Tournament 2019 - Bracket Finals Day 2

The middle day of the Bracket Finals is here, with a major emphasis on tactical styles. First up...

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Shiny. The red cue opens the day in Rotation. Game 1 was slow going on both sides. Viewpoint Sound's Dani lost her temper a bit near the end, while Lighton's Shiny held the lead for most of the game and won 8-5 to pull ahead 1-0 in the series. The Prestige's Shiny started game 2 on a four-ball run, and held a large lead for the early part of the game. The Meteors' Dani made a rally to get close, but a late scratch on the potential tying shot would allow Shiny to take an 8-6 win from ball-in-hand to move ahead 2-0 in the series. Dani held the lead at one point in game 3, but she couldn't make it stand after Shiny's double-pot. Shiny went on to earn an 8-5 win that sealed the series in her favor at 3-0. Shiny turned up the heat in game 4, making a pair on the break and adding plenty of offense later to beat Dani by and 8-2 score for the 4-0 series lead this time. Dani salvaged the win in game 5, dominating from the start and winning 8-2 to cut Shiny's series win to 4-1. Shiny went 16-8 on the bracket as she advances to the Finals.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Princess v. Fluffina. The venue doubleheader ends in 7-ball with the red cue. Viewpoint Sound's Princess posted a pair of three-ball runs and a finish on the 7 to the top side to take a commanding 1-0 series lead after Infinity's Fluffina failed to impact game 1. The Torpedoes' Fluffina continued to struggle with her shots, opening the door for the Meteors' Princess to attack without much concern. Princess plucked a pair at the end this time to grab the win for a 2-0 series lead. Princess clinched the series at 3-0 despite Fluffina finding a little more offense in game 3. Princess still had a grand majority of it, including the final pair of shots that secured the win. Fluffina finally found a win with a three-ball run-out in game 4, as Princess eased off the intensity with the series in her control. Fluffina picked up another win in game 5 with a strong finish, building off the earlier momentum. Princess still won the series 3-2, and she advanced to the Finals on a top-seed minimum 13-8 record. Princess got her fourth kill of the season to make Fluffina the 144th eliminated player. The Torpedoes are the 11th team to be fully eliminated, as well.

Audi Hall, Terrace City: Oreo v. Chimpy. The blue cue draws in for an Urban derby in 8-ball. Terrace City's Oreo made three solids on the game 1 break, but she faded and Westside's Chimpy surged on a five-ball run. Chimpy had the late momentum to convert the final pair for a win and 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Oreo bounced back quickly in game 2, capitalizing on an empty break from the Rockers' Chimpy. Oreo found the route to victory with a four-ball run-out, tying the series at 1 when her kick on the 8 landed at the top right. Both players made mistakes near the end of a back-and-forth game 3. Oreo first missed the 8 at the bottom right, but Chimpy rattled the 12 out of the bottom side on the next shot. Oreo tapped the 8 down on the second try for the win to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. Oreo made a bank on the 3 to the bottom left when Chimpy couldn't do the same on the 13 to the bottom right. Oreo's attempt on the 8 was ruined by Audi Hall's tight playing quarters, as she missed near the bottom side. Chimpy then made a pair and got the win to retie the series at 2. Chimpy ran out of steam in game 5, falling apart near the end as Oreo pushed a three-ball run-out for the win. Oreo won the series 3-2 and finished the bracket at 17-7 to get into the Finals. Oreo notched her second kill of the season to make Chimpy the 145th player and the Rockers the 12th team eliminated.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Delila. The red cue is back for this 13-ball set between captains. Midland's Shawn turned a break of one of each in game 1 into a three-ball run on stripes. Atlantic's Delila resisted a little, but Shawn found a four-ball run-out to stake out a 1-0 series lead with the win. The Predators' Shawn quickly doubled his advantage to 2-0, pushing the 8 down to the bottom right on a clean break in game 2, leaving the Pirates' Delila no chance to respond. Delila bounced back in game 3 after Shawn overfilled the top right on the break. Delila held her ground offensively and added a little defense to frustrate her opponent before finishing the win. Shawn still leads the series 2-1. Delila worked a four-ball run from the break in game 4 and used better positioning again to leave Shawn with nothing to shoot at. Shawn's positional plays were poor, and Delila grabbed the win again to even the series at 2. In game 5, things got very cagey at the end. Neither player wanted to give the other a clear look, until Delila's adjusted grip allowed her to get onto the 8. She just missed it at the bottom right, and Shawn made a pair for the win and 3-2 series win to send him to the Finals. Shawn went 16-8 on the bracket. Shawn has his fifth kill as Delila is the 146th eliminated player this season.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Taylor S. Two top players clash in 8-ball with the silver cue. Viewpoint Sound's Dani had total control in game 1 until back-to-back scratches. Commerce's Taylor S. rallied with a four-ball run-out for the comeback win and 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Taylor S. made much more of a mess in game 2, as a positioning play on the 12 resulted in a scratch and the premature potting of the 8 to gift the win to the Meteors' Dani. This tied the series at 1. Taylor S. found redemption with a five-ball run in game 3, grabbing a commanding lead. Dani couldn't respond much, and Taylor S. dropped a three-ball run-out for the win to retake the series lead at 2-1. Taylor S. had the lead for virtually all of game 4, but as she committed collateral damage to drain the 8 to the top right, she ended up scratching at the bottom right to gift another win to Dani. The series is tied at 2 heading into the finale. Dani looked poised to finally earn a win for herself, but she had nothing on the 8. Taylor S. rallied well with a five-ball run-out for the win and 3-2 series win after having the deciding shot in each game. Taylor S. went 16-8 on the bracket and extended her league lead in kills to nine as Dani's great campaign ended 147th.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Taylor S. The visitor completes a road doubleheader in 12-ball with the blue cue. Freedom's Nikolai didn't take the easiest route to the win in game 1, instead overfilling on the break and twice missing on his last ball. Commerce's Taylor S. just didn't have the positioning to capitalize, and Nikolai won for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai had a strong start to game 2 with a three-ball run, and then benefited from a wild-card ball as the Tradewinds' Taylor S. made a late push. Nikolai banked the 1 to the top side for the win and 2-0 series lead. On the ropes with this bid, Taylor S. kept it going with a perfect win in game 3, as Nikolai never potted a ball. Nikolai remains ahead 2-1 in the series, but he has no momentum. Taylor S. pulled off a strategic scratch in game 2, keeping Nikolai out of good positioning in the process. Taylor S. then made three balls over her last two turns to get the win that tied the series at 2. Taylor S. completed the 3-2 series comeback win with a big push to start game 5 and enough to hold off Nikolai's counterattack at the end. Taylor S. went 15-9 on the bracket and earned her 10th kill to leave Nikolai as the 148th eliminated player.

Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Shawn. Another captains' battle occurs in 8-ball with the red cue. Pearl's Watermelon had most of the offense in game 1, but a fluky missed contact deflected the 8 into an uncalled pocket at the end to gift Midland's Shawn the win. Shawn leads the series 1-0. The Predators' Shawn did a lot better to earn the win in game 2, controlling the pace early. The Surfers' Watermelon put up a good battle, but Shawn claimed the series lead at 2-0. Shawn started with a four-ball run in game 3, but Watermelon made seven balls over two turns to win with the help of Shawn giving up some collateral damage. Watermelon cut the series to 2-1 with her win. In game 4, Watermelon had a couple of early scratches hold her back. It wouldn't matter when she surprised Shawn with a four-ball run-out for the comeback win to tie the series at 2. Watermelon completed the series comeback in game 5, winning on a three-ball run-out capped by a kick on the 8 to the top right. Watermelon took a 3-2 series and finished 15-9 on the bracket to get into the Finals.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Hoot. The silver cue is up for 13-ball. Golden's Strut rocked the break in game 1, only for Viewpoint Sound's Hoot to counter in a big way. Strut then bounced back with a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Hoot had the first surge in game 2, but he struggled deeply over the middle. The Pilots' Strut came close to a win, but Hoot found his way with a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Hoot had three balls potted on the break, but his positioning for stripes was not good after that. Strut was smart with his play after that, taking his time until he could strike efficiently. Strut went on to win, restoring his series lead at 2-1. Strut had a good break to get stripes in game 4. Hoot was again difficult to play against, especially when he pushed Strut out of position at the bottom side. Hoot wasn't able to capitalize, and Strut recovered in two turns to pick up the win that secured the series at 3-1. Strut couldn't get a cluster of balls organized fast enough in game 5, as Hoot's pacey attack worked to earn the win. Strut settled for a 3-2 series win to put him into the Finals on a fantastic 20-4 record from the bracket.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Shiny v. Roxy. The day ends in 12-ball with the silver cue. In a wacky game 1, Lighton's Shiny gave up a wild-card ball on the break and scratched twice. The scratches came after Freedom's Roxy noticed an impending tip problem on the cue, and applied emergency repairs to keep it going. In the end, Roxy struck at the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy struck on the break in game 2 and put in a good effort on offense. The Prestige's Shiny made it interesting at the end, but Roxy beat her to the bottom left for the win and 2-0 series lead. Roxy couldn't stay out of scratching trouble in game 3, leading to Shiny having her way on offense. Shiny played a patient game to get this win, cutting the series to 2-1. Shiny exploded to pot three solids in the break of game 4, but a total lack of positioning eventually opened the door for Roxy to rip a five-ball run-out for the win, with the aid of an earlier wild-card ball. Roxy sealed the series at 3-1 in the process. Roxy stayed strong in game 5, but she didn't have to finish off the win, as Shiny made her last ball for her instead. Roxy won the series 4-1 and finished at 18-6 on the bracket. This marked Shiny's 100th unique opponent.

Tomorrow, the brackets will be complete, and the Finals will be set.