We're back with another full day of fifth-round action. First up...
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Panda v. Princess. The blue cue starts the day with a Coastal Derby in 9-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Princess found her way to win game 1 on a three-ball run-out capped by a 6-9 combination to the bottom left. She leads Southern's Panda by a 1-0 margin to start the series. The Meteors' Princess fouled in her attempt on the 4, which led to another early finish. The Monarchs' Panda put the 4 in the top right and deflected off the 5 to bump the 9 to the bottom right for the win to tie the series at 1. Princess had an attack in game 3, but it didn't work out long-term. Panda shot back with a three-ball run-out to get the win for a 2-1 series lead. Panda attempted a deflection on the 2 off the 9 in game 4, but it worked out even better as a 2-9 bank combination to the top side for the win to seal the series at 3-1 over Princess. Panda finished strong in a dominant game 5, making six balls over his last two turns to beat Princess one more time. Panda won the series 4-1 and will be on the road in the bracket finals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Fluffina. The blue cue remains in action for 12-ball. Freedom's Nikolai made a four-ball run and gave up a wild-card ball on the break. The run was enough of a head start to hold off Infinity's Fluffina, who was shaky as Nikolai got the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai didn't start as hot in game 2, giving the Torpedoes' Fluffina a little room to work. Fluffina planned on taking it slowly, but Nikolai won on a four-ball run-out to move ahead 2-0 in the series. Nikolai again gave away a wild-card ball early in game 3, but Fluffina was prepared to attack this time. Her positioning was strong, and while she gave a wild-card ball to Nikolai near the end, she was able to finish at the bottom left for the win to cut the series to 2-1. Fluffina gave up a wild-card and scratched on the same shot to ruin her opening run. She was still in the game 4 battle near the end, but she overfilled at the bottom side, and Nikolai was able to take his last ball for the win to clinch the series at 3-1. Fluffina didn't have the best start in game 5, but she was able to battle with Nikolai throughout the game. Nikolai gave away a late wild-card ball, giving Fluffina the edge she needed for this win. Nikolai settled for a 3-2 series win to give him a hosting position in the bracket finals.
Sony Center, Queens: Briana v. Spot. In 10-ball, the silver cue is ready to go. Pronger's Spot had the better offense for much of game 1, but he missed contact on the 8, and Queens' Briana was able to get the last two shots from ball-in-hand for a win. Briana is up 1-0 in the series. The Flames' Briana didn't have a lot of offense in game 2 either, but the Tridents' Spot was too inconsistent near the end. He couldn't pot the 10, and Briana was able to eventually take it at the bottom left for the win make it a 2-0 series. Spot finally went off in game 3, blitzing with a nine-ball run-out to command a huge share of the offense. His big win cut the series to 2-1, with Briana still hanging onto the lead. Spot continued to churn out offense, with Briana deferring possession to him once in game 4. On Spot's second illegally potted ball, Briana took possession, but she missed on the 10, and Spot buried it to the bottom right to tie the series at 2. Spot had a strong start to game 5, but Briana finally unleashed a five-ball run-out of her own to take game 5 and the 3-2 series win. Briana will host her bracket finals series. Spot is the 110th player eliminated this season, while Briana earned her first kill.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Frosty v. Steven. The host begins a home doubleheader in 9-ball with the red cue. Atlantic's Steven played a much more assertive style in game 1, getting the win over Viewpoint Sound's Frosty on a four-ball run-out. Steven's strong form put him ahead 1-0 in the series. The Pirates' Steven didn't look immediately ready for game 2, but his glancing kick to take the 2 at the top left sparked a six-ball run-out that extended his series lead to 2-0 over the Meteors' Frosty. In game 3, both players took early swipes at the 9. Steven tried to deflect off the 1, but the 9 wouldn't go at the top right. Frosty then made the 1 in the bottom side and worked a deflection off the 2 to finish the 9 at the top right for the win. This cut Steven's series lead down to 2-1. Steven stepped up his play again in game 4, including a 2-4 combination to the top left with a draw to bump the 8 into the bottom side as part of a three-ball run. Steven finished the game on a four-ball run-out, with the 9 dropping his second choice pocket at the top left, helping him secure a 3-1 series lead over Frosty. Steven finished an excellent series with an early win in game 5, converting a 7-9 cut combination to the top right for the 4-1 series win. Steven will travel in the bracket finals, facing Archtown Arrows captain Sally in the A-Line Derby.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Frosty v. Taylor S. The host's doubleheader ends with 7-ball and the silver cue. Game 1 was a back-and-forth battle as the players exchanged pairs of shots. In the end, Viewpoint Sound's Frosty got the win with the 7 at the bottom left to go up 1-0 in the series against Commerce's Taylor S. The lack of extended runs continued in game 2. The Meteors' Frosty slipped up near the end and saw the Tradewinds' Taylor S. tie the series at 1 with the last two shots. Frosty looked a little better with a late three-ball run in game 3, but she couldn't corral the 7, and Taylor S. mopped it up to go ahead 2-1 in the series instead. Taylor S. ran the table in game 4, never letting Frosty get a chance to equalize in the series. Taylor S.'s burst of offense countered for a 3-1 series lead. Taylor S. finished with a 4-1 series win after a triple-pot from the game 5 break, which saw the 4 go to the bottom left, the 6 drop in the top right, and the 7 drain at the top side. Taylor S. was dominant and will host her series in the bracket finals. Frosty will be the 111th eliminated player, and Taylor S. extended her league lead in kills to six.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal v. Whiskers. An underrated series sees the blue cue come on for 9-ball. North Modernistic's Gal was shaky at best in game 1, while Maplewood's Whiskers had a pair of three-ball runs, including a 6-9 combination to the bottom right for the win. Whiskers owns a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers made a pair on the game 2 break and then kept the Nighthawks' Gal from getting to the table. Whiskers used a 5-9 combination to the top right to win with a six-ball run-out for the 2-0 series lead. Gal kept herself alive in game 3, a choppier battle than previous outings. Whiskers didn't have a lot of offense going and Gal won on a three-ball run-out closed by a 7-9 combination double-pot at the top right to cut Whiskers' series lead to 2-1. Gal opened game 4 on a six-ball run, but her offense faded from there, and Whiskers made the final three balls to get the win. Whiskers secured the series at 3-1 in the process. Gal had a chance to get game 5 as consolation at the end, but she missed the 9 at the bottom left, and Whiskers tapped it in for the 4-1 series win. Whiskers is set to host Southern Monarchs captain Panda in the bracket finals. It's the first kill of the year for Whiskers, which made Gal the 112th ousted player.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Mr. Snowman. The silver cue is back for 12-ball here. Freedom's Roxy struck on the game 1 break and did better with positioning in game 1, holding off Infinity's Mr. Snowman for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy had her chances to finish game 2 at the top right, but sloppy shooting on her last ball allowed the Torpedoes' Mr. Snowman to make good on his quick start. Mr. Snowman won at the bottom left to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Roxy seemed to have the better positioning until a late scratch messed her up. Mr. Snowman had just enough time to grab the win, another close battle tipping the series in his favor by a 2-1 margin. Mr. Snowman had positioning late in game 4, but a missed contact would prove critical. Roxy took the ball-in-hand and converted a three-ball run-out for the win to retie the series at 2. Roxy had a dominant start to game 5, and Mr. Snowman did himself no favors with a scratch. Faced with needing a big run, Mr. Snowman made only one ball as Roxy got the win for a 3-2 series win. She'll head to Lighton to face the Prestige's Shiny in the bracket finals. Mr. Snowman is the 113th player to exit the competition, and Roxy earned her first kill.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley v. Steven. The red cue cycles in for Accuracy. Boston's Gradley was strong in game 1, holding a firm line that Atlantic's Steven couldn't match. Gradley walked away with a 1-3 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Gradley had an instant struggle in game 2 with a scratch on the break. The Pirates' Steven didn't let Gradley get back in it until late, but Steven was good enough to maintain a 1-3 win this time to tie the series at 1. Steven and Gradley battled hard for the first few shots in game 3, but Steven dropped off the pace by mid-game. Gradley faded near the end but managed to hold on for a 2-3 win to make it a 2-1 series lead in his favor. Gradley had a rough ending to game 4, as he suddenly lost his poise on offense. He ended up losing badly as Steven maintained perfection in a 0-5 win to retie the series at 2. Steven held the lead as game 5 wound down, but a trio of misses put it out of reach for him. Gradley made it interesting but ended up with a 3-4 win to seal the series at 3-2 as he advances to the bracket finals in a hosting position.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Vladimir v. Dani. The day ends with the silver cue in 8-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Dani had a three-ball run in game 1 end with collateral damage. Stonebridge's Vladimir turned in a six-ball run and left the 8 near the top left for his next turn. Dani couldn't counter, and Vladimir got the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 featured a cagey start on both sides before the Meteors' Dani broke free on a six-ball run-out for the win. This tied her series against the Wolves' Vladimir at 1 game apiece. Dani again saved her offense for late in game 3. Vladimir had picked at the rack a bit before Dani rampaged a seven-ball run-out for the win to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. It was a close battle in game 4 yet again, but Dani couldn't provide any late heroics. Instead, she missed contact on the 8 and Vladimir was able to pocket two shots from ball-in-hand for the win to tie the series at 2. Vladimir had game 5 in his grasp after quickly getting onto the 8, but he took three shots to pot it, just doing so after Dani's four-ball run applied pressure. Unfortunately for him, Vladimir also scratched, and Dani was gifted the win and 3-2 series win instead. Dani will host Taylor S. of the Commerce Tradewinds in the bracket finals. Dani has her fourth kill of the year, while Vladimir is the 114th player to be eliminated.
We'll go again tomorrow to begin the second half of the bracket semifinals.
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