The final day of the second round is here, beginning with...
Barasa Contee v. Gradley. A tricky unaffiliated player takes on one of the league's best with the silver cue. Barasa struck first in game 1, and he persisted right to the end of the game, holding off some strong plays by Gradley thanks to good defense. Barasa picked up the win for a 1-0 series lead. Barasa outplayed Gradley on a number of turns in game 2, showing a little more skill in converting his shots. Gradley had to hope for a miss at the end, but Barasa made the final pair of shots for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Barasa had some shots lined up in game 3, but his miss on the 13 at the top right allowed Gradley to fire off a three-ball run-out for the win. Barasa took the series 2-1, and will play in the third round.
Azul Mora v. Haejun Ki. A slick shooter faces a precise player as unaffiliated players meet with the red cue. Azul pulled ahead in game 1 early on, and battled with Haejun during the middle before finding his second burst on a pair of shots at the end. Azul leads the series 1-0 with the clean finish. Both players tried to shake up game 2 a bit, with Azul accidentally potting one of Haejun's balls before Haejun illegally potted the 8 to gift the win and the 2-0 series lead to Azul on the next shot. Azul had to do a bit more work to earn the win in game 3, but after Haejun had a good start, Azul found a five-ball run. Two turns later, Azul capped the victory well at the top right to sweep the series 3-0. Azul will take on Thabo Chahine in the third round.
Kenzo Hashimoto v. Bear. An understated unaffiliated player takes on a struggling league player with the blue cue. Kenzo struck quickly in game 1, and then used unwavering defense at the top right to stall Bear in the late stages. Bear missed enough for Kenzo to take the 8 at the bottom right for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Bear had better positioning from the start in game 2, showing no troubles in burying his shots while Kenzo tried to align himself better. Bear remained a step ahead right to the end, gathering the win to tie the series at 1. Bear started slower in game 3, allowing Kenzo to pick out the corners over his first two turns. Bear ignited his offense with the side pockets first, a critically brilliant decision that helped him get onto the 8 and win before Kenzo could make his last ball. Bear took the series 2-1, and will face Bianca in the third round.
Strawberry v. Spot. A former Trident takes on a current one as the silver cue begins cycle two today. Spot burst ahead in game 1, leaving Strawberry to try to unravel her solids. Strawberry had everything in position, but couldn't ignite the run when Spot finally put the 8 in the top left for the win. Spot took a 1-0 series lead. Spot made a pair on the break, but Strawberry answered with a four-ball run on her first turn of game 2. The 8 played defense at the top right, but neither player budged, and Spot only lost after missing the 8 twice. Strawberry converted from ball-in-hand on her third try after Spot fouled, getting the win to tie the series at 1. Both players took turns controlling the pace of game 3, leading to an even battle. Some late misses kept the momentum swinging until Strawberry deposited the 8 in the top right for the win to earn a 2-1 series win. Strawberry is set to face Barasa Contee in the third round.
Kirstin v. Veto Casas. A league player takes on an average unaffiliated player with the red cue. Kirstin and Veto both did well to line things up, but they lacked in execution multiple times each in game 1. Eventually Kirstin committed an error, allowing Veto to take the ball-in-hand on the 8, slamming it to the bottom left for the 1-0 series lead. Both players demonstrated a bit more intent with their shots in game 2. Kirstin made a brutal attack at the top right to clear up her path to victory, which was a three-ball run-out on the next turn. Kirstin's win over Veto tied the series at 1. Kirstin had very little to enjoy in game 3, as Veto had as much success on her suit as she did. Veto was defended against at the end, but Kirstin illegally bumped the 8 in to gift the win and the series at 2-1 to Veto on the final shot. Veto will play against Sage in the third round.
Strut v. Shiny. Two well-respected league veterans take their turn with the blue cue. Shiny did what she could defensively in a tough game 1, but she chipped her one chance at the 8. Strut potted it at the top left after a long struggle, putting him up 1-0 in the series. Shiny had every chance in the world to make her final ball in game 2, and every one of those chances went to waste. Strut was not immune from rising frustrations, but he channeled his annoyance into a comeback push, making a pair of three-ball runs to get the win that secured the series for him at 2-0. Shiny had the lead from the very start of game 3, and she never looked back. Strut had a chance to challenge Shiny, but he missed a shot and ruined his positioning, and Shiny finished after another error by Strut for the win. Strut still took the series 2-1, and will host Oshri Aharonov in the third round.
Roxy v. Kiwi. Two longtime league players clash with the silver cue as we begin the third cycle. Roxy scratched on the break in game 1 and then missed contact twice near the end, allowing Kiwi to gather momentum at critical times. Kiwi won on a three-ball run-out to go ahead 1-0 in the series. Kiwi started with a three-ball run on the game 2 break, but still ended up playing a lot of defense after Roxy replied on a five-ball run. Roxy had her chances to finish the game, missing the 8 multiple times. Kiwi then made her final ball and the 8 on the same turn to get the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Kiwi started with a three-ball run again in game 3, but this one wouldn't hold up either. Roxy made her push and added an extra element at the end this time to pick up the win, avoiding a sweep. Kiwi settles for a 2-1 series win to get her into the third round match against Mario.
Dani v. Zdenko Jansky. A crafty league veteran meets a similar player from the unaffiliated pool with the red cue. Dani started game 1 well, but couldn't finish the effort after a late scratch. Zdenko had to work around Dani's obstruction tactics, but he eventually put the 8 away in the top side for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Zdenko had an illegal double-pot on his game 2 break, allowing Dani to obtain a significant lead early on. Zdenko scratched his way out of success in the early going, but rallied back and passed Dani at the end with a three-ball run-out, good for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Dani had plenty of chances yet again in game 3, wasting every one of them with frustrations peaking by the end. Zdenko showed precision with harder shots, winning on a three-ball run-out to sweep the series 3-0. Zdenko will play against Spice in the third round.
Crystal v. Shawn. A pair of league captains go at it with the blue cue, trying to snap the day's bad luck. Crystal played with fire for most of game 1, getting burned on a cut that potted the 6 at the bottom side but also the 8 at the top left on her third turn. Shawn received the gifted win to go up 1-0 in the series. Shawn had some good shots in game 2, getting onto the 8 first, but Crystal did just enough defensively to keep herself in it. Crystal's block and Shawn's missed contact on the final turns led Crystal to converting a three-ball run-out for the win, retying the series at 1 game apiece. Crystal used the 8 defensively in game 3, although she came close to potting it prematurely herself. Shawn rallied with a five-ball run abbreviated by a scratch, and then tried a kick near the guarded top right, which ended with him repaying Crystal for her earlier generosity by gifting the win and 2-1 series win to Crystal as the 8 fell. Crystal will go against Caitlin in the third round.
Cubby v. Puff I. More league players get action today, this series with the silver cue. Cubby made one of each on the game 1 break, and then attacked with great force later on, picking up a crafty three-ball run-out despite Puff I's late push. Cubby has a 1-0 series lead. Cubby brought another thorough attack in game 2, and he had the chance to win when he put the 8 in the bottom right, but a little too much gusto on the shot bailed Puff I out after her failings at the top side. The quick game was credited to Puff I, tying the series at 1. Cubby had to rally near the end of game 3 to have any hope of beating Puff I, who used a great start and a patient finish to her favor. Puff I made the 8 to the bottom right when Cubby fouled on his final turn. Puff I took the series 2-1, and she will meet Sarah in the third round.
Sugar v. Cobalt. The league players continue to get the spotlight, with the red cue coming back into action. Sugar started out well in game 1, but she couldn't get set up on her final two shots fast enough. Cobalt countered with a three-ball run-out at the end, capping his slower-starting deep pair of runs with a win. Cobalt has a 1-0 series lead. Sugar came out swinging again in game 2, frustrated by the previous loss. She got onto the 8 with relative ease, and drew an illegal contact by Cobalt to give her an easy finish on the 8. Sugar's smart play tied the series at 1 with her win. Sugar kept the energy up in her game 3 performance, but an attempt on the 15 at the bottom right went all wrong when she bumped the 8 in prematurely. Cobalt will take a gifted win, as he got outplayed on the whole but won the series 2-1 anyway. Cobalt will need to stand on his own in a third round series with the ever-dangerous Lucio Adame.
Boots v. Isabella. A fourth-straight league-only series will be played with the blue cue. Boots went empty on the break, allowing Isabella to impose her will early in game 1. Boots roared back with five balls over two turns to get onto the 8, and while she took her time, she had plenty of it to take in earning the win for a 1-0 series lead. Isabella looked a little lost in game 2, but the occasionally-ditzy youngster rallied with a three-ball run and good positioning to even the game. Unfortunately, she had no plan for her last ball, and Boots made her last pair of shots for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Isabella kept game 3 much closer, but she couldn't quite make her final ball at the bottom right. Boots went right through Isabella's defense, drilling the 8 in on a collateral damage double-pot for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Boots faces the surprisingly tough Martin Badillo in the third round.
Waluigi v. Blizzard. A pair of league players with similar career trajectories meet as the silver cue begins the fifth cycle. Waluigi had an acceptable start in game 1, but a scratch and a missed contact ruined his attack. The latter foul gave Blizzard all she needed to finish her win on a four-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. Blizzard made one of each suit on the game 2 break, but she couldn't quite align her final ball at the bottom side after a quick attack. Waluigi trailed behind and confidently made some shots to pull even before pushing forward for the win at the end. Waluigi's victory tied the series at 1. Blizzard and Waluigi dueled with great patience in game 3, as both needed to unravel the rack first. Blizzard had the first chance at the 8, but missed toward the bottom right, and Waluigi took the win on a pair of shots on his next turn. Waluigi's 2-1 series win sets him up to face Neopolitan.
Eustacio Zarraga v. Florent Claes. Two lesser-known unaffiliated players have the red cue's last series of the day. Eustacio had the better of offense after Florent scratched to surrender his early advantage. By the end, Eustacio was able to force his way to a win, putting the 8 into the top right after clearing out the defense. Eustacio holds a 1-0 series lead. Florent was sharp in the middle of game 2, but his start and finish lacked decisiveness. Eustacio attacked the vulnerability at the end with a five-ball run-out, the late push earning him a win to secure the series at 2-0. Eustacio went streaky in game 3, as Florent had the better of play this time, but Eustacio closed the door on a win with a three-ball run-out after Florent got generous. Eustacio's 3-0 sweep earns him a third round series with Dewey.
Ice Cream v. Jason N. We're back to league players as the blue cue ends its day. Ice Cream had a decent start with a ball on the break, and she saw Jason scratch twice early on in game 1, but she still couldn't convert the 8. Jason played great defense, blocking his way to the win in comeback fashion for the 1-0 series lead. Jason came out swinging in game 2, working his way around the table with a subtle speed. Ice Cream had to execute a big run to have a chance in the end, and she failed to do so, allowing Jason to bank the 8 to the bottom side for the win. Jason clinched the series at 2-0 on the play. Jason nearly came out of nowhere again in game 3 after a rough start, but Ice Cream saved up enough to push her way to the win at the end. Jason's 2-1 series win gets him a series against Smokey in the third round.
Marsell v. Dusky. Two underappreciated league players close out the second round with the silver cue. Both players had an aversion to stripes early on, but Dusky ended up with them and made it work. Dusky navigated poor positioning at first to get ahead and take the win at the end for a 1-0 series lead. Dusky had a much better start in game 2, but she left her finishing skills behind. Marsell used great defense at the top left to stall Dusky on the 8, and then he made a pair of shots at the end for the win, tying the series at 1. Marsell did well at the start of game 3, dominating from the break to pick up the win and a 2-1 series win as Dusky scuffled along. Marsell is the last player to make the third round, and he will face Patches in his next series.
The third round begins tomorrow, played over the course of two days.
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