We're set to resume Tournament play after a hand injury, which persists but should be manageable. With this latest delay, the 2019 Tournament is all but guaranteed to spill into 2020. As such, there will be no Heart of the Game preseason competition in 2020. If health is maintained, the current Tournament cycle should end in January. We begin this day with...
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Twilight v. Lexi. The blue cue gets the first look today in Rotation between Northeastern rivals. Both players racked up four-ball runs in game 1, but Harrison's Lexi was a little quick on attack, staving off a late run from Central's Twilight. Lexi won 8-6 and took a 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Lexi couldn't follow up in game 2, as the Warriors' Twilight took a four-ball run and never looked back. At the end, Twilight slammed the door for an 8-2 win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Twilight took over early in game 3 as well, and she sustained the attack long enough to win 8-3 for the 2-1 series win over Lexi. Twilight will return to road duty in the bracket quarterfinals.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Midnight v. Missy. The blue goes again for the first of three straight 15-ball sets. An even and fast-paced game 1 tipped in favor of Capital City's Missy at the end as she made three of the last four balls to best Westside's Midnight. Missy leads the series 1-0. The Sharpshooters' Missy stayed strong late in game 2, making six of the last eight balls this time. The Rockers' Midnight slowed the pace of the game, but it wasn't enough to stop Missy from clinching the series at 2-0. Midnight looked to have a chance late in game 3, but her three-ball run ended when she defended herself. Missy took over for a three-ball run-out to earn the 3-0 series sweep. Missy will host her bracket quarterfinals series.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Kitty v. Rosemary. Young players duel in 15-ball with the red cue. Midland's Kitty found a groove at the right time in game 1, surging to the win on a four-ball run-out after a gritty battle with Commerce's Rosemary. Kitty owns a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Rosemary met an unfortunate end in game 2, clipping the 15 on her second shot of the game and sinking it illegally at the bottom right on an attempt at the 2. The Predators' Kitty took the gifted win to secure the series at 2-0. Kitty won the series on her own merits with a strong showing in game 3, making four of the last six balls. Rosemary had a chance for the win but sent her shot on the 15 wide. Kitty swept the series 3-0 and will host her bracket quarterfinals series.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: A. Charlton v. Zach. The blue cue returns for 15-ball between club-mates. Archtown's A. Charlton surged with a seven-ball run in game 1, attacking with force near the end. Pronger's Zach rattled the 15 out of the top side, and Charlton scooped up the win for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, both players left late chances on the table. The Arrows' Charlton eventually got enough under control to make a pair at the end for the win to seal the series at 2-0 over the Tridents' Zach. Charlton kept herself in control for game 3, with Zach unable to counterattack well enough to turn the result. Charlton swept the series 3-0 and will visit the Capital City Sharpshooters' Missy in the bracket quarterfinals. Zach is the tenth player out of the Tournament, and the first kill for Charlton.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Frosty v. Leonardo. The red cue is back for this 9-ball series. Viewpoint Sound's Frosty worked a three-ball run from the break, but she stumbled in the middle. Diamond's Leonardo picked up the pace and won with a three-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Leonardo was alright in game 2 with a ball on the break and a later three-ball run. He missed on the 8, setting up the Meteors' Frosty for the final pair of shots, which she took to win the game and tie the series at 1. Frosty failed in her initial positioning plan for game 3, but it worked out just fine as she made a 5-9 combination to the bottom right for the win. Frosty took the series 2-1 over Leonardo, and she'll host again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Bells v. Wario. Down the coast, the silver cue gets a look in 10-ball. Game 1 was a back-and-forth battle that ultimately tipped to Todavía's Bells on the final pair of shots after Southridge's Wario couldn't extend his late run. Bells leads the series 1-0. The Defenders' Wario scratched as he potted the 5 in game 2. This set up the Stills' Bells for a three-ball run-out from ball-in-hand, which gave her the series at 2-0 when she converted the sequence. Bells couldn't keep her performance clean in game 3, allowing Wario to work a five-ball run-out for his lone win. Bells took the series 2-1, and she'll be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Leonette. Energetic club-mates do battle in 15-ball with the red cue. Infinity's Smudge worked a seven-ball run from the break, stopped only by a scratch. Pacific's Leonette had a little offense, but Smudge would win with a late pair to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Torpedoes' Smudge saved her offense until the end of game 2, striking a seven-ball run-out to stun the Volcanoes' Leonette. Smudge's big attack clinched the series in her favor at 2-0. Game 3 was done quickly, as Smudge worked her way to a 3-15 combination at the top right to win again, sweeping out Leonette by a 3-0 series score. Smudge is off to the bracket quarterfinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Cassie v. Steven. Another 9-ball series uses the red cue to bring the day to half-completion. Royal's Cassie had plenty to be proud of in game 1, but she couldn't corral the 9 at the end. Atlantic's Steven tapped it to the top right for a cheap win that put him ahead 1-0 in the series. In game 2, the Pirates' Steven got a ball on the break but missed the 1. The Crowns' Cassie made the 1 and miscued on a 2-8 combination attempt. Steven then took the 2-8 to the bottom right and the 2-9 at the top right for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Cassie got a little redemption in game 3, finishing a four-ball run-out by double-potting the 2 cut to the bottom side and the 9 banked to the bottom left. Steven still won the series 2-1 to punch his ticket to the bracket quarterfinals. Steven earned his first kill of the year to make Cassie the 11th eliminated player.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Fuchsia v. Jack. Back in 15-ball, the silver cue draws in. Neither player dominated in game 1, but Web City's Jack did enough work at the end to snag the win after Midland's Fuchsia faltered late. Jack owns a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack remained bold in attack in game 2, but a late scratch turned the tides. The Predators' Fuchsia made the 11-15 combination from ball-in-hand to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. The 15 lingered around the bottom right for quite some time in game 3. Both players had swipes at it, but Jack put it down in conjunction with his shot on the 9 to win the series 2-1 over Fuchsia. Jack heads to the bracket quarterfinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Ms. Puppy v. Stinky. A captain and a veteran battle in 10-ball with the red cue. Both players scrapped for positioning in game 1, but Freedom's Stinky gave up the battle by missing the 10. Modernistic's Ms. Puppy won by tapping it to the top right for the 1-0 series lead. In game 2, both players had chances for big runs, but the finish ended up being choppy. The Cascades' Stinky scratched on his bank attempt on the 10, and the Union's Ms. Puppy mopped up the win from ball-in-hand to secure the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw a stunning finish as Stinky pulled off a 3-10 combination from a bad angle to the bottom side to take the win early. Ms. Puppy settled for a 2-1 series win to put her in the bracket quarterfinals.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Potter. Outcast club-mates square up in 12-ball with the red cue. Queens' Violetta flexed a little skill in game 1, giving up a wild-card ball on the break and then burying Pronger's Potter positioning at the end. Violetta won on a three-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta lacked positioning in game 2 after a rough distribution from the break. The Tridents' Potter quickly got down to his last ball, and Violetta made a three-ball run to match him before she missed on the 13 at the bottom left. Potter put his 3 in the top left for the win to tie the series at 1. Potter gave up a wild-card ball on the break in game 3, which essentially served as a white flag for him. Violetta controlled possession and needed just two tries for a tough kick on the 3 to the bottom left for her win. Violetta took the series 2-1 to get to the bracket quarterfinals.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Spice v. Delila. A captains' battle occurs in 15-ball with the blue cue. Atlantic's Delila had to weather quite an attack from Victoria's Spice, with the latter clearly holding a majority of the offense. Delila still got the win with the final pair of shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Delila took a more active approach to game 2, competing well with the Spurs' Spice this time. Delila turned it up at the end to get the last two balls for the win that sealed the series at 2-0. Delila got tricky in game 3 to make it a sweep for herself. Spice scratched on the 2, and Delila converted a 2-3-15 combination deflected off the 4 and into the bottom right. Delila's 3-0 sweep puts her on the road again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Sydney C. v. Violetta. The silver cue cycles in for Rotation. Modernistic's Sydney C. started out fine in game 1, but Queens' Violetta rallied ahead and then closed the win with a three-ball run-out. Violetta took a 1-0 series lead with her 8-4 win. The Flames' Violetta didn't have much early in game 2, and she had to take one on the chin as the Union's Sydney C. worked a seven-ball run for a massive lead. Sydney C. closed out the game as an 8-3 win to tie the series at 1. Sydney C. held the lead for most of game 3, but Violetta pulled back on a four-ball run-out for the 8-6 win to take the series 2-1. Violetta will continue this road-heavy bid in the bracket quarterfinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Taylor S. The silver cue's last series of the day comes in 8-ball. Commerce's Taylor S. had control for much of game 1, especially after a three-ball run got her onto the 8. She couldn't pot the winning shot, as Southridge's Bianca used defense to buy herself time to get the win by banking the 8 to the top left. Bianca leads the series 1-0. The Defenders' Bianca didn't get as much traction in the late-game, nor did she have time. The Tradewinds' Taylor S. had a big run before a scratch, then added a three-ball run-out with a ridiculous bank of the 13 to the top side, followed by a tough cut to make the 8 at the bottom right. Taylor S. earned her win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw a flurry of offense at the end, with Taylor S. asserting herself on a five-ball run, followed by Bianca making a four-ball run while also knocking down Taylor S.'s last ball. Bianca couldn't finish the run, and Taylor S. grabbed the win for a 2-1 series win that puts her in the bracket quarterfinals.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Sage v. Citrus. Southwestern rivals collide in 13-ball with the blue cue. Victoria's Sage dominated in game 1, with a three-ball run from the break and excellent positioning allowing her to take the win in three turns. Sage holds a 1-0 series lead over Lighton's Citrus. The Spurs' Sage didn't have the same level of performance in game 2, allowing the Prestige's Citrus to get ahead of her early. Sage tried to get back in it, but Citrus was fast enough to close out the win that tied the series at 1. Sage had to get creative again in game 3, as Citrus took positioning at the bottom left they both needed for their final ball. Sage tried to pot both balls, but only made Citrus', and the visitor banked the 8 to the top side on the next shot to win. Citrus claimed the series 2-1 and will take a turn hosting in the bracket quarterfinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Sydney S. v. Pounce. The day ends with the blue cue in Rotation. Harrison's Sydney S. had quite the battle on her hands in game 1, just fending off Southern's Pounce in the back-and-forth 8-6 win she posted for the 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Pounce made a completely different impact in game 2, taking the lead at first and then blasting a six-ball run capped by double-potting the 5-7 combination to the bottom right with a 7-9-13-12 deflection to the top right for the 8-0 win. This stunned the Specters' Sydney S. as Pounce tied the series at 1 with confidence. Pounce stepped up again in game 3, a little less coordinated than before but still good enough to win 8-0 after taking three balls on the break. Pounce won the series 2-1 and will be a visitor again in the bracket quarterfinals.
If the hand injury stays under control, Tournament play will return to a six-day week.
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