We're back for the second round of the preseason. First up...
Manolito Avalos v. Snuggle. A threatening unaffiliated player takes on a league captain with the silver cue. Manolito made two stripes legally and another double-potted on the game 1 break. Snuggle fired back with a brilliant four-ball run, and he won on the second turn with a well-made three-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. Manolito had a clearer advantage after Snuggle scratched early in game 2. Manolito just needed to convert at the bottom right, but he struggled to do so, giving Snuggle time to pull even before running away with the win on a three-ball run-out. Snuggle's late push secured the series for him at 2-0. Manolito found himself out of position for much of a quick game 3, while Snuggle took stripes early and weaved around the table before winning with a five-ball run-out. Snuggle swept the series 3-0 to be the first player in the third round.
Thabo Chahine v. Shadow. The red cue's first series sees an unaffiliated graybeard take on one of the league's finest. Shadow struck first in game 1 with a nice attack on solids, but he couldn't corral the 7 to the bottom left. Thabo roared back after a slow start, burying a five-ball run-out for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. Shadow found himself just out of position for much of game 2, his best chance at a comeback run ending with a scratch. Thabo took his time to make the 8, but he got the job done for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Thabo couldn't shut things down in game 3, his shots sporadic and inaccurate. Shadow didn't have his best effort either, but he did enough to take the win, cutting the series down to 2-1 at the end.
Martin Badillo v. Sweetheart. An unaffiliated strategist takes on another strong league veteran with the blue cue. Martin made three balls over his first two turns before the weight of game 1 weighed him down a bit. Sweetheart played a lot of defense at the end, but missed contact near the 11 allowed Martin to pot the final two shots from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead with his win. Martin struggled with his shots in game 2, but Sweetheart was wholly unable to pull ahead of him at any point. Martin did enough to put the 8 in the top right on his third try for the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Martin managed to play defense after a stick foul early in game 3, blocking Sweetheart from potting her last ball, but Sweetheart's counterdefense worked well, and Martin illegally potted the 8 via a contact foul to gift Sweetheart a win. Martin took the series at 2-1 to reach the third round.
Nibbles v. Snowball. The first all-league series is with the silver cue between a third-year and a star. Nibbles made a triple on the break in game 1, a fantastic start to the game. Snowball roared back and even got onto the 8 first, but Nibbles did enough defensively to draw illegal contact before he took the 8 for the win from ball-in-hand. Nibbles leads the series at 1-0. Nibbles had a good break in game 2, but went empty and allowed Snowball to have a big opening run. Nibbles did well to get back into the game, but Snowball overcame a late scratch and took the 8 to the bottom right for the win, tying the series at 1. Snowball had good positioning for most of game 3, but she faded at the end with missed shots. Nibbles also dropped off a bit, but not so much, and the difference was him coming from behind to get the win. Nibbles took the series 2-1.
Josie v. Rodas Cazares. A sophomore in the league meets one of the best unaffiliated players with the red cue. Josie did alright from the break, but Rodas had a jump start in game 1 and pulled ahead quickly. Josie caught up on a four-ball run before missing on the 8. Rodas made the last two shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. Rodas had trouble lining shots up in game 2, and he illegally took ball-in-hand late in the game, leading Josie to the win two turns later after she kept a level head throughout. Josie's win tied the series at 1. Josie and Rodas each had great starts in game 3, but it came down to the bottom left, where Josie made a defensive play to block Rodas on the 8, but Rodas got around it and won anyway. Rodas took the series 2-1, a thrilling play sending him to the third round.
Smokey v. Dobromil Zeman. A strong league veterans takes on an unaffiliated trickster with the blue cue. Smokey had a tough time getting his offense going at first, but Dobromil floundered for much of the game as well. Smokey had to hold off Dobromil's last run at the end by putting the 8 in the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. Dobromil jumped out to a lead at one point in a fast-moving game 2, but Smokey backed up his pair of stripes on the break with a four-ball run-out at the end, grabbing the win to secure the series at 2-0. Dobromil had the lead for almost all of game 3, but when he removed Smokey's defense, Smokey did enough to pull away for the win on a pair of shots. Smokey swept the series 3-0, heading to the third round with confidence.
Natal Badillo v. Lucila Zavala. A tactician meets a strongman as unaffiliated players clash with the silver cue. Natal struck first on the second turn of game 1, and he easily navigated the rack from there, while Lucila had few shots go his way. Natal's smart play ended with a pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. Lucila had the better play in game 2, as Natal struggled from the break and caught himself out of position near the end of the game. Lucila converted five shots over his last three turns, the result of careful set-up play earlier that helped him earn the win to tie the series at 1. Natal wasted no time in game 3 in earning the win, answering Lucila's opening three-ball run with a seven-ball run-out. Natal's lightning in a bottle gave him a 2-1 series win to get to the third round.
Spice v. Vincent. The red cue cycles back into action for these two league players. Spice took no time to claim stripes in game 1, and then both players went into construction mode. Vincent had to break Spice's defense to have a chance, but Spice banked the 8 to the top side on the next turn, taking the win for a 1-0 series lead. Spice got off to a hot start in game 2, and then slowed down as she attacked the sides. Vincent followed the same pattern but a few turns back, and he came a ball short of getting onto the 8 before Spice buried it for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Spice didn't have the same attacking prowess in game 3, allowing Vincent much more possession. Vincent used it well, collecting his shots calmly to take the win. Spice advances to the third round with a 2-1 series win.
Cyril Hendrickx v. Diddley. After defeating the youngest brother, a league veteran goes for the eldest Hendrickx with the blue cue. Cyril had the better of play in game 1, with most of the bounces favoring him over Diddley. Cyril's good fortunes extended to the finish as he made the 8 on his second try after nearly letting Diddley back in the game. Cyril leads the series 1-0. Cyril was stunned to see Diddley bury four balls over his first two turns of game 2. Cyril tried to rally from behind, but had to make a defensive play that didn't hold up. Diddley ended two turns later on a crafty pair of shots to get the win, tying the series at 1. Diddley quickly got down to his final ball in game 3, but he couldn't align it with the top right. Cyril stormed back on a three-ball run to get onto the 8 before burying the winning shot on the next turn. Cyril avenged his brother in a 2-1 series win to get to the third round.
Irsyad Sudjana v. Bojing Luo. A crafty tactician meets a sneaky opponent with the silver cue. Bojing quickly had four balls down in game 1, but his ability to strike the left corners was much less. Irsyad patiently waited for his chance to strike with a five-ball run-out at the end, making it count for a win with a 1-0 series lead when he did make his move. Irsyad didn't need a comeback in game 2, leading it wire-to-wire as Bojing struggled for positioning at nearly every pocket. Irsyad was slow to finish the win, but he eventually tapped the 8 to the top right to seal the series at 2-0. Irsyad seemed to fade as game 3 progressed, losing his touch later in the game. Bojing had to be patient in his shooting, eventually finding his way onto the 8 to take the win. Irsyad took the series 2-1, sending him to the third round.
Pepillo Gamboa v. Slinks. An unheralded unaffiliated player meets a dangerous veteran with the red cue. Pepillo simply didn't have much in the way of offense in game 1, allowing Slinks to slowly build her way to a win. Slinks took her time and only scratched once, earning a 1-0 series lead. Pepillo will regret a jittery miss on his first turn of game 2, as it allowed Slinks to claim solids. This proved to be the better suit in a close game, as Slinks and Pepillo were even until Slinks made a pair of shots on her final turn due to better positioning. Slinks clinched the series at 2-0 with this win. Pepillo ran free in game 3, with Slinks doing what she could to accelerate the end of the game. Pepillo's best play was a four-ball run, although he had some sloppy turns in the win as well. Pepillo's win gave Slinks a 2-1 series win to take with her to the third round.
Neopolitan v. Chicky Phil. League veterans go at it with the blue cue to complete the fourth cycle. Chicky Phil had lined up a comeback run at all the corners, but a scratch and a missed shot on consecutive turns ruined his game 1 plan. Neopolitan used the extra time to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. Chicky Phil needed more precision on his shots in game 2, but that didn't happen. Chicky Phil chased a couple of balls around the table near the end before Neopolitan lined up and converted three balls over her last two turns for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Neopolitan played a more listless game 3 effort, allowing Chicky Phil to get a big lead before she rallied from behind. Neopolitan got onto her last ball, but it was not in position, and Chicky Phil would grab the win. Neopolitan's 2-1 series win puts her into the third round.
Dewey v. Puff II. After a short break, the silver cue is back in action with these two league players. Puff II didn't have much beyond a four-ball run late in game 1, which ended with her missing the 6 at the bottom left. Dewey came back and made a three-ball run-out from here to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Puff II went after it in game 2 quickly, attacking a bit recklessly. Her scratch unraveled a plan to set her shots up, giving Dewey enough time to defend the bottom right until he was ready to pick up a three-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Puff II had her chances to make a defining run in game 3, but she played it too safe. Dewey made the comeback from here, pounding in a pair of shots eventually to sweep the series 3-0. Dewey is headed to the third round.
Lionel v. Ruby. A powerful league veteran meets one of the most skilled in the league with the red cue. Lionel spotted Ruby a ball early in game 1, but Ruby couldn't do much else, making just one ball from ball-in-hand after Lionel had illegal contact. Lionel had a crafty spinning kick to sink the 10 at the bottom side before putting the 8 in the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. Lionel looked fully prepared to steamroll his way through game 2, but an illegally potted ball slowed him down near the end .Ruby took the lead and then put the 8 in the bottom right a couple of turns later to claim the win, tying the series at 1. Lionel had the lead again in game 3, but his skills fell apart after a late scratch took him off of the 8. Ruby took over, making the last two shots in the game to get the win for a 2-1 series win that sends her into the third round.
Quincy v. Mams. The reigning league MVP takes on a solid veteran in the blue cue's last series of the day. Quincy lost the battle at the side pockets late in game 1, unable to hold off Mams' shots from those positions. Mams took the 8 at the bottom right for the win, earning a 1-0 series lead. Mams had gotten down to her last ball in game 2 when her luck took a turn for the worse. Quincy went on a three-ball run to catch up, and then Mams made one of his balls accidentally. Quincy made a pair of shots on his next turn for the win, tying the series at 1 game apiece. Both players should be ashamed of their game 3 performance, with multiple scratches on each side with two or fewer balls left. Mams prevailed, buckling down at the end to pick up the win for a 2-1 series win that takes her to the third round.
Maxwell Jennings v. Nikolai. The silver cue closes the day with an unaffiliated player against a league strongman. Nikolai struck first in game 1, but he couldn't make it stand against clever defense and positioning by Maxwell, who rallied late for the win and 1-0 series lead. Maxwell tried to hang on in game 2, even as Nikolai got down to his last ball. Maxwell made his last two solids but whiffed on the 8 toward the bottom right, allowing Nikolai to counter with a pair of shots for the win. Nikolai's mixed-bag game was enough to tie the series at 1, setting up a decisive finale. Maxwell was on the edge of winning when he hit the 8 too short to the bottom side. Nikolai's careful assembly of a run was necessary, and he executed the four-ball play to get the win and a 2-1 series win. Nikolai lived on the edge to advance to the third round.
We will resume round two of the competition on Wednesday.
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