Today is the start of the last week of the first round. We begin with...
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney S. v. Bear. The red cue starts the day with 9-ball. Everton's Bear found success with a five-ball run-out after Harrison's Sydney S. started game 1 well but couldn't get a secondary attack going. Bear leads the series 1-0 early on. The Eagles' Bear struggled initially in game 2, but the Specters' Sydney S. didn't pick up the slack. Bear eventually took the win on a three-ball run-out after a previous four-ball run gave him a ton of possession. Bear sealed the series at 2-0 with the victory. Sydney S. avoided the sweep with a three-ball run-out after a closer battle in game 3, which saw Bear lose his touch at the end. Bear won the series 2-1 and will visit the Atlantic Pirates' Jason N. in the second round. Bear takes five bids while Sydney S. has seven bids moving into the next round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Chelsea v. Nightfur. A longtime veteran takes on a captain in Accuracy with the red cue. There was nothing pretty about game 1 for either player, but Royal's Nightfur hung on a little better to get the 5-6 win over Eastside's Chelsea. The Crowns' Nightfur took three balls on the break, but she had a horrendous game after that, falling away badly at the end as the Sharks' Chelsea held steady. Chelsea won the game 2-6 and tied the series at 1 in the process. Chelsea made a pair on the break in game 3, but she was the first to falter in the game. Nightfur slipped a bit near the end but held on for the 3-4 win to take the series 2-1. Nightfur will go on to face Steven of the Atlantic Pirates in the second round. Chelsea has just two bids going into the next round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Rudolph v. Leonette. The blue cue is up for its last 13-ball series of the round. Pacific's Leonette led for much of game 1 after an early four-ball run, but a later scratch cost her valuable time. Harrison's Rudolph pulled back and attacked the sides before putting the 8 in the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Rudolph had a lack of positioning at the sides in game 2, while the Volcanoes' Leonette was more efficient with her set-up work. Leonette would take the win this time, tying the series at 1. Leonette had a wild start to game 3, making three for herself and two for Rudolph on the first turn. Rudolph came close to a finishing run near the end, but he allowed Leonette to make a three-ball run-out instead as she won the game and 2-1 series. Leonette will travel to Pronger, facing the Tridents' captain Precious in the second round. In the next round, Leonette will play seven times while Rudolph takes five bids.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Hughbert v. Yekaterina. A mismatch will resume the day's play with 13-ball and the red cue after the break. Victoria's Yekaterina struck first and looked solid in game 1, but Infinity's Hughbert made a dangerous run and pulled ahead before taking the win on a late pair of shots. Hughbert holds a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Yekaterina managed to get down to her last ball quickly in game 2, but it still didn't matter. The Torpedoes' Hughbert made four balls over his last two turns to claim the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Hughbert then rallied with a quick five-ball run in game 3 to pull far ahead. Yekaterina got down to two balls left but Hughbert shut the door for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Hughbert will host Everton Eagles captain Goldy in the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Mitchell. The blue cue returns to action in 8-ball. Victoria's Mitchell already had a good chunk of offense in game 1 on a four-ball run before Archtown's Sally gave the result away by illegally potting the 8 early at the bottom left. Mitchell took the gifted win for a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Sally started and ended with a three-ball run in game 2, controlling the pace of play this time while the Spurs' Mitchell took a step back. Sally's assertive win tied the series at 1. Sally had a good start to game 3, keeping pace in a tough rack, but her finishing at the end turned suspect. Mitchell held on and picked up the win with a three-ball run-out, earning the 2-1 series win as well. Mitchell is set to visit Roxy of the Freedom Cascades in round two. Mitchell has eight bids going forward.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Shaggy. Right back to 13-ball with the red cue we go with this series. Whitewater's Shaggy had the early edge in game 1 and came close to winning before Golden's Sparkles surged at the end of game 1 for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Shaggy had to hold off the Pilots' Sparkles in a messy start to game 2. Eventually, Sparkles started slipping backwards with consecutive scratches, and Shaggy was able to get the win to tie the series at 1. Shaggy had a better start in game 3, getting down to the 8 first despite a late scratch. Sparkles did just enough to steal the win away on a three-ball run-out, claiming the series at 2-1 as well. Sparkles is off to round two versus Paps of the Tysini Hummingbirds. Shaggy's Tournament continues with four bids in the next round.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Princess v. Sweetheart. The red cue stays on for this Rotation set. Viewpoint Sound's Princess succeeded when the table was crowded in game 1, but her lack of finish allowed Boston's Sweetheart to make five balls over two turns to tie the game. Princess then closed up an 8-7 win by putting the hard-fought 13 in the top left for the 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Princess had to put in a little more work in game 2, as the Swifts' Sweetheart made a few challenges to keep it close. Princess closed up with a three-ball run-out for the 8-4 win to secure the series at 2-0. Sweetheart briefly held the lead in game 3, but Princess rallied on a four-ball run to get ahead. Princess closed out an 8-3 win this time, sweeping the series 3-0 and moving into a second-round series versus Easter of the Todavía Stills. Both players will carry five bids going forward.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Jason V. v. Fluffina. The blue cue gets another turn in 8-ball with this series. Infinity's Fluffina had control in game 1, but a scratch as she potted the 8 gave the game and 1-0 series lead away to Oceanside's Jason V., who had done little up to that point to earn it. The Waves' Jason V. had a more involved role in game 2, pacing the play fairly well. The Torpedoes' Fluffina pushed back at times, but Jason V. had enough time to pick up the win, sealing the series at 2-0. In game 3, the play was even between the opponents. Fluffina had some shots that worked, but her sticking the cue with the 13 at the top right edge allowed her to get ball-in-hand for her final three-ball run-out. Jason V. still won the series 2-1, and it's he who will oppose Boston Swifts veteran Puff II in the second round. Both players advanced five bids to the next round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Nicole v. Potter. The red cue returns to close out its first round 12-ball obligations. Both players scratched on their first turns in game 1, keeping things even initially. Pronger's Potter did better at recovering from the early stumble, and he cruised to the win and 1-0 series lead ahead of Lighton's Nicole. The Tridents' Potter didn't slow down in game 2, making one of each on the break and choosing solids on a three-ball run. Nicole got two back, but Potter charged with a three-ball run-out for a two-turn win to clinch the series at 2-0. Potter had a rough go in game 3, watching Nicole basically copy his game 2 strategy to get her own win this time in a quick battle. Potter will settle for a 2-1 series win to get to the second round, where he visits the Pacific Volcanoes' Leonette. Nicole will have five bids going forward.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Stealth. The red cue stays on to complete the host's personal doubleheader. Pronger's Potter led for much of game 1, but he slipped up with three late misses, giving Swordpoint's Stealth just enough to work with in his 3-4 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Potter never really had a chance in game 2, slipping up early and playing into the hands of the Blades' Stealth for the rest of it. Stealth played perfectly for the 0-3 win to seal the series at 2-0 in dominant fashion. Stealth was again never in danger in game 3, missing just once on a late scratch. He cruised to the 1-3 win over Potter for the 3-0 series sweep. Stealth will visit club-mate Chicky Phil of the Web City Spiders in the second round. Potter will still advance six bids into the next round.
Sony Center, Queens: Mario v. Snuggle. The red cue completes its 7-ball obligations now with a United Derby series. Queens' Mario needed just the break in game 1, getting the 3 to cycle back to the rack to bump the 7 to the bottom side for the quick win and 1-0 series lead over Oceanside's Snuggle. The Flames' Mario had a much less clinical effort in game 2, although the Waves' Snuggle started with a pair of errors and didn't play all that well either. Mario eventually won by banking the 7 to the bottom right, clinching the series at 2-0. Mario and Snuggle each started game 3 with a three-ball run. Mario was first to sweep up the scraps, potting the 7 to the bottom right for the win to sweep the series 3-0. Mario is set to face another captain in round two, hosting the Pronger Tridents' Precious. Snuggle produced five advancing bids.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Rosemary v. Dominic. It's another look for the red cue, returning to 9-ball this time. Southern's Dominic had some sloppy play in game 1, allowing Commerce's Rosemary to go rather unchallenged. Rosemary sealed up the win with a four-ball run-out, earning her 1-0 lead in the series. The Monarchs' Dominic did a little better in game 2, but still had poorly timed errors to contribute to his loss. The Tradewinds' Rosemary capitalized on Dominic's late scratch with a three-ball run-out for the win to take the series at 2-0. Dominic improved again in game 3, but to no avail, as his miss on the 9 left it lined up at the bottom left for Rosemary to convert for the win. Rosemary swept the series 3-0 and will host Charli of the Tysini Hummingbirds in the second round. Both players have five advancing bids.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Zach v. Bryant. The silver cue finally makes its daily debut in 12-ball between club-mates. Pronger's Zach appeared to have game 1 under control, but Maplewood's Bryant saw his chance and took it, converting a brilliant six-ball run-out for the comeback win. Bryant's stunner gave him the 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Bryant also made quick work of game 2, striking once on the break and then for a four-ball run to put the Tridents' Zach into a defensive shell. Zach broke the defense early, and Bryant picked off his last shot with ease to seal the series at 2-0. Zach finally got his win in game 3, receiving a wild-card ball from Bryant's break and attacking with a quick three-ball run. Bryant did get down to his last ball, but never positioned it as Zach got the win. Bryant's 2-1 series win allows him to visit Stinky of the Freedom Cascades in the second round. Zach kept six bids alive to take into the next round.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Easter. The silver cue will wrap up its first-round 12-ball series and the day all at once here. Terrace City's Quincy was a little faster to get good positioning in game 1, holding off Todavía's Easter for the win and 1-0 series lead in a close battle. The Stills' Easter had slightly better positioning and a lot more luck in game 2, banking the 4 wildly to the top right to close out her win over the Knights' Quincy, who just couldn't align his last two shots. Easter's win tied the series at 1. Faced with a potential game-winning run in game 3, Easter chose to take the harder shot first. She failed, and Quincy potted his last ball for the win to take the series 2-1. Quincy will host Bandit of the Swordpoint Blades in the second round.
We're still working on some administrative work with Cricket, delaying the start of the playoffs. Realistically, they may run throughout the better part of the rest of the calendar year.
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