Before the New Year's fireworks, we have some pool to play. First up...
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Taylor S. v. Kiwi. The silver cue gets the first series today, playing 7-ball. Nothing was pretty about game 1, which saw a slow start and a scratch from Commerce's Taylor S. Terrace City's Kiwi made the last two balls from ball-in-hand for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Taylor S. bounced back in game 2, watching the Knights' Kiwi make a pair on the break, but answering with a four-ball run-out two turns later. Taylor S. tied the series at 1. Taylor S. made a ball on the break and weathered an attack from Kiwi early in game 3. Taylor S. then potted a three-ball run-out for the win to put her ahead 2-1 in the series. Taylor S. scratched on the break in game 4, but Kiwi couldn't pick up anything special on offense. Taylor S. would take the win with a decoy shot on the 6 that deflected to pot the 7 at the bottom left, which sealed the series at 3-1. Kiwi plucked a pair at the end of game 5, striking back for the win that left Taylor S. with a 3-2 series win. Taylor S. will visit the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Frosty in the bracket semifinals. Kiwi is the 84th eliminated player this year, and Taylor S. rejoined the league lead in kills at 4.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Nicole v. Whiskers. The blue cue draws in for this 9-ball series. Lighton's Nicole sank a ball on the break and won with a 3-9 kick combination to the bottom side two shots later, taking a stunning 1-0 series lead over Maplewood's Whiskers. Game 2 was much more contested, with neither player really finding a groove on offense. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers flubbed her shot on the 9 at the end, and the Prestige's Nicole tapped it down for the win to go up 2-0 in the series. Game 3 had the same back-and-forth rhythm to it, but with a little more success on the shots. Whiskers made the last four shots, including a miss on the 8 that rattled the cue to bump the 9 down at the bottom side for the win. Whiskers cut Nicole's series lead to 2-1. The choppy play continued in game 4, as Nicole took herself out of position on the 9 after making the 8. Whiskers gladly tapped the 9 into the bottom side for the win to tie the series at 2. The pace increased in game 5, with Whiskers picking off the final pair to defeat Nicole in the game and the 3-2 series. Whiskers' comeback sets her up to visit Gal of the North Modernistic Nighthawks in the bracket semifinals.
HP Field Events Center, Southridge: Shawn v. Stephanie. Southeastern rivals clash in 15-ball with the red cue. Southridge's Stephanie enjoyed most of the offense in game 1, and she won with a little luck on a deflection off the 8 to ignite a 10-15 combination to the top side. She leads Midland's Shawn 1-0 in the series. The Defenders' Stephanie kept up the pace in game 2, attacking early and often. She had a five-ball run over the middle, but the Predators' Shawn countered on a three-ball run before missing the 14. Stephanie made the final pair for the win and 2-0 series lead. Stephanie struggled at first in game 3 but found a late seven-ball run, only to scratch as she made the 14. Shawn gladly took the 15 from ball-in-hand for the win, cutting Stephanie's series lead to 2-1. Stephanie had a brief four-ball run that made it look convincing for her, but Shawn got a three-ball run-out at the end of game 4 to tie the series at 2. Stephanie salvaged the near disaster in game 5 with a five-ball run-out, a fierce finishing attack enough to earn her the 3-2 series win over Shawn. Stephanie will be on the road again in the bracket semifinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Rosemary v. Dani. The silver cue is back for 8-ball. Commerce's Rosemary had a fairly strong start in game 1, but Viewpoint Sound's Dani sustained her offense through the game better and got the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Rosemary wasn't scared to start hot again, working a four-ball run in game 2. The Meteors' Dani wasn't as successful on the counterattack, and Rosemary worked unchallenged for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a slow start on both sides. Rosemary had a little more success at first, but Dani rallied on a six-ball run-out for the win to regain the series lead at 2-1. Rosemary had the lead late in game 4, but she couldn't hang on and missed contact on her last ball. Dani responded with a three-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 3-1. Dani wouldn't be denied in game 5 despite a sluggish start. Rosemary faded by the end and Dani made a pair for the win to finish the series at 4-1. Dani will continue on the road in the bracket semifinals. Dani earned her second kill of the year, while Rosemary is the 85th player out of action.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Mitchell. Another 8-ball set features the blue cue. Terrace City's Oreo was unusually reckless in game 1, making three stripes for Victoria's Mitchell in one turn. Oreo still got the win as Mitchell missed the 8 at the top left, and the host went up 1-0 in the series with a tap-in. The Spurs' Mitchell led for much of game 2, but the Knights' Oreo slowly marched her way back into contention. At the end, Mitchell finally headed off the threat and picked up a win to tie the series at 1. Oreo didn't mess around in game 3, with a five-ball run on her first turn and a three-ball run-out on the next turn, including a perfect kick on the 8 to the top side. She leads Mitchell 2-1 in the series after the strong game. Mitchell stayed in the series with a sloppy game 4 win, picking up the pace as Oreo scratched a couple of times late in the game. Mitchell's win tied the series at 2. Oreo again found her offense after Mitchell couldn't build momentum from the break. Oreo's thorough victory gave her a 3-2 series win and a trip to Royal to face Crowns captain Nightfur in the bracket semifinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Bells. The silver cue cycles back for a 10-ball battle. Pronger's Spot was the stronger of the two players in game 1, and he was rewarded with a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead over Todavía's Bells. The Tridents' Spot wasn't as good in game 2, but he still made the last five balls over three turns while the Stills' Bells scuffled to get anything going. Spot's win moved him to a 2-0 series lead in a so-far-lopsided set. Bells had another rough first half in game 3, but she started to find her way a bit near the end. Coupled with Spot being a little less precise, Bells was able to get the win to cut the series to 2-1. Bells decided to cede a lot of possession in game 4, but as she started to err late, Spot grew stronger and found a win on a five-ball run-out to seal the series at 3-1. Spot had a six-ball run in between errors for Bells, but she scratched as she sank the 9, and Spot picked up the 10 to the bottom right for a 4-1 series win. Spot will visit the Queens Flames' Briana in the bracket semifinals. Spot earned his second kill of the year and Bells became the 86th eliminated player.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Mams. The silver cue goes again in 10-ball. Southern's Mams had a majority of the offense in game 1, but probably should have lost after scratching on the 9. Golden's Dusty missed the 10 three times, including once from ball-in-hand, to let Mams off the hook as the visitor went up 1-0 in the series. The Pilots' Dusty continued to suffer unforced errors, although credit goes to the Monarchs' Mams for playing some defense in game 2. Mams picked up the last two shots for the win to push her series lead to 2-0. Dusty had an illegal contact in game 3, which sparked Mams to tap the 2 to the bottom right and then convert the 3-10 to the top right for the win to clinch the series at 3-0. Mams poured it on in game 4 with a five-ball run and a three-ball run-out at the end to absolutely dominate Dusty as the series lead became 4-0. Dusty would deny Mams the chance for a sweep, looking for every chance on the 10 she could find. Dusty won with a 5-10 double-pot combination at the bottom right, leaving Mams with a 4-1 series lead. Mams will visit Queens Flames captain Crystal in the bracket semifinals. Mams took her second kill of the season and Dusty is the 87th played to exit the Tournament.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Shadow. The host's second series today is in 13-ball with the red cue. Midland's Shawn had a little trouble early in game 1, but a scratch helped him work better positioning to ultimately beat Diamond's Shadow for the 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Shadow attacked more vigorously early in game 2, forcing the Predators' Shawn to play defensively. Shawn did well at this, but an aggressive positional shot allowed Shadow to win with a pair on the next turn. This tied the series at 1 game apiece. Shawn and Shadow sped up the process in game 3. Shawn posted a pair of three-ball runs, while Shadow worked a four-ball run but couldn't get on the 8 in time. Shawn's win restored his series lead at 2-1. Shadow had an advantage for most of game 4, but he couldn't position at the top left. Shawn continued to play defensively and induced illegal contact by Shadow near the end. Shawn then made a pair of shots for the win to secure the series at 3-1. Shawn stormed ahead quickly in game 5, and Shadow's long-term positioning plan took a little too long to work. Shawn banked the 8 to the top left for the win to finish a 4-1 series win. Shawn will be on the road in the bracket semifinals.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris v. Gradley. The last series in calendar year 2019 is in Accuracy with the red cue. Game 1 was a lackluster start to the series, especially for Capital City's Chris, who had a near-complete collapse as Boston's Gradley grabbed a 4-7 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Gradley made a pair and scratched on the game 2 break, but the Sharpshooters' Chris couldn't hang onto the lead. Gradley ended up winning by a 3-5 score to move to a 2-0 series lead. Chris failed to solve his late-game struggles in game 3, which would officially take him out of the running for the series as Gradley closed up a 1-4 win to seal it at 3-0. With the pressure off, Chris put together a perfect game, beating Gradley 0-4 in game 4 to cut the series to 3-1. Chris turned in another excellent performance in game 5, winning this won 1-2 over Gradley, who wasn't bad himself. Gradley took the series 3-2 and will host the Atlantic Pirates' Steven in the bracket semifinals. Gradley's second kill of the year left Chris as the 88th eliminated player.
Tournament 2019, as expected, will seep into January of 2020, starting with tomorrow's action.
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