Today's action will be slightly compressed, leading off with...
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Celestia. A captain meets a rising start in 12-ball with the blue cue. Oceanside's Celestia had a four-ball run in game 1 to get really close to a win, but she flubbed her final shot. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy responded by making her last ball to the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia had a four-ball run again in game 2, but she made this one count. The Union's Ms. Puppy twice double-potted in the same pocket, setting her back and allowing Celestia to get a nice pair of shots at the end for the win to tie the series at 1. Celestia wasn't confident with her shots in game 3, leading to her missing a cut at the top side late in the game. Ms. Puppy took the ball-in-hand to make her last ball for the win and 2-1 series win. Ms. Puppy is set to host the Boston Swifts' Sweetheart in the second round.
Sony Center, Queens: Hannah v. Sugar. The blue cue stays in action with this 8-ball series. Swordpoint's Sugar had a positive start in game 1, but Queens' Hannah did well to keep pace. At the end, Sugar's defense didn't stop Hannah from getting the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Sugar posted a four-ball run early in game 2, and then saw the Flames' Hannah rally herself ahead over two turns. Sugar didn't let Hannah get off easy, managing a four-ball run-out at the end for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was at a slower pace until the very end, when Hannah left things lined up for Sugar's four-ball run-out. Sugar converted, winning a 2-1 series to earn a road trip to Todavía in the second round, where she'll face Stills captain Easter with one of her five remaining bids.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Princess. Surprisingly aggressive players clash in 15-ball, the red cue's last series in the event. Harrison's Twinkie II maintained a majority of the offense in game 1. Viewpoint Sound's Princess challenged at times, but Twinkie II deflected a bank off the 14 to send the 15 to the bottom right for the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Specters' Twinkie II wasn't able to finish off her last attempt at a run in a balanced game 2 battle, allowing the Meteors' Princess to pot a pair for the win. Princess' win tied the series at 1. Twinkie II notched a quick win in game 3, taking the first shot after the break for a 1-4-8-15 combination to the top right at an odd angle. Princess was likewise stunned as Twinkie II succeeded for the 2-1 series win to get to the second round versus another Meteor in Hoot. Twinkie II has four advancing bids.
Intel Center, Diamond: Smokey v. Slinks. Brute Force club-mates battle in Accuracy with the blue cue. Westside's Slinks struggled initially in game 1, but hung around closely to draw a tie, forcing overtime, where Diamond's Smokey scratched on his second shot. Slinks would win 2-3, taking a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Smokey never had a chance to win game 2, as he missed first in a close game and the Rockers' Slinks didn't miss a beat. Slinks was perfect in the clinching win, taking a 0-2 victory for the 2-0 lead. Slinks kept up the good work in a close game 3, getting Smokey to fall behind late as she secured the 3-0 sweep with a 2-4 win. Slinks is set to visit Archtown Arrows newcomer Hoppy in the second round. Smokey will only take two bids to the next round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Pounce v. Celestia. The visitor gets her second series today in the red cue's 8-ball finale for the round. Southern's Pounce produced an early five-ball run in game 1, only to be answered by a six-ball run from Oceanside's Celestia. Pounce made his last two balls quickly after that to preserve the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia started better in game 2, but it didn't pay off at all, as the Monarchs' Pounce erased the deficit on a seven-ball run-out for the win. Pounce clinched the series at 2-0 with the big run. Pounce tried another deep comeback in game 3, but a scratch fractured his five-ball run, and Celestia had enough time at the end to counterattack with a three-ball run-out for the win. Pounce settled with a 2-1 series win to put him into round two against Quincy of the Terrace City Knights. Pounce takes six bids forward while Celestia will play four in the next round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Midnight v. Tigerette. The red cue stays in action for this Rotation series. Westside's Midnight failed on a jump attempt in game 1, squandering her lead as Commerce's Tigerette rallied on a four-ball run-out for the 8-6 win. Tigerette moved ahead 1-0 in the series. The Rockers' Midnight took the early lead in game 2 but nearly let the Tradewinds' Tigerette come all the way back before cutting her off for the 8-5 win. Midnight's victory tied the series at 1. Tigerette worked a fortunate four-ball run early in game 1, and then made a late pair after a scratch by Midnight. Tigerette won 8-3, taking the 2-1 series win to set up a visit to Capital City Sharpshooters mainstay Missy in the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Blizzard v. Puff III. A former Eagle welcomes a current one for 13-ball with the silver cue. Harrison's Blizzard made four balls on the break (two legally, one overfill, one for Everton's Puff III), followed by Puff III making a three-ball run. Blizzard then had a three-ball run and eventually got the 8 for the win and 1-0 series lead in a speedy game. The Specters' Blizzard was her own worst enemy in game 2, fouling and scratching multiple times. The Eagles' Puff III took her time before depositing a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 came down to the wire, as Blizzard kept up with Puff III quite well. In the end, Blizzard made a pair of shots at the end for the win, claiming the series at 2-1. Blizzard goes on to host Shelley of the Infinity Torpedoes in round two with one of her four remaining bids.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Spice. Longtime veterans of their teams collide in 12-ball with the blue cue. Golden's Strut had a scratch and a missed contact in game 1, leading to Victoria's Spice rallying to a five-ball run-out very early on. Spice leads the series confidently at 1-0. The Spurs' Spice had a lovely break in game 2, taking both side pockets immediately. The Pilots' Strut came right back with a four-ball run, and he played cautious at the end, making it a closer win than it actually was. Strut tied the series at 1 with this win. Game 3 took a bit more time to complete, with Strut striking first but having to navigate a defensive posture from Spice. Strut succeeded for the win, taking the series 2-1 and earning the chance to host Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi in the second round. Strut advanced five bids to the next round, while Spice has six going forward.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Noelle. The blue cue will stay up for a 15-ball series. Neither player grabbed game 1 immediately, just playing for contact at first. Central's Noelle then cranked the 3 to the top left and took the 4-15 combination deflected off the 14 to the top right for the win. Noelle leads Whitewater's Marsell 1-0 in the series. The Warriors' Noelle laid in wait for most of game 2, again going for contact plays with the Shores' Marsell doing the same. Noelle took full advantage of her chance, striking an eight-ball run-out from nowhere to get the win again, sealing the series at 2-0. Marsell actually had a chance in game 3, working a late four-ball run, but he fell apart on the 14. Noelle made the last two balls, taking the sweep 3-0 and earning a spot against Freedom Cascades captain Jasmine in the second round. Marsell ends the round with only two advancing bids.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Diddley. The red cue cycles back in for this 10-ball series. Boston's Puff II scratched on the game 1 break, and Maplewood's Diddley tried and failed to do a 1-10 combination to the bottom right. The remainder of the game was sloppy until Diddley won on a three-ball run-out to go up 1-0 in the series. The Lumberjacks' Diddley had a four-ball run early in game 2, but the Swifts' Puff II couldn't make a later 7-10 combination to the top right. Diddley then finished on a four-ball run-out, capping the dominant effort in a win to clinch the series at 2-0. Diddley continued to dominate on offense in game 3, but he let slip at the end, and Puff II fired back on a three-ball run-out to avoid the sweep. Diddley won the series 2-1, and will travel to Whitewater to face the Shores' Rosalina in the second round, one of his six advancing bids.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Pauline v. Vladimir. A couple of inexperienced players meet in 9-ball with the red cue. Stonebridge's Vladimir made a four-ball run at one point and added more near the end of game 1 before a scratch. His error allowed Capital City's Pauline to take the 9 from ball-in-hand for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Pauline dominated in game 2, making seven of the eight potted balls over three turns. Pauline easily took the win as the Wolves' Vladimir couldn't string any offense together. Pauline secured the series at 2-0. Pauline didn't have the same offensive urgency in game 3, allowing Vladimir to hang around and ultimately mop up the win in the end. Pauline's 2-1 series win gives her hosting privileges versus Diamond Gems newcomer Leonardo in the second round. Vladimir advanced five bids to the next round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Bright. The red cue goes again with a 12-ball series. Midland's Fuchsia didn't find much positioning in game 1, while Pearl's Bright did better with that and kept a steady flow of offense to get the win. Bright leads the series 1-0. The Predators' Fuchsia got the better of the Surfers' Bright in a back-and-forth game 2, with Bright's lucky bounces not enough to save him. Fuchsia's win tied the series at 1. Things looked grim for Fuchsia after she gave away a wild-card ball to Bright in game 3. Bright made a three-ball run but left his last ball standing after missed contact. Fuchsia took two shots from ball-in-hand for the win, also winning the series 2-1. Fuchsia' fortunate escape gets her to round two versus Maplewood Lumberjacks captain Diddley. Both players have six bids going forward.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Stealth v. Taylor M. More 12-ball is on the way, but with the blue cue now. Eastside's Taylor M. had just enough time to make her last two balls in game 1 thanks to Swordpoint's Stealth scratching multiple times while trying to assemble a run. The Blades' Stealth did better in game 2, and while a late scratch slowed him down, the Sharks' Taylor M. was vastly out of position. Stealth fired off a nice shot from ball-in-hand when Taylor M. committed illegal contact, giving Stealth the win to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Taylor M. had a decent start but no positioning at the end, again allowing Stealth to pull away with the win and 2-1 series win this time. Stealth will host Stonebridge Wolves third-year Cobalt in the second round. Taylor M. will take four bids into the next round.
Sony Center, Queens: Mario v. Patches. The silver cue wraps up the day with a 12-ball series. Boston's Patches was recklessly effective in game 1, but her work to disrupt Queens' Mario's defense at the bottom left was wondrous. Patches eventually did take the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Patches took a much simpler approach in game 2, making a ball on the break, adding a mid-game three-ball run and taking a pair at the end to wrap it up as the Flames' Mario floundered for positioning. Patches' win clinched the series in her favor at 2-0. Patches continued to attack well in game 3, but it was a close battle as Mario nearly got the win. Patches ultimately swept the series 3-0, and she'll visit Maplewood Lumberjacks star Whiskers in the second round with one of her five advancing bids.
We're back again tomorrow for more games.
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