The first of the two-day third round is here, beginning with...
Twilight v. Cyril Hendrickx. A league star and an unaffiliated star meet to begin the day with the red cue. Twilight made a ball on the break in game 1, but went cold until a late three-ball run. Cyril had more early success and then answered Twilight's run with his well-prepared four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. Cyril started well in game 2, but Twilight put up more resistance this time. Cyril had a chance at the win but he missed the 8, and his three-ball run ended in missed contact. Twilight made her last two shots for the win, tying the quick series at 1. Cyril gave a good battle in game 3, but Twilight knew what she was doing defensively. Twilight removed the defense on a three-ball run left Cyril with poor positioning, and his foul allowed Twilight to take the 8 at the top right from ball-in-hand. Twilight won the series 2-1, earning her spot in the fourth round.
Sarah v. Puff I. A league rookie takes on a respected veteran with the blue cue in today's second series. Sarah struck first in game 1, and then both players bunkered into a positioning battle. Puff I looked set to win on a six-ball run, but she couldn't kick the 8 to the top right. Sarah rallied back with a pair of three-ball runs for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Sarah made a ball on the game 2 break as well, and she attacked with a bit more gusto this time. Puff I had a chance for a run, but she gave herself a tough shooting position and sacrificed set-up work for instant gratification. Sarah slowly bounced back before making three balls over her last two turns for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Puff I was better this time, picking her shots well. Sarah had no positioning either, making it a fairly easy win for Puff I. Sarah took the series 2-1 to get to the fourth round.
Azul Mora v. Thabo Chahine. Under-the-radar unaffiliated players get the silver cue's first action today. Azul couldn't quite get his shots lined up just right in game 1, but he ended up not needing to, as Thabo illegally potted the 8 while trying to bank his last ball in. Azul was gifted the win for a 1-0 series lead. Azul again failed to do much on offense in game 2, but Thabo wouldn't bail him out this time. Thabo had solid shots early on and while he faded at the end, he did enough to pick up a strong win, tying the series at 1. Azul didn't have much success early on, succumbing to Thabo's brilliant tactical play. Thabo just couldn't pot his last ball, and Azul had enough left at the end to find his way to the win, taking the series at 2-1. Azul will head to the fourth round.
Waluigi v. Neopolitan. Two league players not known for success take their chances with the red cue. Neopolitan had her chances in game 1, clearly shooting better than Waluigi until she got onto her final ball. Waluigi had positioning after Neopolitan couldn't kick the 8 to the top left, and Waluigi made a pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. Waluigi again made a ball on the break, and he was down to his last ball very quickly, but he never got in lined up. Neopolitan saw a three-ball run end with a strategic scratch, and this helped her win after Waluigi missed contact on the next shot. Neopolitan's pair of shots at the end tied the series at 1. Neopolitan had a ball on the break, but left the bottom right quite congested. This made it difficult for her to get positioning late in the game, and Waluigi played defense when Neopolitan did get close. Waluigi ended with three tap-ins for the win, taking a 2-1 series win to get into the fourth round.
Marsell v. Patches. The blue cue is back for a rising star in the league facing one of the bona fide superstars. Marsell and Patches had choppy offense in game 1, neither going on a big run. Marsell got onto the 8 first, but he couldn't put it away at the top right, and Patches stormed back with a three-ball run-out to take the win for a 1-0 series lead. Patches had a fantastic game 2 break, but came just short of winning as the 8 hung on the bottom right edge. Both players failed to break the defense, and Patches lost trying to jam the ball out, gifting Marsell a win to tie the series at 1. Patches had two errors in game 3, both of which ruined her chances of a win as Marsell gained attack after the first and won after the second to take the series win at 2-1. Marsell continues his march into the fourth round.
Mr. Snowman v. Irsyad Sudjana. The silver cue puts a league veteran against a crafty unaffiliated player. Mr. Snowman nearly blew his lead in game 1 after a missed contact, but he pulled back with a cut on the 1 to the bottom left and a tap-in on the 8 that Irsyad had failed to convert on the previous turn. Mr. Snowman holds a 1-0 series lead. Mr. Snowman began with a five-ball run in game 2, but he spent the rest of the game trying to get in position on his final ball. Irsyad took his time to rally back, but he eventually got by Mr. Snowman and took the 8 on a tap-in at the top side for the win, tying the series at 1. Mr. Snowman again attacked early in game 3, although a scratch slowed him down. Mr. Snowman missed multiple cuts on the 8, and then scratched, setting Irsyad's four-ball run-out up in the process. Irsyad took the win and a 2-1 series win, continuing his campaign into the fourth round against Waluigi.
Dewey v. Eustacio Zarraga. Another league player takes on a tactically-inclined unaffiliated player, this time with the red cue. Dewey made two stripes and a solid on the game 1 break, but stripes proved to be a tougher suit. Eustacio scratched twice and still worked his way through the rack faster than Dewey, earning the win at the end for a 1-0 series lead. Eustacio had an empty break in game 2, but Dewey made it work out well for him. Dewey attacked with a big run early on and quickly got positioning on all of his shots, winning four turns in to tie the series at 1. Dewey employed a highly unusual strategy in game 3, making three balls for Eustacio while quickly navigating his own suit. Eustacio seemed flustered instead of pleased, as most of his positioning options were taken away, and Dewey made quick work of Eustacio at the end for an odd but encouraging win. Dewey's 2-1 series win gives him a fourth round series against Marsell.
Lucio Adame v. Cobalt. The blue cue rotates in for a vicious unaffiliated player against a tough league player. Lucio began with a three-ball run in game 1, and he never looked back. Cobalt had his chances, but removing his defense at the top left proved critical, as Lucio used that pocket to deposit his last ball before making the 8 a couple of turns later. Lucio owns a 1-0 series lead. Lucio scratched on the break in game 2, an unfortunate occurrence that set him back for the whole game. Cobalt didn't have much of an advantage to work with, but he held on to the end to get the win, his clean shooting tying the series at 1. Lucio took advantage of Cobalt's empty break in game 3, attacking quickly early on with a five-ball run. Cobalt held his defense at the bottom right for a long time, but Lucio got behind it and picked up the win on his last pair of shots. Lucio took the series 2-1, advancing to the fourth round.
Crystal v. Caitlin. The silver cue sees a feisty captain take on a deceptive league veteran. Crystal started with a three-ball run in game 1, and then used smart shooting to get onto her last ball. Caitlin had to use defense, and it still didn't work, as Crystal set up and made two shots at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead. Crystal made two solids and a stripe on the game 2 break, but she scratched two shots later to mitigate her advantage. Caitlin got ahead of Crystal at the end, only to pot the 8 a ball too early, gifting the win and the series at 2-0 to Crystal due to the unlucky blunder. Crystal again displayed her powerful break in game 3, but her offense went cold after that. Caitlin instead rallied with a five-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to take the win, cutting the series down to 2-1 at the end. Crystal will take a fourth round appearance.
Gwandoya Makeba v. Panda. A powerful unaffiliated player takes on a longtime league captain with the red cue. Gwandoya made two solids and a stripe on the game 1 break, but it was him making two other stripes to the same pocket after choosing solids that changed the game. Panda took advantage of the generosity, closing with a surprise four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. Gwandoya skipped the charity in game 2, attacking solely on his stripes. Panda tried to make moves with his solids, but Gwandoya blocked him multiple times at the mutually needed top side before converting the 13 as part of a final pair of shots. Gwandoya's win tied the series at 1. Gwandoya had nothing on the break, allowing Panda to choose from two good distributions. Panda chose stripes for a four-ball run immediately, and he set up at the top side to end the run. Gwandoya fired back with a five-ball run and collateral damage, but Panda made his top side shot and then the 8 at the bottom right for the win and 2-1 series win. Panda is in the fourth round.
Jennifer v. Gal. Urban rivals in the league square off with the blue cue in the middle of the fourth cycle. Both players did well in game 1, but Jennifer didn't have an answer for the late defense Gal imposed through positioning. Jennifer eventually missed contact, and Gal made the final pair of shots to go ahead 1-0 in the series with her win. Gal started slower in game 2, but caught up as Jennifer fought with the finicky side pockets, only to scratch while making the 8 in the bottom right. Gal's blunder gifted the win to Jennifer, keeping the series up for grabs in a 1-1 tie. Jennifer didn't support her fortunate win at all, making as many balls as she had scratches in game 3. Gal dominated with an early set of runs, and she soon cut the 8 from the kitchen to the top right for the win and 2-1 series win. Gal goes against Azul Mora in the fourth round.
Ruby v. Stealth. The silver cue is here as two league originals go at it in this series. Both players had some inconsistency in their shooting in game 1, but Stealth's was more pronounced. Stealth couldn't pot his last ball, and Ruby went around him with a three-ball run-out for the win and a 1-0 series lead. Stealth had a chance to win game 2, as Ruby was way out of position, but Stealth continually missed on the 8. Ruby eventually had her chance on a four-ball run-out she converted for an epic comeback to seal the series at 2-0. Stealth elected to take solids after Ruby's empty break, given a cluster at the bottom right. Ruby didn't seem bothered, taking only a few turns to gain the lead and then a couple more after that for the win when Stealth lost control of his offense. Ruby swept the series 3-0 to earn her spot in the fourth round.
Smokey v. Jason N. A league veterans takes on a sophomore with the red cue to begin the fifth cycle. Smokey started with a five-ball run cut short by a scratch in game 1. Jason pulled back a bit with some crafty shooting, but Smokey used a three-ball run-out at the end to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. Smokey ripped another four-ball run from the break in game 2, his early offense second to none in this round. Jason again made a push-back at the end, but Smokey shut the door with a couple of shots to clinch the series at 2-0. Smokey scratched on the break in game 3, and had to rally from behind after Jason got down to his last ball quickly. Smokey found his way at the end when Jason couldn't corral that last ball. Smokey made a pair on the final turn for the win and the 3-0 series sweep that puts him in the fourth round.
Sage v. Veto Casas. An unusual sophomore meets a surprising unaffiliated strategist in the blue cue's last series today. Sage and Veto combined for an interesting game 1 that saw them stay close while making each other's shot at the bottom side. This gave Veto a clearer path to his eventual win after Sage couldn't convert. Veto leads the series 1-0. Veto didn't have nearly as much offense after his empty break in game 2. Sage didn't start all that strong either, but she had enough left at the end to take the win over Veto, tying the series at 1. Sage began with a three-ball run in game 3, and then held off a furious comeback three-ball run by Veto at the end, tapping the 8 in to secure her win. Sage claimed the series at 2-1, advancing to the fourth round.
Lexi v. Snuggle. The silver cue closes its day as a league villain takes on a respected captain. Lexi had a good start in game 1, but her win came about more by Snuggle getting overwhelmed by how bad his positioning was on the table. Lexi needed a few tries to get the 8 at the top right, but she converted with plenty of time for the win and a 1-0 lead in the series. Snuggle again made a lot of bad shots, including at least two mindless illegally potted ball plays late in the game. Lexi already had the lead and took the generosity well, finishing off a blowout win to seal the series at 2-0. Lexi struggled a bit with her accuracy in game 3, and while Snuggle missed plenty of shots too, he was a little sharper at the end to get the win. Lexi still took the series 2-1, earning a fourth round series with a similar player in Lucio Adame.
Bear v. Bianca. The red cue ends this day with a series between league players going in different directions. Bear struck first on the break in game 1, and he was better than Bianca at positioning as the game went on as well. Bear took the win with a four-ball run-out, putting him up 1-0 in the series. Bear made a ball on the break again in game 2, but it took until the end of the game for him to look confident. Bianca had gotten down onto the 8, but she missed a bank attempt to the top right. Bear fired off a three-ball run-out to earn the win, securing the series at 2-0. Bear spent most of game 3 behind, and just as he caught up, he illegally potted the 8 to gift a win to Bianca. Bear will settle for a 2-1 series win to get him into the fourth round.
We'll finish the third round tomorrow.
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