Tournament play resumes after a day off, beginning with...
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Strawberry v. Niki. The red cue opens the day with a series in 7-ball. Victoria's Strawberry had a three-ball run to begin game 1, but she couldn't get another multi-ball attack. Commerce's Niki stepped up at the end to take the 7 in the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Strawberry provided a more stable attack late in game 2, making four balls over her last two turns to get the win against a lesser effort from the Tradewinds' Niki. This tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw a slow start on both sides before Niki did a four-ball run-out, double-potting the 5 to the bottom side and the 7 to the bottom right for the win. Niki took the series 2-1 and will visit Waluigi of the Web City Spiders in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Sugar v. Prism. The blue cue is next up, playing Accuracy. Swordpoint's Sugar made a ball on the game 1 break, but faded early. She forced overtime against Todavía's Prism, but she couldn't hold on. Sugar missed twice in the extra rack, with Prism taking a 1-0 series lead on a 4-5 win. The Blades' Sugar was perfect until the final ball in regulation of game 2, taking a miss. Both players missed in overtime, but the Stills' Prism missed again later in the extra rack, allowing Sugar to take the 2-3 win to tie the series at 1. Sugar took care of business in a sharp game 3, missing just once to hold on for a 1-2 win over Prism this time. Sugar took the series 2-1 and will host Southern Monarchs veteran Pounce in the second round. Prism advances six bids to the next round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Sugar. The visitor makes it a personal doubleheader, traveling for Rotation with the red cue. Swordpoint's Sugar had the first offense in a slow game 1, but Southern's Dominic steadily rallied ahead in the late-game, winning 8-5 for the 1-0 lead in the series. The Blades' Sugar capitalized on a number of near-misses from the Monarchs' Dominic in game 2. Sugar built her lead up slowly and steadily, and then countered Dominic's three-ball run with her finishing attack. Sugar won 8-3 to tie the series at 1. Sugar had a stunning seven-ball run from the break to lead off game 3. Dominic got a pair back, but Sugar made the 6 to the top left for the 8-2 win to seal the series in her favor at 2-1. Sugar is set to visit the Diamond Gems' Pedey in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Taylor S. The red cue will go again for this 9-ball series. Central's Twilight had a good break in game 1, but it paled in comparison to a five-ball run-out from Commerce's Taylor S. In the end, Taylor S. deflected a shot off the 6 to tap the 9 to the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 went the distance, with the Tradewinds' Taylor S. unable to replicate her previous attack. The Warriors' Twilight did a good impression, winning on a four-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Taylor S. put up another big run late in game 3, making four straight, but she missed the 9 twice. Twilight tapped it into the bottom right for the win and 2-1 series win. Twilight will head to round two, facing club-mate and Freedom Cascades veteran Stinky.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Dustin. Dangerous veterans collide in 12-ball with the blue cue. Pacific's Ms. Kitty made a pair on the break before giving Central's Dustin a wild-card ball after he answered with a pair. Dustin was just too slow on his last ball, allowing Ms. Kitty to come back with a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a virtual reverse of the first, with the Warriors' Dustin giving away a wild-card ball, but the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty lacked a killer instinct at the end. Dustin made a pair of each of his final two turns for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was as tense as it gets, with Dustin first looking for offense but being forced to defense as Ms. Kitty quickly got down to her last ball. Dustin's positioning never came together, and Ms. Kitty got the win, taking the series 2-1 as well. Ms. Kitty will play host to the Westside Rockers' Midnight in the second round. Dustin has five advancing bids for himself.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Daisy v. Stealth. The red cue will be back after the break with 15-ball. Modernistic's Daisy had her hands all over game 1, making a five-ball run and eight of the last nine balls to defeat Swordpoint's Stealth. Daisy leads the series at 1-0 after the strong first showing. The Union's Daisy came close to potting the 15 on the break after a late contact with the remaining cluster. Daisy hounded the 15 for much of the game, chipping in short runs. The Blades' Stealth had a chance for a late run, but he missed on the 13, and Daisy finished it off for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Daisy kept her offense strong in game 3, but her 6-15 combination to the top right ended in a scratch, gifting Stealth his lone win. Daisy won the series 2-1 and will face Pearl Surfers co-captain Watermelon in the second round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Hannah. The blue cue cycles in again for 9-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot couldn't gain traction in game 1, and Queens' Hannah can thank a lucky bank of the 9 to the top right for her win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Flames' Hannah struggled on offense in game 2, until she adjusted her hand position late in the battle. She just missed the 9 on a bank toward the bottom left, where the Meteors' Hoot tapped it in for a well-earned win to tie the series at 1. Hoot did enough in a close game 3 to hold off Hannah. Hoot struck the 8 to the top side and put the 9 there as well, winning the game and the 2-1 series. Hoot is set to host Southridge Defenders captain Debby in round two with one of his six advancing bids.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Starlight. The blue cue goes again in this 13-ball series. Pronger's Spot didn't get anything on the break, but Pacific's Starlight never got positioning on her final ball in game 1. Spot rallied back and picked up the win, taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Both players started well but took a passive turn in game 2, leading to a very slow finish. The Tridents' Spot will rue missing the 8 at the top side, which allowed the Volcanoes' Starlight to pull off a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Starlight showed up big again in game 3, making a four-ball run early on and fighting for positioning. Spot again found himself out of sorts, and Starlight cruised to the win and 2-1 series win. Starlight is set to visit Briana of the Queens Flames in the second round. Spot will play in four events in the next round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Boots v. Whiskers. A couple of talented opponents meet in Accuracy, also using the blue cue. Pearl's Boots was unassailable in game 1, playing perfectly and getting a nice bounce on the 14 at the end to preserve a 0-2 win over Maplewood's Whiskers. Boots leads the series 1-0. The Surfers' Boots won again in game 2, but it was much less clinical, as she took the early lead thanks to the Lumberjacks' Whiskers making a mess. Boots faded late but won 4-5, securing the series at 2-0 in the process. Boots returned to perfection in game 3, while Whiskers again scuffled at the start and never had a chance to catch up. A 0-3 win gave Boots the 3-0 series sweep to take into a second-round series against Golden Pilots veteran Sparkles.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: A. Charlton v. Dani. The red cue draws in again for a 12-ball set. Archtown's A. Charlton made one of each suit on the game 1 break, but she still kept it competitive, getting into good positions. Viewpoint Sound's Dani did cash in on the advantage though, putting the 7 in the bottom side after a struggle to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dani had a ball on the break in game 2, but she left a cluster around the bottom side, limiting her positioning. The Arrows' Charlton picked around efficiently and eventually took the 10 to the bottom left for the win to tie the series at 1. Charlton again gave away a wild-card ball in game 3, but after an initial surge, Dani went cold. It was actually Dani's illegal contact foul that laid the groundwork for Charlton to make her final two balls. Charlton won the series 2-1 and will face a tougher task in the second round, hosting the Queens Flames' Violetta with one of her six advancing bids.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty v. Bear. The host takes her second series of the day in Rotation with the red cue. Pacific's Ms. Kitty had a good start in game 1, staking out her lead and never getting challenged by Everton's Bear. Ms. Kitty was able to pull clear for an 8-3 win and 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Bear built up his lead quickly in game 2, only to see it crash down as the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty rallied on a five-ball run. Bear gummed up Ms. Kitty's play just enough at the end before taking his own three-ball run-out for the 8-7 win to tie the series at 1. Bear again pulled out to a lead in game 3, and again saw Ms. Kitty regain control in the middle. This time, Bear served up a four-ball run-out, working the side pockets to win 8-6 for the 2-1 series win. Bear will travel to Lighton for a game against the Prestige's Shiny in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Cubby. More Rotation is on the way, this time with the silver cue. Eastside's Cubby struck first in game 1 but trailed most of the game to Central's Noelle. Cubby briefly tied it, but his scratch allowed Noelle to make a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand for her 8-5 win and 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle again started a little slow in game 2, but eventually turned the 4 into a wrecking ball. The Sharks' Cubby had a couple of chances to catch up, but he failed. Noelle used the 8 as a decoy, deflecting the shot to strike the 10 to the top right for the 8-3 win. Noelle sealed the series at 2-0 on this play. Cubby pulled into a tie early in game 3, but Noelle took over from that point with her five-ball run-out for the 8-3 win. Noelle swept the series 3-0 and will host Oreo of the Terrace City Knights in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Rosalina v. Puff II. Back to 12-ball with the red cue for the second-to-last series today. Whitewater's Rosalina made a pair on the break in game 1, then gave away a wild-card ball on her next turn. Boston's Puff II didn't manage to take advantage of that play, as Rosalina's solid positioning factored heavily into her win for the 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Rosalina looked ready to repeat the effort in game 2 after allowing a wild-card ball on the break. The Swifts' Puff II scratched to give it back, but eventually found her groove and worked her way to a win as Rosalina never had a clear look on her last ball. The series is now tied at 1. Puff II ended up with solids in game 3, but her illegal contact play led to Rosalina executing an easy five-ball run-out from ball-in-hand for the win. Rosalina's 2-1 series win confirms a matchup at home versus her former teammate, the Diamond Gems' Pedey, in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Luigi. The red cue finishes the day with a series of 15-ball. Infinity's Smudge seemed to have the possession edge in game 1, but North Modernistic's Luigi walked away with a win, focusing in for a three-ball run-out at the end. Luigi leads the series 1-0. The Nighthawks' Luigi upped the tempo in game 2, getting a spinning triple-pot at one point and adding another three-ball run. However, his game ended in disaster with a late scratch that allowed the Torpedoes' Smudge to pot a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Neither player had any interest in allowing game 3 reach full term, as both hounded the 15. Luigi had the chance to make it on a 4-7-15 combination, and he did, but his scratch on the shot gifted the win and the 2-1 series win to Smudge, who will host Chicky Phil of the Web City Spiders in the second round.
That's all for today. We'll be on the regular schedule tomorrow.
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