We close the Bracket Quarterfinals today, beginning with...
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Nicole v. Frosty. The red cue goes first today in 13-ball. Game 1 was a mess in terms of shot quality, as both players looked a little shaky. Lighton's Nicole picked up the win eventually after winning the positional battle at the bottom left against Viewpoint Sound's Frosty. Nicole is up 1-0 in the series. The Prestige's Nicole had her offense a little more organized in game 2, which helped her pick up a relatively easy win as the Meteors' Frosty continued to struggle. Nicole now leads the series 2-0. Nicole posted a pair of solids and a stripe on the game 3 break, but Frosty wasn't able to springboard off of that gift. Nicole set up a five-ball run-out and executed a few turns later for the win to clinch the series at 3-0. Frosty had already put up a four-ball run in game 4, but Nicole's attempt for positioning accidentally sank the 8 to gift the win away. Nicole still holds a 3-1 series lead. Frosty got a pair from the break in game 5, but it wasn't enough as Nicole stormed away on a five-ball run-out for the 4-1 series win. Nicole's dominant play gets her into the bracket semifinals, where she'll host Midland Predators captain Shawn.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir v. Kayla. The silver cue gets a look in 8-ball for this series. Stonebridge's Vladimir had a scratch on the break in game 1, but still recovered to make a five-ball run-out before Royal's Kayla could even threaten for a win. Vladimir has a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw the players match each other shot for shot throughout most of the battle. The Crowns' Kayla had the first crack at the 8 and made it on her second try after the Wolves' Vladimir couldn't convert. Kayla's win tied the series at 1. Vladimir found a quicker attack in game 3 at the start, but he again missed the 8 on his one chance to get the win. Kayla had played well enough to be in position to get the win, and she did, going up 2-1 in the series. Vladimir had a six-ball run to start game 4 positively, although the run ended for a stick foul. Kayla did a little catch-up play, but Vladimir had enough time to claim the win to retie the series at 2. In game 5, it was Kayla's turn to commit a stick foul at a critical juncture. Vladimir pushed back and got the win narrowly to take the series 3-2. Vladimir is set to host Dani of the Viewpoint Sound Meteors in the bracket semifinals. Vladimir got his second kill of the year, with Kayla being the 92nd player out of the Tournament.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Cheddar v. Stealth. The red cue returns for a 10-ball set. North Modernistic's Cheddar showed no mercy after Swordpoint's Stealth scratched early in game 1. Cheddar made the 1-10 combination to the top right from ball-in-hand for the 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Cheddar struggled badly in game 2 with a pair of scratches. The Blades' Stealth paced the offense, but his illegally potted ball on the 10 to the top side allowed Cheddar to poach the win for a 2-0 series lead. Stealth had his chance for a game 3 win, but he again sank the 10 illegally, this time with a scratch. Cheddar again poached a win that probably should have gone the other way; instead, she secured the series at 3-0. Stealth's issues at critical moments continued in game 4, as he missed the 4 from ball-in-hand. Cheddar made it and then deflected off the 5 to push the 10 to the bottom right for the win to go up 4-0 in the series. Stealth finally got on the board with a deflection off the 5 to tap the 10 down at the top right after Cheddar got a little too loose in game 5. Cheddar settled for the 4-1 series win that sets her up to host Smudge of the Infinity Torpedoes in the bracket semifinals.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Kitty v. Hoot. Also with the red cue, we have 15-ball. Midland's Kitty started out alright, but Viewpoint Sound's Hoot had a five-ball run and paced the attack from there. Hoot picked up the final pair later to get the win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Hoot took a step back on offense in game 2, struggling a bit at the end when he missed on the 14. The Predators' Kitty stepped up at the right time with a pair of shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Hoot took his opportunity when it arose in game 3, deflecting off the 6 to drive the 15 to the top right after a contentious start against Kitty. Hoot's complex shot restored his series lead at 2-1. Kitty and Hoot both left plenty of opportunities on the table late in game 4, but Hoot finished the effort with a pair of shots when it mattered. Hoot sealed the series at 3-1 with the win. Hoot had a chance to finish off game 5, but he couldn't get the 15 to drop at the bottom right. Kitty applied a light tap for the win, but Hoot took the series 3-2 and will host Mario of the Queens Flames in the bracket semifinals. Hoot earned his first kill of the year, while Kitty's rookie campaign ends as the 93rd eliminated player.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Lionel v. Max. Back up north, the blue cue is called on for 10-ball. Golden's Max didn't mess around in game 1, ripping a seven-ball run-out to thoroughly dominate North Modernistic's Lionel en route to a 1-0 series lead for the visitor. The Nighthawks' Lionel had almost all the offense in game 2, reversing the balance of power as the Pilots' Max couldn't really get a grip this time. Lionel ended by cleaning up the 10 at the top right for the win to tie the series at 1. Lionel maintained his possession edge in game 3, making a four-ball run and adding three more over his last two turns to beat Max for the 2-1 series lead. In game 4, the offense was more mixed. Max had a four-ball run end with illegal contact as he sank the 8. Lionel then missed the 10 to the top right, but Max couldn't bury it and Lionel struck on his second try for the win to clinch the series at 3-1. Max finally had a little luck in game 5, making a three-ball run-out after Lionel missed contact on the 8. Max's win just cut Lionel's series win to 3-2, and it'll be Lionel hosting Sprinkles of the Capital City Sharpshooters in the bracket semifinals. Lionel took his second kill of the season as Max fell 94th in the Tournament's exits.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Watermelon v. Caitlin. The red cue cycles in for 8-ball in its last series of the round. Pearl's Watermelon attacked on a five-ball run early, which Southridge's Caitlin answered with a six-ball run that fell just short. Watermelon then made a pair to get the win for a close 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon had a four-ball run and a pair in game 2, plus an exchange of collateral damage with the Defenders' Caitlin. Watermelon failed twice on the 8, and Caitlin made a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Caitlin attacked with a five-ball run and collateral damage from the game 3 break. Watermelon shot back on a six-ball run but it was close at the finish. Caitlin's miss on the 8 allowed Watermelon to regain the series lead at 2-1 with her win at the bottom side. Watermelon started slow in game 4, putting herself in danger as Caitlin attacked with ease. Watermelon eventually found a groove for a five-ball run, and later a three-ball run-out to get the win that secured the series at 3-1. Caitlin showed up stronger in game 5, with a pair of four-ball runs pacing her to victory after a sluggish start from Watermelon. In the end, Watermelon won the series 3-2 and will host Modernistic Union rookie Sydney C. in the bracket semifinals. Watermelon took her first kill this year to make Caitlin the 95th player out of action in likely the last appearance for the latter.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Avril v. Midnight. The blue cue does a set of 12-ball here. Web City's Avril came up just short at the bottom side late in a close game 1. Westside's Midnight then struck at the bottom left to finish off her win for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Avril had a good push early in game 2, but she faded toward the end with bad positioning. She still nearly won with a bank on the 10 to the bottom side, but it missed, and she accidentally made the Rockers' Midnight's last ball. Midnight will accept the gift for a 2-0 series lead. Avril got down to her last ball again in game 3, but it wouldn't matter as Midnight assembled a four-ball run-out after Avril missed contact. Midnight's surge clinched the series in her favor at 3-0. Midnight couldn't get much after making one of each on the break. She suffered a scratch, and game 4 only lasted so long because Avril had trouble executing in the late-game. Avril did get the win to shrink the deficit to 3-1 in the series. Avril gave away a wild-card ball on the game 5 break, giving Midnight plenty of flexibility to work with. Midnight had a great time in the win which gave her a 4-1 series win. Midnight will host Taylor S. of the Commerce Tradewinds in an Urban Derby in the bracket semifinals. Avril is the 96th player to exit the Tournament while Midnight now has two kills.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sarah v. Slinks. A rookie and a veteran clash in Accuracy with the blue cue. Tysini's Sarah took game 1 on the chin, failing to keep control after the first miss. Westside's Slinks pressured the host well and ended up winning 1-5 for the 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Slinks made a ball on the game 2 break and gave the Hummingbirds' Sarah no margin for error. Sarah couldn't meet that standard, and Slinks extended her series lead to 2-0 with a 0-3 win this time. Slinks stayed perfect again in game 3, while Sarah missed just once. The 0-1 result helped Slinks seal the series at 3-0 as she continues to play excellently on the road. Slinks finally let herself go in game 4, mailing in an ugly effort as Sarah picked up a 3-6 win that nearly unraveled at the end. Slinks remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Slinks left no doubt to her quality in a 1-4 win over Sarah in game 5, closing the series with a 4-1 win. Slinks will visit Atlantic Pirates third-year Isabella in the bracket semifinals. Slinks took her first kill of the year to end Sarah's rookie campaign as the 97th eliminated player.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Starlight. Captains collide in the round finale, playing 12-ball with the silver cue. Too many scratches and errors pile up for Pronger's Precious in game 1, letting a less-than-stellar effort from Pacific's Starlight still count as a win. Starlight leads the series 1-0. The Volcanoes' Starlight gave away a wild-card ball on the game 2 break, but the Tridents' Precious quickly gave it back. Precious wasn't concerned, rallying ahead and just staving off Starlight for the win at the end to tie the series at 1. Precious wasn't happy about which ball came out after her early scratch in game 3, but she used the positioning as defense. Starlight was willing to stalemate the game a bit, but Precious didn't play along, and her assertive style earned her the win to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. Precious stunned with a four-ball run to open game 4 in great form. Precious had fantastic positioning as well, and Starlight couldn't hold her back long enough as Precious eventually made a pair for the win to secure the series at 3-1. Precious couldn't close it out in game 5, allowing Starlight to take a wild-card ball and plenty of time to set up her shots. Starlight's win meant Precious advanced to host the Lighton Prestige's Shiny on just a 3-2 series win. Precious earned her third kill this season, and Starlight is the 98th player to fall.
In the bracket semifinals, 82 players will battle for 54 bid spots over the course of a week. That begins Saturday; Friday is an administrative day.
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