The first round of the preseason competition finishes today. First up...
Watermelon v. Gilbert Berry. A league co-captain meets a top-tier strategist with the blue cue in today's first series. Game 1 went very quickly, as Gilbert potted the 8 illegally on his first shot to give Watermelon the easiest win in the competition. Watermelon owns a 1-0 series lead. Watermelon actually had to earn the win in game 2, but she had no trouble with that, weathering an early attack from Gilbert that went unsupported. Watermelon rallied on a four-ball run-out at the end for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Watermelon and Gilbert exchanged a couple of runs in a much cleaner game 3 effort, with Watermelon pulling away at the end on a pair of shots. Watermelon swept the series 3-0, and will face Lexi in the second round.
Wings v. Zdenko Jansky. A strong veteran takes on an enigmatic unaffiliated player with the silver cue. Zdenko got a jump with a couple of good turns early on, allowing him to play patient defense at the bottom right. Wings fell into the trap of making one of Zdenko's balls for him, and he potted a pair at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead. Wings had a better shape in game 2, playing defense at the left corners for much of the game, but Zdenko broke through that at the end, rallying with a three-ball run-out to take the win for a 2-0 series lead. Wings weathered a long attack of Zdenko's early in game 3, which was all the offense he could muster. Wings then rallied from behind, emerging with the win after multiple missed contact plays from Zdenko. The series went 2-1 in Zdenko's favor, setting him up to face Dani in the second round.
Dewey v. Bells. A third-year faces a veteran as league players clash with the red cue. Dewey had the first burst of offense in game 1, but he was stymied by Bells' defense at the top left. Bells held the defense until a three-ball run-out gave her the win for a 1-0 series lead in comeback fashion. Bells had a rough start again in game 2, and her defense proved to be misplaced at the top left, as Dewey worked around it with ease. Dewey would only need a couple turns after Bells' three-ball run to get the win on a cut to the top left. Dewey's win tied the series at 1. Dewey did his part defensively in game 3, forcing Bells to ignore the side pockets until she absolutely had to shoot at them. By then, it was too late for her to work on positioning, and Dewey played smart en route to this win that gave him the series at 2-1.
Sander Verheyen v. Eustacio Zarraga. A hard hitter meets an efficient shooter as unaffiliated players use the blue cue. Sander tried to avoid the 8 near the top right for as long as possible, but Eustacio left him no choice. Sander took a risk and lost when the 8 fell instead of the 1, gifting Eustacio a win he likely would have taken on the next turn for a 1-0 series lead. Sander had the lead for much of game 2, but he couldn't get in a good position for his last two balls, allowing Eustacio to slowly rally back for the win. Eustacio took the 8 at the bottom right after the long comeback, clinching the series at 2-0. Sander finally outdid Eustacio in game 3, getting the first burst of offense and following it up nicely at the end of the game to take the win. Eustacio still won the series 2-1 to earn his spot against another Belgian, Florent Claes, in the second round.
Gabe v. Acorn. The silver cue sees two league originals go at it in the next series. Acorn had better positioning for much of game 1, but Gabe played just enough defense at the end and then made three balls over two turns after Acorn missed his chance on the 8. Gabe took the win and a 1-0 series lead. Gabe supplied an unexpected attack with a five-ball run from the break in game 2, which Acorn had virtually no response for. Gabe had time to be patient, but still picked up the win quickly at the end, securing the series at 2-0. Gabe didn't make the smartest decision from a kitchen shot after Acorn scratched in game 3. He tried a bank of the 1 across the table, but the deflection sank the 8 to gift Acorn the win. Gabe will settle for a 2-1 series win that pits him against Jake in the second round.
Stealth v. Brownie. Another pair of league veterans square up with the red cue to complete cycle two. Stealth had a fantastic break in game 1, making one of each and choosing solids. It worked out, as Brownie's additional effort for positioning bought Stealth the time to pick up the win for a 1-0 lead in the series. Stealth had another productive break in game 2, but he was out of position on a lot of his shots for most of the game. Brownie quietly picked up a three-ball run to get onto her last ball, and then won from ball-in-hand after Stealth missed contact. Brownie's win tied the series at 1. Brownie did well to break in game 3, leading to a close game that came right down to the finish. Brownie can blame having to illegally pot a ball for her loss, as Stealth took over from that point to earn the win and a 2-1 series win. Stealth is set to face Chris in the second round.
Blizzard v. Bandit. The blue cue begins the third cycle as another pair of league players meet. Neither player looked interested in winning at the end of a close game 1, but Bandit finally poked the 8 to the bottom left to take a 1-0 series lead over Blizzard after a slow finish. Blizzard attacked in a much more frenzied manner in game 2, using an error by Bandit to spark a six-ball run-out from ball-in-hand. The expertly crafted finishing run gave Blizzard a win of her own to tie the series at 1. Bandit had a good start in game 3, working himself up to a nice lead, but Blizzard had good positioning and capitalized on Bandit committing another error. Blizzard used ball-in-hand to find a five-ball run-out this time, cashing in for the win and a 2-1 series win. Blizzard will match up with Waluigi in the second round.
Crystal v. Oreo. Two very powerful and strong-willed league veterans face off with the silver cue. Crystal and Oreo seemed to have a scattered battle in game 1, but as it went on, it became clear Crystal was better set to get the win. She did just that on a pair of late shots, going up 1-0 in the series. Oreo showed better positioning skills in game 2, but she missed her critical chance on the 5 at the bottom side, and this allowed Crystal to open a counterattack. Crystal had to be patient with the 8, but she got the job done in the end, icing the series at 2-0 in her favor. Oreo again had her chances in a quick start to game 3, but she got jammed with her positioning later, and Crystal blew past her again at the end to get the win, completing a 3-0 series sweep. Crystal will face Shawn in the second round.
Vladimir v. Puff II. The second half of the day begins with this red cue series. Vladimir's good break in game 1 didn't get him very far, as Puff II took the more favorable stripes suit and used it well. She had a steady attack and won with a three-ball run-out at the end, earning a 1-0 series lead. Puff II went around the table a bit faster than Vladimir could in game 2, although they both got down to their final ball near the end of the game. Puff II used better positioning to finish off the solids, and then she sent the 8 to the top left for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Puff II pushed a good break in game 3, but she couldn't quite corral the solids quickly enough to stop Vladimir from running away with the game after some smart shooting on the left side of the table. Vladimir would take the 8 on a pair of shots for the win, ending the series down only 2-1. Puff II goes on to face Dewey in the second round.
Cowzart v. Juno. The league-only series roll on into the fourth cycle, using the blue cue here. Juno had a clever decoy shot on solids in game 1, but a pair of late scratches coupled with a double-pot by Cowzart turned the tides in Cowzart's favor. A few turns later, Cowzart had the win for a 1-0 series lead. Juno took an unusually high amount of caution in lining up her shots in game 2, using the extra time from Cowzart's errors to her advantage. Juno's methodical attack came undone as she ripped a four-ball run-out at the end for the win, tying the series at 1. Cowzart and Juno both had plenty of offense in game 3, with Cowzart's five-ball run offset by shorter attacks from Juno. Cowzart wound up winning after Juno missed contact on a kick attempt twice on her last ball. Cowzart took the series 2-1, and will play Sydney S. in the second round.
Missy v. Haejun Ki. A league veteran takes on an unaffiliated player that's best with executing plans, playing with the silver cue. Haejun found a way to stay just a step ahead of Missy for the entirety of game 1, making his shots well enough to pick up the win while Missy sought positioning on her final ball. Haejun leads the series 1-0. Missy got a better start in game 2, but she had some trouble potting the 6 near the top left, frequently cutting it too thin, and Haejun roared back with defense and then a three-ball run-out to claim the win. Haejun sealed the series at 2-0 with this victory. Haejun started game 3 on a three-ball run, but a later scratch ruined his offense for the game. Missy quietly worked around the table, and after a slick four-ball run on one turn, she made the 8 to the bottom right on the next for the win. Haejun took the series at 2-1, earning his spot in the second round against fellow unaffiliated player Azul Mora.
Sprinkles v. Maxwell Jennings. Another Sharpshooter takes on an unaffiliated player, this time with the red cue. Sprinkles had the edge late in game 1 despite Maxwell's good start, but her positioning play ruined her chance at a win. Maxwell attacked with a three-ball run-out started by banking the 9 to the top side, which helped him take a 1-0 series lead. Sprinkles had the jump on Maxwell in game 2, except she had a ball stuck in the wrong pocket. Maxwell didn't take ball-in-hand when Sprinkles illegally potted that ball, and he almost paid for it, but Sprinkles' miss on the 8 to the top right allowed Maxwell to make the final pair of shots for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Maxwell tried to chase Sprinkles down in game 3 after the latter took a large lead early on. Maxwell came down to his last ball before Sprinkles deposited the 8 in the bottom side for the win. Maxwell will take the series 2-1, and will face Nikolai in the second round.
Midnight v. Mario. A tough league veteran faces a balanced third-year with the blue cue. Midnight had an early five-ball run in game 1, but also a scratch on the next turn to set her back. Mario patiently waited for his chance, then made four balls over his last two turns to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. Midnight again attacked early in game 2, her offense holding up well for awhile. Mario then bounced back with a three-ball run to take the lead, and two turns later he had the 8 down as well, securing the series at 2-0 with another comeback win. Midnight finally did enough on offense to keep Mario back in game 3, an aggressive start on both sides seeing Midnight rise to occasion a bit better. Midnight's win left Mario with a 2-1 series win, setting him up to face his Flames teammate Briana in the second round.
Eric Zaragoza v. Irsyad Sudjana. Two similar unaffiliated players are in the silver cue's last series of the round. Eric trailed Irsyad for much of game 1, but pulled even when both players needed the side pockets. It came down to the bottom side, where Irsyad struck first but scratched while potting the 8 to give Eric the win. Eric leads 1-0 in the series. Eric did most of the attacking in game 2, but two scratches set his offense back. In the end, a bad miss on his last ball allowed Irsyad to make a pair of shots for the win after lingering around for much of the game. Irsyad's clean finish tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw plenty of twists and turns as positioning changed. Eric had the advantage after taking it from Irsyad, but Irsyad took it back at the end, making the 8 on his second try after Eric flubbed a shot to the top left. Irsyad won the series 2-1, and will face another unaffiliated player, Bojing Luo, in the second round.
Strawberry v. Jasmine. The red cue will wrap up its first round between league players after a break. Jasmine had four balls down quickly in game 1, but she couldn't align the other two until much later. Strawberry pulled back to even, then made a pair after Jasmine missed on her last ball, enough for Strawberry to win for the 1-0 series lead. Strawberry went off early in game 2, making a bundle of shots over her first three turns to get onto the 8. Strawberry committed illegal contact, and Jasmine attacked from ball-in-hand, a seven-ball run-out accomplishing her goal of winning. Jasmine's big comeback tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw Jasmine take the early lead before illegally contacting the 8. Strawberry plotted and made a four-ball run from ball-in-hand, and then took the 8 when Jasmine missed on her last ball on the next turn. Strawberry's fiery comeback sealed the series at 2-1, setting her against Spot in the second round.
Chelsea v. Sancho Ramos. The final first round series is with the blue cue between a league veteran and a hard-hitting unaffiliated player. Chelsea started better in game 1, relegating Sancho to an obstructive and defensive style. He held on for a bit, but his defense depleted after a three-ball run and Chelsea chose that moment to strike for the win. Chelsea leads the series at 1-0. Chelsea backed off her pace in game 2, which allowed Sancho to do the majority of the attacking at first. Sancho let Chelsea linger for awhile and he nearly lost because of it, but Chelsea missed on the 8 and Sancho made a pair to take the win, tying the series at 1. Sancho and Chelsea battled for positioning all around the table in game 3, neither really getting an edge until Chelsea put her last ball in the top left. Sancho tried to block her shot on the 8, but Chelsea put it there too, claiming the win for a 2-1 series win. Chelsea will meet Sarah in the second round.
All of the second round matches are set now, and we will play every day except for Tuesday next week, as currently planned.
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