We're back with more second round action, beginning with...
Valencia v. Curtis Caldwell. A talented league veteran takes on a tough unaffiliated player with the blue cue. Valencia and Curtis both struggled early in game 1, but after bad shots from Valencia, Curtis found his way to win on a big six-ball run-out. Curtis leads the series 1-0. Curtis had the early offense in a much cleaner game 2, but Valencia charged back with five balls over her last three turns to get the win on a fierce attack. Valencia's win tied the series at 1. Valencia had the first ball down in game 3, but her bad positioning caught her behind later, as Curtis' four-ball run helped him get close before he eventually potted the 8 at the bottom right. Curtis won the series 2-1, and he will face Precious in the third round.
Cisco Solorio v. Noppadon Gruemor. A strategist meets a powerful player as two unaffiliated players use the silver cue. Cisco made one of each suit on the game 1 break, and despite a scratch late in the game, he was faster to pot his suit than Noppadon. Cisco had an easy shot on the 8 for the win, taking a 1-0 series lead. Cisco had an early four-ball run stalled by an illegally potted ball in game 2, which proved to be the unraveling of his offense. Noppadon took over on a deep run of his own, and then Noppadon buried the 8 to the top right when Cisco missed on the 11 at the bottom left. Noppadon has tied the series at 1. Cisco had a chance after Noppadon's first try at the 8 left him lined up, but Cisco scratched while trying for the 8. Noppadon recovered in time to get the win, taking the series 2-1 to get to the third round against Mams.
Panda v. Nightfur. Two captains in the league play the red cue's first series of the day. Panda struck first and managed to stay ahead in a quick game 1 battle, helped by Nightfur's scratch as she tried to get positioning. Panda put the 8 in the bottom right on his second try for the win and 1-0 series lead. Panda struck first in game 2, but it was a long-gone memory by the end, where he had to battle for positioning with Nightfur at multiple pockets. Thanks to a couple of scratches, Nightfur was set too far back to catch Panda on his last push, and Panda won to clinch the series at 2-0. Panda took some risks late in game 3, illegally potting a ball in hopes Nightfur would miss on the 8. Nightfur obliged, rather begrudgingly missing at the top left, and Panda made a pair of shots at the end for the win to get the 3-0 sweep.
Lexi v. Watermelon. A fiendish league veteran takes on a captain with the blue cue. Lexi cracked a good start off the break in game 1, and her second turn got her close to a finish. Watermelon had a defensive posture, but Lexi broke it down with a bank on the 10 to the bottom side, and she won with the 8 at the top right on the next shot for the 1-0 series lead. Lexi had another good start in game 2, but Watermelon did much better to keep up with her this time. Both players needed a side pocket at the end, with Lexi achieving that faster, before Watermelon whiffed on the 8 to give Lexi the win anyway. Lexi took the series at 2-0. Watermelon appeared to have a lead in game 3, but a late scratch and some defense allowed Lexi to pull ahead and eventually win the game. Lexi took the series in a 3-0 sweep, giving her the chance to oppose Snuggle in the third round.
Mr. Snowman v. Patrido Salazar. A league veteran meets a hard-hitting unaffiliated player with the silver cue. Mr. Snowman had no trouble at the start of game 1, and used brute force to break Patrido's defense later in the game. Patrido had no chance with his positioning, and Mr. Snowman took an easy win for the 1-0 series lead. Patrido had the lead in much of game 2, but his attempt to get positioning on his last solid led to the 8 falling prematurely. Mr. Snowman gladly accepted the drama-draining win to clinch the series at 2-0. Patrido again jumped out to a significant lead in game 3, and with the series already decided, Mr. Snowman didn't do anything to stop him. In fact, Mr. Snowman accelerated Patrido's push to the win, settling for a 2-1 series win for himself. Irsyad Sudjana awaits Mr. Snowman in the third round.
Sage v. Ms. Kitty. Two older league players battle with the red cue to finish the second cycle. Neither player had a firm grip on game 1 until Sage made a final push with the solids. Ms. Kitty didn't have time to answer it, and Sage held for the win and 1-0 series lead. Sage took a cautious approach in game 2, spending most of her time setting shots up, while Ms. Kitty felt threatened enough to try all-out attack. Sage had to come from behind, but a four-ball run helped with that as she pulled ahead before making a pair of shots for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Sage ripped a five-ball run early in game 3, taking a massive lead. Ms. Kitty tried defense at the bottom left, but Sage broke it and won over her last two turns, sweeping the series 3-0. Sage is in the third round.
Sydney C. v. Twilight. The blue cue is back in action as a league rookie takes on a fearsome captain. Sydney had some chances to attack in game 1, but Twilight proved a bit strong, the recent MVP candidate working around the table fairly quickly for the win and 1-0 series lead. Twilight scratched on the break in game 2 but still struck first, weaving around the table to pot solids quickly. Sydney tried to line up most of her shots first, a failed strategy that Twilight easily defeated to secure the series at 2-0. Twilight had another strong break in game 3, but Sydney executed her attack much faster this time. Sydney won on a four-ball run-out after Twilight got down to her last ball, cutting the series score to 2-1. Twilight heads to the third round against Cyril Hendrickx.
Gabe v. Jake. Two respectable league veterans play with the silver cue. Jake had a quick route to his final ball, while Gabe took a longer time to get there. Both players interfered with the other near the end until Gabe missed contact. Jake made the final pair of shots from ball-in-hand for the win and 1-0 series lead. Jake pummeled a five-ball run right from the break while spotting Gabe a ball. Gabe made a valiant effort to catch up, but Jake patiently positioned himself for the win and took it while Gabe had a ball left. Jake clinched the series at 2-0 in dominating fashion. Jake had another good start in game 3 after Gabe scratched on his first turn. Gabe brought it close at the end, but he had two missed contact turns, and Jake ran away with the win after that. Jake's 3-0 series sweep sets him up to meet Leandro Gamboa in the third round.
Briana v. Mario. Two Queens Flames teammates meet with the red cue in this series. Briana couldn't make much offense early in game 1, but she was the first to break free as the game went on. Mario made it close at the end, but he missed contact, and Briana buried a pair of shots for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. Briana had a stripe on the break in game 2, but she illegally potted another one, and she had trouble after that. Mario still trailed for most of the game until using his defense to springboard onto a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Mario started out well in game 3, but struggled in the middle of the game. He likely would have lost if not for Briana's miss on the 8, which gave him one more chance. Mario converted a pair of shots to take the win, claiming the series at 2-1 and earning a third round spot.
Celestia v. Bianca. A pair of cousins from league play battle with the blue cue to start the fourth cycle. Celestia had a ball on the break and continued to lead for most of game 1. Bianca had her chances but lost positioning late, after Celestia used a strategic scratch. It worked out in the end, as Celestia made the shots she needed for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Celestia again held a lead for much of game 2, but she couldn't stay aligned at the top side when her attack slowed down. Bianca used this to her advantage, making three balls over her last two turns for the win, which tied the series at 1. Bianca started with a pair from the break, and she didn't let up at all in game 3. Celestia had one good push near the end to make it close, but Bianca sent the 8 to the top left for the win and 2-1 series win.
Rana Naqvi v. Shelley. A crafty unaffiliated player takes on an underrated league player with the silver cue. Rana had only defense to his name in game 1, and even that was a bit shaky. Shelley pushed Rana around easily and took her time in collecting the win for a 1-0 series lead. Shelley had a solid break in game 2, but Rana showed up with more strength this time, burying the top pockets first, then using two pairs of shots in his late game push to get the win. Rana's crafty organization tied the series at 1 as Shelley failed to finish her suit. Game 3 seemed like a lightning round, with Rana belting a four-ball run from his second turn, followed by Shelley potting three balls over two turns. Rana would finish it off with a well-executed three-ball run-out, taking the series 2-1 to earn his third round series against fellow unaffiliated player Louvel Lefevre.
Sydney S. v. Cowzart. The red cue rotates in as a pair of league players take their turns. Cowzart struck first in game 1, a critical factor as he was able to get onto the 8 faster than Sydney, who tried her best to kick the 4 to the top side on her last turn but failed. Cowzart tapped the 8 in at the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. Cowzart fell behind in game 2 initially, but most of the offense arrived late, with Cowzart's four-ball run answered by a three-ball run for Sydney. Cowzart took advantage of Sydney's miss and made a pair of shots for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Sydney took more risks in game 3, unconcerned with the ramifications. Cowzart made a push at the end, but Sydney's any-means-necessary approach earned her a win to cut the series to 2-1. Cowzart takes on a Coastal rival in Nibbles in the third round.
Solaris v. Cheddar. An energetic young league player meets a relentlessly vengeful veteran with the blue cue. Solaris got off to a good start and didn't take long to get onto the 8 in game 1. Cheddar roared back with a three-ball run to make it close, but she jammed the 8 and Solaris made it on a kick for the win and 1-0 series lead. Solaris made two balls on the break as part of an initial three-ball run in game 2. Cheddar would make a later push, but she came up short as her bottom side shot refused to fall. Solaris took the 8 at the bottom right for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Solaris kept things close all game despite Cheddar's aggressive attacks on offense. Cheddar had to use positioning near the end, but it worked when Solaris rattled the 8 out of the top left. Cheddar made the last two shots for the win, but Solaris takes the series 2-1 and will meet Whiskers in the third round.
Gwandoya Makeba v. Niki. A powerful unaffiliated player meets a careful league player in the silver cue's last series today. Gwandoya had the better of play in game 1, but he also lacked positioning, getting bailed out by Niki illegally potting the 8 early. Gwandoya holds a 1-0 series lead thanks to that gift. Niki played a more cautious effort in game 2, and it worked out. Gwandoya had a difficult time lining up his final shot, giving Niki time to pick her shots and earn the win. Niki's victory tied the series at 1. Niki had nothing from her break, while Gwandoya smashed a five-ball run in on the first turn. Gwandoya had plenty of time to put his last solid in the top left before burying the 8, and Niki did hardly a thing to stop him. Gwandoya continues to the third round against Panda.
Klaus v. Wild Thing. Regional rivals play in the red cue's final series of the day after a break. Klaus had a decent break in game 1, but Wild Thing showed incredible control and patience on his turns. Wild Thing was rewarded with a three-ball run-out to grab the win for a 1-0 series lead. Wild Thing made two solids on the break and forced a rally at the end of game 2, only for Klaus' sloppy finishing skills to be rewarded with a tap-in on the 8 at the bottom side. Klaus had struggled earlier but still took the win, tying the series at 1. Wild Thing had to outplay Klaus at the end of game 3, and he wasn't able to do that. Klaus fired off a three-ball run-out in the battle at the end, taking the win and a 2-1 series win to earn his third round bid against unaffiliated legend Rodas Cazares.
Citrus v. Spencer Howard. A league veteran takes on a strongman from the unaffiliated pool in the final series of the day, using the blue cue. Citrus was faster on offense in game 1, striking on the break and adding plenty more after that. Spencer couldn't get in position fast enough to prevent Citrus from winning for the 1-0 series lead. Citrus struck on the break again in game 2, but Spencer provided far more resistance this time, getting down to his final ball before Citrus could bury the 8 for the win. Citrus clinched the series at 2-0. Citrus had some good moments in game 3, but Spencer finally had his breakthrough at the end for a win to leave Citrus with a 2-1 series win. Citrus faces Slinks in the third round.
We'll finish UPCL Premier Week 4 and the second round of this preseason competition tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment