We're set to begin the best-of-seven series that compose the finals. First up, we have battles between the finalists that didn't earn byes today. The host's preferred cue will be used in each series. Leading off...
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Shiny (R) v. Dreamy (S). Southwestern rivals kick off today's action in Rotation. Lighton's Shiny had a strong start in game 1, but Swordpoint's Dreamy rallied back by making the last five balls for an 8-4 win and 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Dreamy kept the momentum in game 2, taking a huge lead early on. The Prestige's Shiny had a minor counterattack, but Dreamy was not threatened in her 8-3 win that pushed her series lead to 2-0. Dreamy continued her front-running habits in game 3, but this time, Shiny mounted a successful comeback. Shiny wound up winning 8-6 to cut the series to 2-1. In game 4, Shiny never really fell behind. Dreamy kept it close at first, but Shiny surged forward on a four-ball run-out for the 8-4 win to tie the series at 2 games apiece. Shiny turned up the defense in game 5, keeping Dreamy stuck in bad positions throughout. Shiny was given free reign to attack, and she won 8-0, pulling ahead in the series for the first time at 3-2. Shiny surged again early in game 6, and while Dreamy got some of it back, it wasn't enough. Shiny went on to win 8-2 and clinched the series at 4-2 in the process. Dreamy got one back at the end by winning game 7 on an 8-3 result. Shiny earned her spot in the Championship Finals against the Royal Crowns' Brownie. Dreamy is the 156th eliminated player and the fourth to fall to Shiny, while the Blades are also the 19th eliminated team.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Lionel (B) v. Mams (S). The second series is in 10-ball. North Modernistic's Lionel came out on fire in game 1, but Southern's Mams doused him with a four-ball run-out at the end for the early 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Mams followed up with a seven-ball run from the break, including making the 10 illegally. At the end, she had a missed on the 8, and the Nighthawks' Lionel made the last two shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Mams continued to show strength early on with big attacks, but her scratch on the 8 would be her downfall in game 3. Lionel again potted the final pair for the win that put him ahead 2-1 in the series. Mams faded in her quality in game 4, missing some shots and scratching near the end. Lionel wasn't sharp either, but he did enough to win, extending his series lead to 3-1. Mams kept herself in it for now with a late four-ball run-out, which saw her win with a deflection off the 8 to bump the 10 to the top right. Lionel remains ahead 3-2 in the series after game 5. Lionel cranked a five-ball run early in game 6, but Mams fired right back with a five-ball run-out, including a kick to tap in the 10 at the top right. The series is tied at 3, heading into a decisive finale. Game 7 packed as much drama and tension as the rest of the series, with Lionel pulling off a four-ball run-out at the end to advance on the 4-3 series win. He'll face Pronger Tridents captain Precious in the Championship Finals. Mams is the 157th eliminated player, while Lionel is up to four kills.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Taylor S. (S) v. Watermelon (R). In 8-ball, two MVP front-runners meet. Pearl's Watermelon led off game 1 on a five-ball run. Commerce's Taylor S. responded with a six-ball run abbreviated by a scratch, and Watermelon struck back for three more shots to get the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Watermelon did not back down in game 2, while the Tradewinds' Taylor S. could barely make a shot. This led to a lopsided frame, as Watermelon easily stomped to a 2-0 lead in the series. Watermelon had a tougher time keeping her shots strong in game 3, but Taylor S. missed on the 8 twice before Watermelon was able to corral it for another win. Watermelon is on the verge of advancing with a 3-0 series lead. Taylor S. avoided the sweep in game 4, keeping Watermelon in bad positioning for the late-game. Taylor S. then picked her way to a win to cut the deficit to 3-1. Watermelon staved off the threat from Taylor S. in game 5. Both players started hot, but Watermelon sustained the effort longer for the win to secure the series at 4-1. Taylor S. played well in game 6, but Watermelon pulled ahead with a late four-ball run. On the next turn, Watermelon knocked in the 8 for the win to push ahead to 5-1 in the series. Watermelon struggled through most of game 7, but a five-ball run made it close at the end. Taylor S. buried a pair for the win, with Watermelon advancing on a 5-2 series win. In the Championship Finals, Watermelon will visit the Terrace City Knights' Oreo.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot (R) v. Shadow (S). We've got 15-ball here. No shortage of creativity occurred in game 1, especially with Viewpoint Sound's Hoot at the table. Diamond's Shadow tried to play straightforward, but Hoot had a little more luck in earning the win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Hoot continued to play freely in game 2, notching a six-ball run until his miss on the 12. From there, the Gems' Shadow produced a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Shadow had arguably one of the top-ten breaks of all time in game 3, dropping five balls to four different pockets. He would alternate offense with Hoot over the rest of the abbreviated battle, with Shadow pulling off the win to move ahead 2-1 in the series at the end. Shadow didn't have the same explosiveness off the game 4 break, forcing the players to battle a bit early on. Hoot had his chances, but Shadow found a five-ball run-out at the end to get the win and 3-1 lead in the series. Hoot continued to try to play creatively in game 5, but the creeping sense of desperation threw him off his game. Shadow was steady as ever, using good positioning and choppy attacks to eventually make four of the last five balls for the win. Shadow sealed the series at 4-1. Shadow took the edge off his play in game 6, still contributing plenty of offense but not sweating the little details as much. Hoot used that to his advantage and won on a four-ball run-out to cut the series to 4-2. Shadow kept shooting well in game 7, but Hoot took this win early as well with a deflection off the 6 to bump the 15 to the top right. Shadow settled for a 4-3 series win to get him into the Championship Finals against the Archtown Arrows' A. Charlton. Hoot is the 158th player to be eliminated, and Shadow has two kills.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki (R) v. Taylor S. (B). The Tradewinds are assured of one player in the title series of 12-ball. An ugly start to game 1 saw both players commit illegal contact on their first turns. Eventually, Taylor S. got the lead, although Niki used defense to slow her teammate. Taylor S. eventually capitalized on Niki's late error to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, Niki executed a perfect stitch pattern with a five-ball run-out to get the win. Taylor S. had left decent defense up, but Niki wove through it to tie the series at 1. Niki had a good start to game 3, but Taylor S. kept things close throughout the game. Niki will regret missing at the top right so many times, as it bought Taylor S. enough turns to get the win at the top side. Taylor S. regained the series lead at 2-1. Taylor S. appeared in control with a pair on the game 4 break, but positioning favored Niki this time. At the end, Niki made a three-ball run-out to get by Taylor S. for the win that retied the series at 2. Taylor S. had a good start again in game 5, but the finish was very tense. Niki managed a five-ball run and nearly came all the way back as the 15 hung on the edge of the bottom right. Taylor S. then made a pair for the win, restoring her series lead at 3-2. Taylor S. made a ball on the break in game 6, but slow positioning and missed contact near the end cost her the series lead again. Niki made a pair of shots late to even the series at 3 games each. Taylor S. defended well after an early four-ball run in game 7, leaving Niki to play desperately. Taylor S. easily held her off for the win and 4-3 series win to get the to Championship Finals against the Freedom Cascades' Roxy. Taylor S. is up to 11 kills after this bout of friendly fire, while Niki is the 159th eliminated player.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally (R) v. Cheddar (S). Two tough opponents clash in 9-ball this time. North Modernistic's Cheddar closed game 1 on a three-ball run-out, washing out the slow start that plagued both her play and Archtown's Sally as well. Cheddar owns a 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Cheddar tried to keep things lively in game 2, but it was the Arrows' Sally missing the 4 on a bank but deflecting the cue to take the 9 at the bottom right that made it interesting. Sally's inadvertent win tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw another bout of sporadic offense early on. Cheddar seemed a little stronger, and she was rewarded as her awkward kick on the 6 deflected the 9 into the bottom side to restore her series lead over Sally at 2-1. Game 4 saw continued struggles with shot form and placement. The end was especially painful as both players chased the 9 around. Sally eventually prevailed by rattling the 9 out of the bottom right and into the bottom left to retie the series at 2, but she and Cheddar had countless other misses. Game 5 was perhaps the most normal yet in the series. Sally had her share of offense, but once again she fell behind Cheddar, who won on a three-ball run-out for the 3-2 series lead. Sally had a four-ball run over the middle of game 6, but it wouldn't pay off. Sally rattled the 8 out of the top left, and Cheddar converted the final pair of shots for the win to clinch the series at 4-2. Cheddar left no doubt in game 7, ripping another three-ball run-out to grab the win, officially defeat Sally 5-2 in the series. Cheddar will meet Southern Monarchs captain Panda in the Championship Finals. Sally is the 160th play to exit Tournament play, while Cheddar earned her fourth kill of the season.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Lorde (B) v. Gradley (R). Accuracy is next on the schedule. Capital City's Lorde showed Boston's Gradley no mercy in her 0-2 win in game 1; Lorde's perfect play led her to a 1-0 series lead and a boatload of confidence. The Sharpshooters' Lorde slipped a little bit in game 2 and even trailed for awhile, but the Swifts' Gradley made a couple of late mistakes, allowing Lorde to win 2-3. Lorde's series lead is up to 2-0. Lorde finally bit one in game 3, taking just a single miss but watching as Gradley played perfectly in a 0-1 win. Gradley's victory cut Lorde's advantage to 2-1, setting up a tight end to the rest of the series. Gradley couldn't sustain that positive play into game 4, as he unraveled following a double-pot. Lorde held strong until the end, scratching late but doing enough to earn the 2-3 win that boosted her series lead to 3-1. Gradley and Lorde put on another big battle throughout game 5, but it didn't work for Gradley when he collapsed near the end with a pair of misses. Lorde won this one 1-3 and secured the series at 4-1 in the process. In game 6, Lorde let up on offense a bit, but not so much as to make it easy for Gradley. The game went to overtime, where both players made mistakes on their first shots. Later on, Lorde scratched to set up Gradley for the 3-4 win that cut the series to 4-2. Lorde made another mess out of game 7, dropping this one to Gradley by a 3-5 score. Lorde pulled off a 4-3 series win to get to the Championship Finals against the Diamond Gems' Leonardo. Lorde took her second kill of the season as Gradley was the 161st eliminated player and the Swifts were the 20th team to fall.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Citrus (B) v. Shawn (R). The penultimate series today comes in 13-ball. Lighton's Citrus seemed to have the better of play until a scratch slowed her in game 1. Midland's Shawn didn't pick up the slack until he banked the 6 to the bottom side. Shawn went on to take the 8 at the top right for a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Shawn couldn't do anything with a positive break in game 2. His lousy positioning allowed the Prestige's Citrus to slowly work her way to the win, which tied the series at 1. Shawn struck first in game 3, but his offense after that attack as lacking. Citrus converted a five-ball run for pressure, and ultimately got the win to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. In game 4, Citrus scratched on the break and never really got under control from there. Shawn had an easier time with positioning and picked up the win to retie the series. Shawn had the edge for virtually all of game 5, but Citrus defended the bottom left perfectly. Citrus then made the 1 to the top left and deflected it to take the 15-2 combination at the bottom left to key a four-ball run-out with the 8 banked in the top side for the win to restore her series lead at 3-2. Shawn kept his series going in game 6, but it didn't look good for awhile there. Citrus had defense at both pockets Shawn needed, but his patient play outlasted Citrus' urgency, and Shawn got the win to tie the series at 3. Shawn couldn't get anything on the break in game 7, allowing Citrus to pick stripes at the top side. She looked out of sorts in the middle of the game, but Shawn's positioning made it tough to get to the left corners, and Citrus would ultimately get the win for a 4-3 series win. Citrus will take on her old teammate Strut, now of the Golden Pilots, in the Championship Finals. Shawn is the 162nd player out of the Tournament, and Citrus has five kills. The Predators are the 21st team out of players.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Cubby (B) v. Princess (R). Rounding out today's games, we have 7-ball. Eastside's Cubby did all the heavy lifting in game 1, but came up with nothing as he missed the 7 at the bottom left. Viewpoint Sound's Princess poached the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Princess made a pair of shots before a scratch in game 2, which ruined her chances of winning. The Sharks' Cubby rallied on a five-ball run-out from ball-in-hand to tie the series at 1. Both players made three balls on their first turn of game 3, with Cubby's run ending illegally. Princess then converted the 7 on a bank to the bottom side on her second turn for the win, pulling ahead 2-1 in the series. After a slow start in game 4, Cubby returned to dominant form with a six-ball run-out, retying the series at 2 as Princess can't seem to sustain her offense. Game 5 saw the players tighten up a bit as the end of the series neared. Princess still found time to carve out a three-ball run-out for the win, retaking the series lead at 3-2 this time. Princess cranked a five-ball run from the game 6 break, but it ended with a scratch as she tried to line up on the 6. Cubby made the final pair of shots for the win, tying the series once more at 3. In the middle of game 7, Princess slipped up with a scratch. Cubby finally got back-to-back wins with a four-ball run-out, taking the series 4-3 in the process. He'll visit Commerce Tradewinds star Taylor S. in the Championship Finals. Princess is the 163rd player eliminated, and the Meteors are the 22nd eliminated team. Cubby has three kills now.
On Saturday, the regular-season portion of Tournament play comes to a close with the nine Tournament of Champions bids up for grabs.
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