Diddley kept pace for most of the game but had a better plan for finishing, although it took him plenty of time to align himself for the win. Diddley's victory tied the series at 1. Pieter had a chance after Diddley made illegal contact late in game 3, but Pieter's last ball wouldn't fall at the bottom left. Diddley converted on the 8 on his next turn, completing the series comeback for a 2-1 win. Diddley will take on another Hendrickx, the eldest Cyril, in the second round.
Theodore White v. Axel Cools. Two minor unaffiliated players square off with the silver cue. Axel jumped out to a good start in game 1, but he couldn't legally pot his last solid. Theodore banked from the kitchen to pot the 9 at the top left, then cut the 8 to the top right, the pair of precision shots good for his win and 1-0 series lead. Theodore had a strong start in game 2, making a quick run early on, but he had a scratch that derailed his attack. Axel picked up the slack at the end, wrapping up a four-ball run-out with slick shots to get the win, which tied the series at 1. Axel showed no fear in game 3, while Theodore had to adapt to playing mob defense at the bottom right. Theodore's strategy proved flawed very quickly, as Axel pushed right through and easily took the win to clinch the series at 2-1. Axel will take on a more fearsome unaffiliated player in Hyunjae Kwak in the second round.
Bianca v. Rainmane. The fifth cycle sees a third-year take on a tough veteran with the red cue. Bianca clearly had the better game 1 with a quick attack to take the lead and a lack of pressure from Rainmane. Near the end, Rainmane made a three-ball run, just in time for Bianca to finish with the 8 at the bottom side for a win and a 1-0 series lead. Bianca and Rainmane held parallel attacks in game 2, both players moving around the table well. Rainmane had to do more work to escape bad positioning, but she still lost as Bianca sent the 8 to the top right for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Bianca had a chance to get the win after a positive start in game 3, but she left the 8 at the bottom right. Rainmane rallied from here, a perfect bank on the 4 to the bottom side setting her up to tap the 8 in for the win. Bianca will take the series at 2-1 instead, and she will face her friend and cousin Celestia in the second round.
Sydney C. v. Leonette. The blue cue's last series today pits a league rookie against a well-known veteran. Sydney potted balls of both suits on the game 1 break, which briefly sparked success for Leonette in the early turns. Sydney stayed patient, then struck with a four-ball run-out to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Leonette took her time on offense in game 2, and briefly had a big run lined up, but she sent the first shot wide of the bottom side. Sydney was no speedster herself, but she got the job done in the end, poking the 8 to the bottom right to take the win for a 2-0 series lead. Neither player seemed interested in attacking for the win in game 3, which eventually allowed Leonette to avoid the sweep with a shot to the top left after Sydney missed on her last ball. Sydney still took the series 2-1, as the rookie is set to face Twilight in the second round.
Frosty v. Cheddar. The silver cue wraps up its day with a pair of tough veterans. Frosty and Cheddar both struggled with selecting a suit in game 1, as it took multiple turns for someone to pot a ball. Frosty had the better push early on, but it fell apart in the face of a three-ball run-out that gave Cheddar the win and a 1-0 series lead. Cheddar struck first in game 2, taking stripes but unable to get in position around the table. Frosty did better on attack and found a late push to get the win with a three-ball run-out, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Cheddar and Frosty battled again in game 3, matching shots around the table right to the finish when Cheddar put the 8 in the bottom side to grab the win and the 2-1 series win. Cheddar advances to a second round series with Solaris.
Hoppy v. Gerben Bovelt. Today's final series pits a third-year league player against an unaffiliated strategist. Gerben quickly got down to his last ball in game 1, but Hoppy was right with him. In a defensive move, Hoppy had a strategic scratch, slowing Gerben down long enough for Hoppy to pick up a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Hoppy made one of each suit on the game 2 break, allowing Gerben to get a jump start on his game. Gerben had a chance for a late run but missed the 8, although Hoppy failed to counterattack quick enough. Gerben escaped with the win two turns later, tying the series at 1. Hoppy started off well in game 3, but the top side gave her problems at the end of the game, allowing Gerben to make three balls over two turns to snatch the win. Gerben took the series 2-1, and will take on his tricky unaffiliated teammate Louvel Lefevre in the second round.
We'll play Elite tomorrow morning before finishing the first round of this competition in the afternoon.
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