Tournament 2019 - Bracket Quarterfinals Day 4

We're ready to play some pool on Christmas Eve. We'll have at least nine series today, beginning with...

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Citrus v. Katelynn. Players that were traded for one another meet in 15-ball with the silver cue. Diamond's Katelynn had quite the impact in game 1, with a late three-ball run ending in missed contact. Lighton's Citrus made the last two balls over two turns to get the win and 1-0 series lead somewhat against the run of play. Only two balls fell in game 2, but they were both from deflections off the 1 by the Gems' Katelynn. She used backspin to knock the 8 in the bottom side, and then drove through the 1 to get the 15 at the bottom right to tie the series at 1 against the Prestige's Citrus. Game 3 went down to the wire, but Citrus got the win on momentum, taking four of the last five balls. Citrus restored her series lead over Katelynn to 2-1. In the middle of game 4, the silver cue lost its tip. All silver-cue games for the remainder of the day will be with the spare black cue. Citrus found the win anyway, making the last five balls over two turns after Katelynn's had the ill-fated tip incident. Citrus clinched the series at 3-1. Citrus scratched on the break, but she made a pair on her second turn, including the 2-15 combination to the top right to seal a 4-1 series win over Katelynn. Citrus will host Easter of the Todavía Stills in the bracket semifinals. Citrus earned her first kill of the year to make Katelynn the 62nd eliminated player.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Leonette. The blue cue comes aboard for 13-ball between Coastal rivals. Pearl's Watermelon made it look extremely easy in game 1 with a four-ball run from the break. She didn't struggle to pick up the last three shots either, leading to a quick 1-0 series lead over Pacific's Leonette. The Surfers' Watermelon made one of each on the game 2 break, but chose to go with solids. The Volcanoes' Leonette couldn't get much going, and Watermelon went on to win on a five-ball run-out to extend her series lead to 2-0. Watermelon opened game 3 on a three-ball run and added another to get to the 8. Leonette had a chance to rally on a rare misstep by Watermelon, but Leonette fell short. Watermelon cut the 8 to the bottom side to seal the series at 3-0. Watermelon illegally sank the 8 as she tried to work a three-ball run early in game 4. This mistake gifted Leonette a win to cut the series to 3-1. Watermelon got back to winning in a tough game 5 battle, in which Leonette played defense after falling behind. Watermelon won the series 4-1 and will host her bracket semifinals appearance.

Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Snuggle. The United Derby is renewed in 9-ball with the silver cue, with the black cue subbing in. Queens' Violetta struggled to adjust to the shorter cue in game 1, allowing Oceanside's Snuggle to get a large share of the offense and the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta failed to finish strong in game 2, leaving the 7 up at the bottom side. The Waves' Snuggle poked a pair for the win to move ahead 2-0 in the series. Snuggle clinched the series at 3-0 with a three-ball run-out on his second turn in game 3, capping the win on a 3-9 combination to the bottom right. Violetta avoided a total disaster by picking up the pace late in game 4, using a four-ball run-out to get the win that cut Snuggle's series lead to 3-1. Violetta fell apart at the end of game 5, and Snuggle struck for a 6-9 combination to the top left to make it a 4-1 series win. Snuggle's unexpected dominance gets him into the bracket semifinals.

GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Stephanie v. Isabella. Next up is Accuracy using the blue cue. Southridge's Stephanie was able to force a tie through regulation in game 1, but she scratched on the overtime break, and Atlantic's Isabella converted for the 1-2 win. Isabella leads the series 1-0. In game 2, both players missed on the last ball, leading to overtime after the Pirates' Isabella dropped into a tie. Isabella would go empty on the overtime break, and the Defenders' Stephanie buried the shot for a 2-3 win to tie the series at 1. Stephanie stayed perfect deep into game 3, but a couple of late misses briefly evened the score. Isabella couldn't make the last ball, and Stephanie finally downed it for a 2-3 win to go ahead 2-1 in the series. Stephanie made a mess of the ending in game 4, dropping into a tie and missing on her overtime break. Isabella would also miss once in overtime, but she was able to close out a 4-5 win after Stephanie butchered another shot. This tied the series at 2. Stephanie was the first to falter in game 5, with her lone miss being all Isabella needed for the 0-1 win. Isabella won the series 3-2 and will head home to play in the bracket semifinals.

Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Lexi v. Beth. In 7-ball, the silver cue takes a turn. The black makes another sub appearance. Harrison's Lexi scratched late in game 1, and Pearl's Beth cashed in immediately with a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead off the ball-in-hand play. The Specters' Lexi shot right back in game 2 with a four-ball run-out after an error from the Surfers' Beth. Lexi's surge tied the series at 1 game apiece. Beth tried to make a positioning play in game 3, but she scratched after sinking the 5. Lexi took the ball-in-hand on the 7 to the bottom side for the win and 2-1 advantage in the series. A back-and-forth game 4 nearly fell to Lexi, who made a pair but missed on the 7 at the end. Beth put the 7 away at the top side for the win to retie the series at 2. Lexi just came up with the win in game 5, cutting the 7 to the top right on a pair of shots after Beth missed the 6. Lexi won the series 3-2 and will be on the road in the bracket semifinals.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Frosty v. Pounce. Another 7-ball series also uses the silver cue between Coastal rivals. Southern's Pounce opened on a three-ball run, but after a contested middle of game 1, Viewpoint Sound's Frosty emerged on a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Frosty kept up the late play vibe in game 2, battling with the Monarchs' Pounce at first before unleashing her three-ball run-out for the win. Frosty's up 2-0 in the series. Frosty had a three-ball run over the middle of game 3, but this one would fall short as she missed on the 6. Pounce made the last two balls to get on the board in the 2-1 series. Frosty again left too much on the table late, banking the 5 to the top left but missing the 7 at the bottom right. Pounce mopped up the final shot for the win to tie the series at 2. With the series on the line, Pounce scratched as he deflected off the 3 to pot the 6. Frosty made the final pair of shots from ball-in-hand for the win and 3-2 series win. Frosty retains home-field advantage in the bracket semifinals.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Mitchell. The silver cue stays on for 12-ball. Freedom's Roxy did everything early in game 1, but Victoria's Mitchell established unbreakable defense at the top left. Roxy tried to power through, and Mitchell made his last ball on his next turn for the 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy trailed again in game 2, but a strategic scratch paid off. The Spurs' Mitchell couldn't make anything from the kitchen, and Roxy went on a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Mitchell use a four-ball run to jump ahead initially, but Roxy fired back on a three-ball run with good positioning to end the game. She did so a turn later to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. Mitchell's attempt at defense late in game 4 was a poor one at best, giving Roxy something to play off of to set up her last shot. Roxy played it perfectly and got the win to secure the series at 3-1. Roxy built up enough of a lead in game 5 to weather a late push from Mitchell. He got within a ball, but Roxy had her last shot ready to go and buried it for the 4-1 series win. Roxy is set to host again in the bracket semifinals.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Nightfur v. Twilight. Captains battle in Rotation with the blue cue. Central's Twilight went mostly unchallenged in game 1, establishing the lead quickly and steadily working her way to an 8-2 win over Royal's Nightfur. Twilight owns a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Nightfur found a lead initially in game 2, but the Warriors' Twilight stalled her host quite a bit. At the end, Twilight surged on a four-ball run-out for the win to move up to a 2-0 lead in the series. Game 3 saw a lot of back-and-forth until Twilight tried to bank the 10 to the top side, inducing a scratch. Nightfur picked up a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to win the game 8-4, which cut the series deficit to 2-1. Nightfur couldn't keep up the pace in game 4, falling behind early and never pulling even with Twilight, who went on to win 8-4 again. Twilight clinched the series at 3-1. Nightfur didn't even put up a fight in game 5, as Twilight smashed an 8-0 shutout with a three-ball run and a combo at the end. Twilight will be on the road in the bracket semifinals after taking this series 4-1.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: A. Charlton v. Valencia. The blue cue goes again in this 13-ball set. Golden's Valencia had extensive set-up work and played to plan in game 1, but her late miss opened the door for Archtown's A. Charlton to work a three-ball run-out on the counter. Charlton leads the series 1-0. The Pilots' Valencia nearly blew it in game 2, holding positioning on her last ball but twice missing contact. The Arrows' Charlton pushed back but couldn't catch up before Valencia got the win to tie the series at 1. Valencia's break in game 3 led to a long-standing defensive presence at the top right. She was able to get ahead of Charlton and then scratched her defense off the board. Charlton couldn't react fast enough to stop Valencia from getting the win to move ahead 2-1 in the series. Valencia never gave Charlton a chance in game 4, making the 8 to the bottom side on the break, along with the 1 in the top right and the 6 in the top side. The instant win secured the series for Valencia at 3-1. Valencia stayed strong in game 5, making one of each on the break. She chose solids and ran circles around Charlton again for the win to lock up a 4-1 series win. Valencia will be on the road in the bracket semifinals, but it hasn't hurt her yet.

McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Steven v. Brownie. The red cue only appears today in the holiday bonus series, playing Accuracy. Atlantic's Steven didn't budge one bit in game 1, playing perfectly while Royal's Brownie faltered at the end. Steven won 0-4 and earned a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the roles reversed as the Pirates' Steven fell behind early while the Crowns' Brownie held a perfect performance. Brownie closed it out as a 0-2 win to tie the series at 1. The balance of power swung back to Steven, who put up another perfect effort in game 3 in the form of a 0-3 win to regain the series lead at 2-1 over Brownie. In game 4, Brownie just missed out on her second perfect game, but she was still good enough in a 1-2 win to even the series at 2 games each as Steven had a couple of early missteps. Brownie had nothing on the break in game 5, but she picked up the last-shot advantage after Steven's early scratch. It didn't matter, as Brownie had a late scratch and Steven took care of business to win 2-3. Steven went with a 3-2 series win to get to a road series in the bracket semifinals.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Citrus v. Starlight. The host gets a second look today in a big-name 13-ball series with the blue cue. Lighton's Citrus made two solids and a stripe on the game 1 break. She looked done as Pacific's Starlight marched toward a comeback, but Starlight's run ended at four balls, and Citrus made a pair to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Citrus had a calmer break, saving the fireworks for a four-ball run-out at the end. She highlighted the run with a three-rail bank on the 13 to the top left to set her up on the 8, which gave her a 2-0 series lead over the Volcanoes' Starlight. Citrus didn't have the magic in game 3, as Starlight opened with a four-ball run partially stalled by a scratch. As strategy became important, Starlight was a little quicker than Citrus and picked up a well-planned win to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the series. Starlight had a fantastic start in game 4, but she was unable to corral the 9 to the top left. Citrus slowly chipped back with short bursts of offense, but she would take a pair at the end for the win to seal the series at 3-1. Citrus struggled a little in game 5, falling behind Starlight near the end, but Citrus' scratch would work in her favor. Citrus worked a four-ball run-out after the scratch to get the win and a 4-1 series win. Citrus will visit Watermelon of the Pearl Surfers in the bracket semifinals.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake v. Boots. Veterans clash in 13-ball with the substitute black cue to end the extended day. Royal's Jake had a stunning three-ball run at the start of game 1, but his slow finish allowed a three-ball run by Pearl's Boots to make things interesting. Jake still got the win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Crowns' Jake went empty on the break in game 2 and was getting destroyed by the Surfers' Boots for most of the battle. Boots' positional play ended the game early, as the cue swiped the 8 into the bottom right early to gift the win and 2-0 series lead to Jake. Game 3 was similar, as Jake made a three-ball run on his first turn to make Boots desperate. Again, a positioning shot from Boots led to the 8 going down prematurely, and this time it clinched the series for Jake at 3-0. Royal's Jake had a good start in game 4, but both players looked disinterested after Boots scratched. The 8 proved elusive until Boots finally made it legally to get her first win in a 3-1 series that favors Jake. Game 5 was also a little slow-moving at the end, but Boots was again able to find the win to leave Jake with a 3-2 series win. Jake will be on the road in the bracket semifinals. Jake took his second kill of the year to make Boots the 63rd eliminated player.

That's all for today. We'll likely be starting later on Christmas for the 100th competition day of Tournament play.