After a one day break, we're ready to play the penultimate second round day. First up...
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Citrus v. Kiwi. Big-name players open the day in 9-ball with the silver cue. Lighton's Citrus made an early pair in game 1, but she was no match for a seven-ball run-out by Terrace City's Kiwi, which gave the visitor a quick 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi had a pair on the break in game 2 before a baffling scratch. The Prestige's Citrus took a four-ball run from ball-in-hand, but Kiwi made the last three over two turns, including banks on the 7 to the bottom side and the 9 to the top left for the win. Kiwi clinched the series at 2-0 with this win. Kiwi nearly made the 9 on the break in game 3, but left it near the top right instead. Citrus was tempted by the location, but made illegal contact before bumping it down, gifting Kiwi the win for a 3-0 series sweep. Kiwi heads to round three on the road against Fuchsia of the Midland Predators.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Kodiak. The blue cue comes aboard for 12-ball in the second series today. In a close game 1, Modernistic's Kodiak was forced to give a wild-card ball to Pronger's Spot. Kodiak was prepared to win if Spot couldn't convert his last ball, but the host came through with a kick on the 12 to the bottom side for the 1-0 series lead. The Union's Kodiak didn't learn his lesson in game 2, again yielding a late wild-card ball that allowed the Tridents' Spot to cash in his last ball on the next turn. Spot will take the easy finishes for the 2-0 lead in the series. Kodiak received the wild-card ball in game 2, but unlike his opponent, he failed to capitalize on it. Kodiak lacked positioning, and when he finally missed contact, Spot made his own last ball to overcome the disadvantage. Spot swept the series 3-0 and will visit Rudolph of the Harrison Specters in the third round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Jason N. v. Bear. Back in 9-ball, the red cue makes its daily debut in its last turn in the event this round. Atlantic's Jason N. got on the right side of a back-and-forth game 1, topping Everton's Bear for the 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Jason N. had a foolproof strategy in game 2, running the table with three balls on the break and seven total shots in the game. The Eagles' Bear never got a chance to even the series as Jason N. clinched it at 2-0. Jason N. made it even simpler to win in game 3, taking the 9 on the break to the top right to earn the 3-0 series sweep. Jason N. will travel to Central to meet Warriors captain Twilight in the third round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Gradley. Southeastern rivals from the Doubles Derby battle in 9-ball with the blue cue. Golden's Sparkles had a better run in game 1, but her hard-angle cut on the 7-9 combination to the bottom right caused a scratch at the top left, gifting the win and 1-0 series lead to Boston's Gradley. The Swifts' Gradley didn't quite connect at first in game 2, but when the Pilots' Sparkles struggled to find her way, Gradley unleashed a seven-ball run-out. Gradley did well to earn this win to seal the series at 2-0. Gradley still looked good in game 3, but he had a pair of late scratches that paved the way for Sparkles to get her win. Gradley settled for a 2-1 series win that sends him to the third round against Todavía Stills veteran Bells.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Cowzart v. Easter. The red cue is back for a Coastal Derby in Accuracy. Game 1 went at an electric pace, with only a scratch by Pacific's Cowzart marring an otherwise perfect game on both sides. It was enough for Todavía's Easter to win 0-1 for the 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter couldn't maintain perfection in game 2, but she was more than good enough as the Volcanoes' Cowzart unraveled at the end. Easter took this win 1-4 and secured the series at 2-0 in the process. Easter couldn't complete the sweep in a tight game 3 that went 1-2 to Cowzart as he sealed the result with a double-pot. Easter won the series 2-1 and will host Steven of the Atlantic Pirates in the third round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Easter. The visitor finishes a personal doubleheader on the road in 10-ball with the blue cue. Infinity's Fluffina found a groove in game 1 after a slow start, besting Todavía's Easter with a three-ball run-out that saw her bank the 10 to the bottom side. Fluffina owns a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter nearly flipped the script late in game 2, banking the 9 to the bottom left but just missing a long shot on the 10 at the top left. The Torpedoes' Fluffina technically kicked the 10 in for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Easter had a four-ball run late in game 3, but it wouldn't amount to anything when she twice missed on the 10. Fluffina cut it gently to the top side for the win to sweep the series 3-0. Fluffina will travel to Golden to face her brother, the Pilots' Max, in the third round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Wings v. Taylor S. The red cue cycles in again for 13-ball. Central's Wings had plenty of chances to gain control in game 1, but his numerous misses led to Commerce's Taylor S. rallying over her last three turns for a comeback win and 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Taylor S. caught herself with an overfill at the bottom side late in game 2, but she didn't have time to correct the mistake. The Warriors' Wings rallied on a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Wings made one of each suit on the break in game 3, leading to him taking a three-ball run with solids. Wings added another three-ball run and then made the 8 after Taylor S. had a three-ball run of her own to make it interesting. Wings won the series 2-1 and will host club-mate Bandit of the Swordpoint Blades in round three.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Beth v. Juno. Back on the coast, it's time for 8-ball with the silver cue. Pearl's Beth snagged a win in game 1 despite a late scratch, as Stonebridge's Juno failed to kick and bank the 1 on consecutive turns. Beth had time for a three-ball run-out to get the win and 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Wolves' Juno had the late scratch. It didn't exactly help the Surfers' Beth, but it slowed Juno down enough for Beth to find her last few shots over multiple turns. Beth eventually got the win, securing the series at 2-0. Beth weathered a five-ball run from Juno at the start of game 3, as the visitor soon stalled on offense. Beth fired back with a six-ball run-out for the win to make it a 3-0 series sweep. Beth will host her third-round series. Juno is the seventh player out of the Tournament, with Beth earning her first kill.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Strawberry v. Niki. The second half of the day starts with the red cue in 12-ball. Victoria's Strawberry made a stripe on the break in game 1, but it didn't align very well for her during the rest of the game. Commerce's Niki had an easier time getting lined up, cashing in that advantage for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Strawberry nearly regretted missing contact at the top side, but the Tradewinds' Niki couldn't execute a run from ball-in-hand. Strawberry then tapped in her last two balls to get the win, tying the series at 1. Strawberry had the series on her stick in game 3, but she scratched on her final ball. Niki capitalized by making her last two shots for the win to take the series 2-1 instead. Niki will head to Midland in the third round, facing the Predators' Fuchsia.
Sony Center, Queens: Crystal v. Rainmane. Southeastern foes clash in 13-ball with the red cue. Queens' Crystal battled with Midland's Rainmane for much of game 1, but Rainmane got onto the 8 faster and potted it from ball-in-hand after Crystal missed contact. Rainmane leads the series 1-0. The Predators' Rainmane had better positioning and skill in game 2, outpacing the Flames' Crystal by a mile in an easy win. Rainmane won with a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0. Rainmane started on an excellent three-ball run, and while Crystal caught up pretty effectively, she couldn't stop Rainmane from firing a three-ball run-out for the win. Rainmane swept the series 3-0 and will play as a visitor in her own arena versus Predators captain Shawn in round three.
Intel Center, Diamond: Shadow v. Bianca. The silver cue plays in 15-ball between these family members. Game 1 was a tight battle until Southridge's Bianca loosened the 3 from a cluster at the bottom right. It tapped the 6 in at the top left, and she converted the 3-15 combination to the same spot for the win and 1-0 series lead over Diamond's Shadow. The Defenders' Bianca skipped a clear cheap shot in game 2, instead shooting the 6 down away from the 15 after the Gems' Shadow scratched. Shadow took advantage of her generosity, winning on a long 8-15 combination later in the game to tie the series at 1. Shadow kept the momentum up in game 3, carving out a four-ball run-out for the win this time to take the series 2-1 on the comeback. Shadow will renew the Bloodbath Derby in the third round, hosting the Whitewater Shores' Katharine.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Luigi v. Rosalina. Club-mates and Urban rivals do battle in 8-ball with the red cue. Whitewater's Rosalina made a four-ball run at one point in game 1, giving her a bit of an edge that North Modernistic's Luigi couldn't overcome. Rosalina won the game for a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Luigi had a hot start stalled by a stick foul. The Shores' Rosalina pushed back a bit, but her defense didn't hold as Luigi roared back on a five-ball run-out for the win. Luigi's victory tied the series at 1. Both players had some collateral damage in game 3, but it was Luigi who escaped the game positively with a three-ball run-out. Luigi claimed the series at 2-1 and he'll visit the Southern Monarchs' Pounce in the third round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Jasmine. More 8-ball sees the blue cue take a turn. Freedom's Jasmine attempted to control game 1, but a scratch after a four-ball run and another with Web City's Jack just inches away from the win ruined her momentum. Jack capitalized on the second scratch, tapping the 8 to the bottom right to go up 1-0 in the series. The Cascades' Jasmine cleaned up the sloppy parts from before, working a five-ball run and getting great positioning on her last two shots a turn later. The Spiders' Jack didn't have time to answer, as Jasmine stormed to the win to tie the series at 1. Jack looked in good shape with a four-ball run to get onto the 8 in game 3, but Jasmine stalled him long enough to get back into the battle. Jasmine banked her last stripe to the bottom side and put the 8 in the top right for the win to take the series 2-1. Jasmine will visit Steven of the Atlantic Pirates in the third round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney S. v. Lionel. Also in the Northeast, the red cue plays 7-ball. Harrison's Sydney S. fired off a three-ball run-out after exchanging pairs early in game 1 with North Modernistic's Lionel. A sharp cut on the 7 to the bottom left was enough for Sydney S. to take the 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Sydney S. created a cluster at the top right in game 2, slowing things up initially. The Nighthawks' Lionel couldn't do much on offense, and Sydney S. poked a four-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Lionel failed to gain any traction in a throwaway game 3 effort, twice missing the 7 before Sydney S. buried it on her second try. Sydney S. swept the series 3-0 and will play in the third round against her Specters teammate Blizzard.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Roxy. The silver cue gets one more look in this 15-ball series. Terrace City's Quincy had seven balls over two turns at one point, but he peaked too early. Freedom's Roxy picked up a three-ball run-out at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was much more fragmented on offense, with the Knights' Quincy missing the 15 at two pockets on the same shot. The Cascades' Roxy also missed her chance, and Quincy cut the 15 to the bottom right on a hard angle for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 remained very choppy on both sides, with Roxy having a chance for a late run but missing on the 14. Quincy banked the 14 to the top right and tapped the 15 to the top left to clean up his previous trick shot miss when he tried a deflection with the 9. Quincy won the series 2-1 and will host Easter of the Todavía Stills in round three.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney S. v. Peach. The blue cue closes the day with 12-ball, with the host beginning a split-day doubleheader. Harrison's Sydney S. stormed ahead with a four-ball run from the break in game 1, and despite the host lagging later, North Modernistic's Peach couldn't catch up. Sydney S. took the 1-0 series lead with a strong win. The Nighthawks' Peach did well to set herself up for a run, but missed the ignition shot in game 2. The Specters' Sydney S. battled back and grabbed the win, securing the series at 2-0 in the process. Game 3 was fairly chaotic, with Sydney S. overcoming a wild-card ball to get the better of Peach at the end by making four balls on her last two turns. Sydney S. swept the series 3-0 and will visit the Web City Spiders' Avril in a Celebrity only Halloween Derby in the third round.
We'll wrap up the second round with a full day on Monday. Both Sunday and Tuesday will be non-game days.
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