It's time to start the competitive portion of the Tournament after a 32-day qualifying session finished two weeks ago. We begin the new year with...
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Wings v. Briana. The silver cue gets first dibs on action, playing 7-ball. Central's Wings took no time to pull ahead in the series, ending the season's first game on the break as the 7 drifted to the bottom left. He leads 1-0. The Warriors' Wings had more difficulty in game 2, making an early three-ball run but just getting by Queens' Briana at the end after both players missed the 7 twice. Wings secured the series at 2-0 with the win. Briana didn't allow herself to be the first sweep victim, as the Flames' sophomore shot a five-ball run-out to nab the win. Wings heads to the second round with a 2-1 series win; the Viewpoint Sound Meteors newcomer Frosty awaits him there.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Hoppy. The first club rivalry match goes in this 10-ball series with the silver cue. Archtown's newcomer Hoppy looked at ease even as a visitor, putting down short runs all over to defeat Pearl's Watermelon for the early 1-0 series lead. Hoppy was strong again for the Arrows in game 2, a little less dominant until she spun the cue off the 6 to pot the 10 at the top right on a stunner. Hoppy took the series at 2-0 over the Surfers' Watermelon. In game 3, Watermelon made a five-ball run-out, ending with a 5-10 combination to the top right, after Hoppy came up empty on the first shot after the break. Hoppy did win the series 2-1 to earn a second round meeting with Charli of the Tysini Hummingbirds.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Hannah. The silver cue continues its opening run with 12-ball. Southern's Pounce stayed a step ahead of Queens' Hannah in game 1, defending the bottom side well until Hannah sank Pounce's last ball by herself. Pounce is up 1-0 in the series. The Flames' Hannah weathered an early attack from the Monarchs' Pounce, who was out of position in game 2 after his scratch. Hannah then found a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Hannah positioned herself well in game 3, taking a page from Pounce's notebook at the top side. Pounce, desperate to make a play late, sank Hannah's last ball, which gave Hannah a 2-1 series win. Hannah will oppose the Central Warriors' Twilight in the second round.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Roxy. The Flames finally get a home appearance in 9-ball, still with the silver cue. Queens' Violetta started with a three-ball run and ended game 1 as a winner, capping a four-ball run-out by double-potting the 6 to the top side and the 9 to the bottom right to take the 1-0 series lead over Freedom's Roxy. The Flames' Violetta didn't show as well early in game 2, allowing the Cascades' Roxy to make a four-ball run, but Roxy never supplemented the effort. Violetta charged late for the win, putting the 9 in the bottom side to clinch the series at 2-0. Violetta had a good counterattack in game 3 after Roxy started well, but the sweep didn't come to pass as Roxy managed to nab the 9 for a win. Violetta advances on a 2-1 series win, setting her up to face Avril of the Web City Spiders in round two.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Hoppy. The first repeat player features in this 9-ball series with the silver cue. Freedom's Nikolai ripped an eight-ball run from the break in game 1, only to miss the 9. Archtown's Hoppy poached it for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Hoppy didn't make a ball on the game 2 break, but she matched and repelled most of the attacks from the Cascades' Nikolai. Hoppy then found a three-ball run-out to pick up the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Hoppy had two scratches in game 3, after having potted a combined three balls. Nikolai used the latter scratch to spark a three-ball run-out for the win, cutting his series loss to 2-1. Hoppy will head to the second round against the Terrace City Knights' Oreo.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Dusky v. Shawn. The red cue debuts this year in Accuracy. Archtown's Dusky held up well in game 1 until the end, when two straight misses ruined her effort. Midland's Shawn kept it clean for the 1-2 win, good for a 1-0 series lead. Shawn made a ball on the break in game 2, but the Predators' captain was pushed around late in the game, as the Arrows' Dusky commanded shots at that stage. Dusky then made a tough shot to the top side to seal up a 1-3 win, which tied the series at 1. Shawn had an early mistake in game 3, but Dusky dropped into a tie after having made three balls on the break. Shawn's overtime break would be his downfall, as Dusky potted an easy shot to win 1-2 for the 2-1 series victory. Dusky is set to face Goatee of the Westside Rockers in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Citrus. Former club-mates play 13-ball with the blue cue in the event's first official appearance in Tournament play. Todavía's Sierra made a pair on the break and a crafty three-ball run after that, never looking back in a thorough win over Lighton's Citrus in game 1. The Stills' Sierra started well again in game 2, but she ran out of steam, allowing the Prestige's Citrus to attack from there. Citrus used positive strategy to get ahead, adding three balls over her last two turns to take the victory and tie the series at 1. Citrus started well in game 3, facing plenty of challenges from Sierra but ultimately getting better positioning at the end to earn the win. Citrus took the series 2-1, and will face Southern Monarchs captain Panda in round two.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Jake. The blue cue remains in action for a 9-ball series. Southern's Panda kicked off game 1 with a four-ball run, only for Royal's Jake to answer on a five-ball run-out, using his shot on the 7 to set up the 9 at tap-in range. Jake gladly took the 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake tried a counterattacking style again in game 2, but he missed a short shot on the 9 after getting in good positioning. The Monarchs' Panda would not fail, jamming the 9 to the bottom right to make his earlier four-ball run meaningful as he tied the series at 1. Jake had virtually no offense in game 3, allowing Panda to dictate the pace. The 8 game both players trouble, but Panda eventually made it and a hard bank on the 9 to the bottom left for the win. Panda took the series 2-1, and his second-round foe will be the Maplewood Lumberjacks captain Diddley.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sarah v. Rosalina. The first career debut occurs in Accuracy with the blue cue. Tysini's Sarah made a ball on the game 1 break, but the rookie faded later on, and Whitewater's Rosalina didn't let off at all. Rosalina won 2-4, good for a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Rosalina couldn't replicate the steady effort in game 2, allowing the Hummingbirds' Sarah to rally from behind twice to earn the 3-5 win. Sarah's victory tied the series at 1. Sarah showed no fear in game 3, missing only once late after the result was in her hands. Rosalina's lack of a chance to push back allowed Sarah to win game 1-3 and the series 2-1, setting her up to meet the Stonebridge Wolves' Vladimir in the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Blizzard v. Taylor M. Another rookie debuts, playing Rotation with the blue cue. Harrison's Blizzard struck on the break, but Eastside's Taylor M. made a pair of three-ball runs to pace her offense in the 8-2 win that put the rookie ahead 1-0 in the series. The Sharks' Taylor M. highlighted an 8-3 win in game 2 with a double-pot of the 6 to the top right and the 10 to the bottom side. The Specters' Blizzard never recovered from that moment, ultimately losing the series at 2-0 with a game to go. Taylor M. started well in game 3, but Blizzard finally made a stand and won 8-4, using a double-pot to pull ahead. Taylor M. took the series 2-1, and will face Vincent of the Tysini Hummingbirds in the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Prism. Coastal rivals clash with the red cue in 9-ball. Pacific's Ms. Kitty went empty on the game 1 break, but rallied with a five-ball run-out that ended with a double-pot of the 5-9 combination to the bottom right and the 5 drifting in the top right. Ms. Kitty holds a 1-0 series lead over Todavía's Prism. In game 2, the Stills' Prism had a three-ball run end in a scratch on her only turn, which the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty countered with a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand. Ms. Kitty secured the series at 2-0 with the win. Ms. Kitty had the better of play in a sloppier game 3 effort as well, as Prism never really got a hand on the offense in the throwaway game. Ms. Kitty swept the series 3-0 after a three-ball run-out, earning her a spot against Katharine of the Whitewater Shores in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Prism v. Ice Cream. The host is right back at it, bringing the red cue home for 7-ball. Todavía's Prism had a slow start, but Boston's Ice Cream didn't capitalize on it, and Prism eventually broke out with a seven-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Ice Cream looked better in game 2, but after a three-ball run, she missed the 7 twice, scratching on the second attempt. The Stills' Prism took it from ball-in-hand, clinching the series at 2-0 with this win. Prism made three balls on the break and added a later pair, but Ice Cream took the 7 when Prism couldn't pot it. This made it a 2-1 series win for Prism, who goes on to meet Smudge, the Infinity Torpedoes' captain, in round two.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Twinkie III v. Andrew. The blue cue is back for 13-ball between a veteran and a rookie making his debut. Whitewater's Twinkie III made one of each suit on the game 1 break, choosing stripes. It worked, as Central's Andrew couldn't get going with solids. Twinkie III won on a three-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Andrew pulled back in game 2, managing to hold off the Shores' Twinkie III at the end just long enough to bank the 8 to the bottom left for the win. This tied the series at 1 game apiece. Twinkie III laid in wait in game 3, inviting Andrew to attack a challenging distribution himself. Twinkie III then wove around for a six-ball run before potting the 8 on the next turn for the win to take the series 2-1. Twinkie III will take on a club-mate in the Victoria Spurs' Strawberry in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Citrus v. Bandit. Two hotshot players meet in the day's final series, using the blue cue in Accuracy. Neither player dominated in game 1, and it was Lighton's Citrus who scratched on the final ball to force overtime. Swordpoint's Bandit went empty on the overtime break, and Citrus sealed the game at 5-6 for an ugly 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went in a completely different direction, as only a mid-game miss by the Prestige's Citrus marred the play. The Blades' Bandit pulled off a perfect performance in a 0-1 win, tying the series at 1. Bandit's strong play didn't last long, as he fell apart in game 3, while Citrus did well enough to scoop up a 2-4 win to take the series 2-1. Citrus will face Gal of the North Modernistic Nighthawks in round two.
Tournament play is just starting. We'll follow Select action again tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment