2019 Tournament of Champions

After 117 game days in Tournament play, eight champions were crowned across the nine disciplines. Today, those eight battle for the final individual trophy, the Champions' Cup. Making its league debut, the brand-new purple cue will be used for this competition. From Volkswagen Stadium Events Center in Viewpoint Sound, we have the Tournament of Champions, beginning with...

Precious (10) v. A. Charlton (15). The first quarterfinal will be played in 15-ball as A. Charlton won the coin toss. Pronger's Precious struck first in game 1 with a three-ball run-out after Archtown's A. Charlton missed a deflection off the 13. Precious leads the series 1-0. In game 2, neither player really did anything notable to take control of the offense. The Arrows' Charlton attacked a little more near the end, but missed on the 15, and the Tridents' Precious picked it off at the top right to move ahead 2-0 in the series. Precious had a decent attack in game 3, but Charlton stole the show at the end. Showing confidence in the new cue, Charlton made a three-ball run-out composed entirely of side pocket bank shots, earning the win to cut Precious' series lead to 2-1. Charlton struggled a bit with contact shots throughout game 4, ceding a lot of possession to Precious. In the end, Precious couldn't capitalize, and Charlton made a pair for the win to tie the series at 2. Game 5 was an absolute mess at the end, as neither player could convert simple looks at the 15. Eventually, Precious kicked it to the top right for the win and regained the 3-2 series lead over Charlton. In game 6, Charlton kicked up the pace a bit with a seven-ball run-out, avoiding the defeat this time to retie the series at 3 after Precious wasn't able to convert an 8-15 combination. Precious turned the tables in game 7, making a six-ball run in the middle and cutting the final pair to the right corners for the win and 4-3 series win. Precious heads to the Tournament of Champions semifinals.

Panda (9) v. Leonardo (A). The second quarterfinal will feature Panda's preferred 9-ball. Southern's Panda wasted no time in making an impact in game 1, draining the 9 to the bottom right on the break for a 1-0 series lead over Diamond's Leonardo. The Monarchs' Panda nearly recreated that effort in game 2, but the 9 stayed out on the break. The Gems' Leonardo had a little offense, but Panda won by double-potting the 7-9 combination to the top right to make it a 2-0 series lead for himself. Panda had a good attack with a seven-ball run in game 3, but he twice missed on the 9. This gave Leonardo the chance to steal a win, cutting the series deficit to 2-1. Panda continued to boss the offense in game 4, working a majority of the possession. Panda won with a failed bank that turned into a missed cut on the 9 at the top left, which deflected into the bottom left to move up 3-1 in the series. Panda had a strong break and a good shot in game 5, but he missed on the 9. Leonardo struck at the bottom right to grab it, shrinking the gap to 3-2 in the series. Leonardo made three balls on the break in game 6 and added more later, but Panda responded at the end to get the win, clinching the series at 4-2 in the process. Leonardo had more of the offense in game 7, but it was Panda taking the win after Leonardo couldn't deflect a shot off the 8. Panda made the 8-9 combination to the bottom right for the win and 5-2 series win to get into the semifinals.

Watermelon (8) v. Brownie (R). After the coin flip, this series will be played in Brownie's style of Rotation. Royal's Brownie made a positive start in game 1, but Pearl's Watermelon surged to an 8-2 win in the end with a four-ball run-out. Watermelon may not be in her mode, but she's up 1-0 in the series. The Surfers' Watermelon didn't enjoy the same success in game 2, as the Crowns' Brownie started with a five-ball run. Brownie kept it up at the end to win 8-3, tying the series at 1. The back-and-forth of the series continued in game 3, where a tight start eventually gave way to Watermelon surging to an 8-4 win over Brownie. Watermelon has retaken the series lead at 2-1. Brownie escaped a tough start to game 4 with a six-ball run. Watermelon countered on a four-ball run, but Brownie made the next pair to seal her win at 8-4, which also retied the series at 2. Brownie again struggled to start game 5, but she kept it close for awhile. Watermelon had the upper hand in late positioning, using that advantage to win 8-3, which pushed her ahead 3-2 in the series. Watermelon led for a little bit in game 6, but Brownie pulled off the comeback with a four-ball run-out for the 8-4 win, equalizing the series once more at 3 games each. Game 7 saw Brownie get a positive start, but once again, Watermelon found a surge for the 8-5 win and 4-3 series win. Watermelon heads to the semifinals against Panda.

Taylor S. (7, 12) v. Citrus (13). The top seed lost the coin flip, so the last quarterfinal is in 13-ball. Lighton's Citrus started well until a scratch stalled her game 1 effort. Commerce's Taylor S. made five balls over two turns, and then Citrus sank the 8 early to give the win away. Taylor S. leads the series 1-0. The Prestige's Citrus got onto the 8 fairly quickly, but she tried to play soft on it in a game where that didn't work. The Tradewinds' Taylor S. stormed back with a firm four-ball run-out for the win to take a 2-0 series lead. Taylor S.'s background in 12-ball is helping her in this series, as she struck one of each down on the game 3 break and added a three-ball run-out at the end for the win and 3-0 series lead over Citrus. Taylor S. couldn't stop scratching in game 4, but Citrus nearly blew the lead anyway. It came down Taylor S. missing the 8 to the top right for Citrus to finally get her win. Taylor S. remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Citrus opened game 5 with a four-ball run, and Taylor S. couldn't break free from a cluster of solids. Citrus took a cautious approach to finishing, but she got the win to pull closer in a 3-2 series. Citrus exploded for three balls on the break, and she took stripes from there. Taylor S. again pushed closer but couldn't catch up before Citrus got the win to even the series at 3. Citrus faltered on her first shot after the break in game 7. Taylor S. controlled the offense and buried Citrus with bad positioning. Taylor S. ended up winning the game and 4-3 series to earn the last semifinals spot. She'll defer to play in the latter semifinal.

Watermelon (8) v. Panda (9). The Tournament of Champions semifinals begin with this series in 8-ball as Watermelon won the coin toss. Pearl's Watermelon couldn't get anything going in game 1, as Southern's Panda shut her out over four turns for the 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon looked better to start game 2 with a three-ball run, but she accidentally sank the 8 to end it by gifting the win to the Monarchs' Panda, who now leads the series 2-0. Watermelon had her best performance in game 3, but she couldn't seal it even after Panda scratched. Instead, Panda continued to rally and picked up the win for a 3-0 series lead. Panda had game 4 in his hands until he sank the 8 in an uncalled pocket at the end. Watermelon will stay alive for now, but Panda's series lead is 3-1. Panda had a strong advantage in game 5, but he didn't sustain it with a foul and a miss on his last two turns. Watermelon pushed all the way back for the win, cutting the series to 3-2. Game 6 saw the worst efforts for both players, leading to a lengthy stalemate near the end. Panda missed his chance on the 8, and Watermelon eventually won with a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 3. Panda ripped a six-ball run in game 7 as well, but he fell short again with no luck on the 8. Watermelon battled long enough to make a three-ball run-out for the win to complete the reverse sweep for a 4-3 series win. Watermelon is one of the finalists, with the other to be determined in the next set.

Taylor S. (7, 12) v. Precious (10). The other semifinal will be in Precious' preferred 10-ball. Pronger's Precious couldn't get any control in game 1, and Commerce's Taylor S. ended early by deflecting a shot off the 3 to pot the 10 at the top left. Taylor S. is ahead 1-0 in the series. The Tradewinds' Taylor S. continued to push the pace in game 2, but she wasn't able to lock it down at the end. The Tridents' Precious made the final pair to win the game and tie the series at 1. Precious took over the offense in game 3, with a five-ball run and a four-ball run-out counting for a win and 2-1 series lead over Taylor S. Precious deferred possession back to Taylor S. after the latter made the 9 uncalled. Taylor S. couldn't do anything on the 4 from there, but she set up Precious for the 4-10 combination to the top right for the win, which stretched Precious' series lead to 3-1. Taylor S. kept the series going with a quick win in game 5, striking a four-ball run-out capped by the 3 and 10 going to the right corners. Precious holds a 3-2 series lead. Taylor S. had a good amount of the early offense in game 6, but Precious slammed the door with a three-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 4-2. Precious capped off game 7 on a nice run as well to finish with a 5-2 series win over Taylor S. Precious heads to the Tournament of Champions Finals.

Watermelon (8) v. Precious (10). The Tournament of Champions Finals will be determined in Precious' preferred 10-ball mode. Pronger's Precious got a good start again in game 1, deflecting off the 4 to drive the 10 to the top right for the 1-0 series lead over Pearl's Watermelon. The Surfers' Watermelon didn't enjoy game 2, missing two good chances at earning the win early. Instead, the Tridents' Precious made a pair at the end for the win and 2-0 series lead. Watermelon again came up just short in game 3, missing on the 8 and allowing Precious to push her series lead to 3-0 on a three-ball run-out. Precious came half an inch away from sealing the title in game 4, but her three-ball run ended with the 10 hanging on the edge of the bottom right. Watermelon tapped it down for the win to cut the series to 3-1. In game 5, the players swapped roles at the end. Watermelon's four-ball run ended with the 10 short at the bottom right. Precious knocked it to capitalize on her hot start, and this win secured the series in her favor at 4-1. Precious didn't put in quite as much effort in game 6, allowing Watermelon to pick up some slack on offense while earning the win. Precious' lead is untouchable at 4-2 with one game left. Precious finished off game 7 as well after a back-and-forth battle with Watermelon. Precious is the 2019 Champions' Cup Winner on a 5-2 series win in the final series.

That's all for individual competitions. We've got the Clan Cup starting tomorrow with the quarterfinals before the semifinals and finals of that playoff coming on Thursday.