We're back with Friday pool action, beginning with...
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Wings. A pair of veterans kick off today's games with Accuracy using the blue cue. Southern's Pounce scratched on the break in game 1, which was the only mistake that Central's Wings needed to see to grab control. Wings won by a 0-3 score, the perfect game putting him ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 came down to the wire, but the Warriors' Wings was just a bit short on skill, and the Monarchs' Pounce was able to convert a shot to win 1-2. This tied the series at 1. Pounce trailed for most of game 3, but did enough defense to cause Wings to drop into a tie at the end of regulation. Wings then scratched on the overtime break, and Pounce walked away with a 2-3 win to take the series at 2-1. Pounce is set to move to the second round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Kiwi v. Sydney S. The blue cue remains in action in this 10-ball series. Game 1 was a bit choppy on both sides, but a scratch by Harrison's Sydney S. as she made the 9 allowed Terrace City's Kiwi to take the win from ball-in-hand for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi looked a little smoother to start game 3, but she fell apart toward the end. The Specters' Sydney S. managed a few shots in a disjointed but successful counterattack to get the win, tying the series at 1. Neither player was able to really control in game 3, but Kiwi had an awkward miss at the end that opened the door for Sydney S. to convert on the 10 for the 2-1 series win. Sydney S. heads to the second round after a close battle.
Intel Center, Diamond: Leonardo v. Shadow. Newcomers to the Diamond Gems collide in 10-ball with the silver cue. Game 1 did not go particularly well for either player until Shadow managed a three-ball run-out for the win to take a 1-0 series lead over Leonardo's listless attack. In game 2, the play went back and forth at a smoother pace, with Shadow having a chance to win on a short run before he missed on the 10. Leonardo converted a deft bank to the bottom right for the win instead, tying the series at 1. Game 3 didn't see much separation for the players either, until Shadow made the 10 on his second try at the top side. Shadow won the series 2-1 over Leonardo to advance to round two.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Kitty v. Marsell. A rookie meets a rising star in 12-ball with the blue cue after the lunch break. Midland's Kitty gave away a wild-card ball on the game 1 break, but she still pushed ahead at the end to best Whitewater's Marsell. Kitty leads the series 1-0. The Predators' Kitty had two balls on the game 2 break, but she couldn't line up her shots after that. The Shores' Marsell swooped in after Kitty missed contact, posting his own four-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Marsell gave up a wild-card ball on the break, and then Kitty found a three-ball run. Marsell was unable to counter that, and Kitty won the game for a 2-1 series win that puts her in the second round.
IBM Cathedral: Luigi v. Cubby. The red cue makes its daily debut in 12-ball. North Modernistic's Luigi gave up a wild-card ball in game 1, but still managed to use the impatience of Eastside's Cubby against him. Cubby's poor positioning allowed Luigi to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Cubby got off to a great start with five balls over two turns, but he scratched as the Nighthawks' Luigi pressured with a four-ball run. Cubby then pushed back just in time for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 went right down to the wire, with Luigi just tapping in a shot at the bottom left after Cubby finally positioned his last ball. Luigi won the series 2-1 to move to the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Gradley. Two long-tenured stars meet in Rotation with the red cue. Eastside's Chelsea started off quite slow in game 1, as Boston's Gradley built up a steady attack for his lead, but Chelsea stormed back to win 8-7 on a three-ball run-out. Chelsea owns a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Chelsea had a better start in game 2, but she failed to sustain the attack deep into the game. The Swifts' Gradley roared back with a five-ball run-out to grab the 8-5 win, tying the series at 1. Chelsea again started well, but game 3 went right to the end, including both players missing on the 15. Gradley eventually tapped it to the bottom right to win 8-7, taking the series win at 2-1 to go to the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Hoppy v. Dustin. The silver cue returns in this Northeastern 8-ball battle. Central's Dustin did most of the early offense, answered by a four-ball run from Hoppy a bit later in game 1. Dustin stabilized from there, finding a pair of shots to get the win and 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Hoppy did well with a five-ball run to get onto the 8, which the Warriors' Dustin couldn't convert on his second try. Hoppy cut it to the top left for the win, evening the series at 1. Dustin again pulled ahead early in game 3, only to see Hoppy make an impressive rally back at the end. Dustin faltered on the 8 and Hoppy left no doubt in the comeback win which gave her a 2-1 series win. Hoppy is off to the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Cheddar v. Jennifer. Two competitive Urban rivals duke it out in 12-ball with the blue cue. Neither player was ideal in game 1, as North Modernistic's Cheddar gave up two wild-card balls but Terrace City's Jennifer couldn't cash in her last ball in any of three open pockets. Cheddar had good positioning but still took her time to earn the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Cheddar showed much less generosity in game 2, and it worked wonders, as the Knights' Jennifer never really got close to catching up. Cheddar clinched the series rather easily at 2-0. Cheddar had a good push early in game 3, but Jennifer kept it close at the end. Cheddar gave away a wild-card ball to clear her path, and Jennifer failed to cut in her final ball. Cheddar swept the series 3-0 to move into the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Smudge. Two aggressive veterans meet in 13-ball, also using the blue cue. Game 1 was a struggle for both players, with Infinity's Smudge breaking through first. Westside's Slinks couldn't shake lousy positioning, and Smudge walked away with the 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Smudge decided to take action in game 2, while the Rockers' Slinks got caught trying to play for perfect positioning. Slinks was unable to execute her shots, and Smudge won again to seal the series at 2-0. Slinks had a bit of a head start on offense in game 3, but Smudge tracked her down and got ahead late before poking the 8 to the top right for the win. Smudge's 3-0 series sweep gives her confidence heading into round two.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Bright. Former club-mates are set to meet in 10-ball with the silver cue. Short turns defined game 1, although a late scratch by Everton's Cleo allowed Pearl's Bright to make the last two shots from ball-in-hand for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Bright had a four-ball run as things opened up in the middle of game 2, but two shots after the run, the Eagles' Cleo made a 7-10 combination to the bottom side on a tough cut for the win. Cleo's victory tied the series at 1. Cleo had a three-ball run early in game 3, but Bright answered on a five-ball run and made the final pair on the next turn for the win. Bright took the series 2-1 and will play in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Easter. Another 8-ball series on the day is played with the blue cue. Swordpoint's Stealth was in a good position early in game 1, but Todavía's Easter kept it close. Easter then had a strategic scratch, and used ball-in-hand on her last two shots after Stealth had missed contact. Easter leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Easter was a little too generous to the Blades' Stealth in game 2, giving away a couple of freebies. Stealth cashed in with the win at the end to tie the series at 1. Easter started with a four-ball run in game 3, but Stealth answered on a five-ball run of his own. Stealth scratched when he made his last ball, buying Easter the time to push back for the win and 2-1 series win. Easter is off to the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Graham v. Chicky Phil. A pair of veterans are set to meet in 13-ball with the blue cue. Web City's Chicky Phil battled well with Eastside's Graham initially, and then pulled ahead late in game 1. Graham couldn't answer it, and Chicky Phil made a pair of shots to grab the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Chicky Phil took his time in game 2, eventually engaging in a battle for positioning with the Sharks' Graham at the end. Chicky Phil prevailed narrowly to get the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Chicky Phil had a hot start in game 3, and got a little help when Graham gave away a ball after Chicky Phil scratched. Chicky Phil took the 8 from there for the win and 3-0 series sweep to get into the second round.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Lorde v. Mitchell. The silver cue returns for some 12-ball. Capital City's Lorde shredded a five-ball run from the break in game 1, taking an absolutely dominant lead. Victoria's Mitchell made only one shot before Lorde finished off her win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Mitchell bounced back quite well in game 2, establishing positioning to block a pair of shots against the Sharpshooters' Lorde. Mitchell then worked around those blocks and picked up the win with a pair of shots, tying the series at 1. Mitchell again took a big lead in game 3, and while Lorde pushed back to get down to her final ball, Mitchell was able to poke the 13 to the bottom left for the win and 2-1 series win. Mitchell will find a place in the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Americus. The final series of the day is in 13-ball with the blue cue. Archtown's Sally had a brilliant start in game 1, but failed to keep up her attack on the final ball. Midland's Americus took a pair of three-ball runs to get onto the 8, and then made it to the top side as a tap-in for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Americus did well to come back in game 2 after the Arrows' Sally managed to take an early lead. Sally bought herself some time with a defensive maneuver, but she couldn't transition to offense. Americus took the win to secure the series at 2-0. Americus was still good in game 3, again facing a firm challenge from Sally, but the host didn't have enough to finish the effort. Americus swept the series 3-0 to earn her spot in the second round.
That's all for today. We'll have Day 20 over the weekend, likely as a split-day effort.
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