We're back for a new Thursday of games, beginning with...
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Mams. The silver cue opens today in 7-ball. Central's Noelle suffered an early scratch in game 1, but Southern's Mams failed to capitalize on it. Noelle then worked a five-ball run-out for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 had a similar cadence, but the Warriors' Noelle missed the 7 twice after her four-ball run. The Monarchs' Mams cleaned it up at the top left for the win, tying the series at 1. Noelle never got to the table in game 3, as Mams made a pair on the break and finished with a deflection off the 5 to pot the 7 at the bottom left. Mams won the series 2-1 and will host Diamond Gems captain Shadow in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Cubby. Forest SC club-mates meet in Rotation with the blue cue. Web City's Cubby found an early four-ball run in game 1, but his offense died off rather quickly. Whitewater's Marsell chipped back and won with a three-ball run-out for the 8-5 final score. Marsell owns a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Marsell had a more balanced start in game 2, and he broke away in the middle. The Spiders' Cubby failed to launch a chase, allowing Marsell to seal the series at 2-0 with an 8-3 win. Marsell had a much slower attack in game 3, but he was never truly challenged by Cubby. Marsell won 8-5, sweeping the series 3-0 to earn the right to host North Modernistic Nighthawks captain Peach in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Katelynn v. Taylor S. The red cue gets a look in 10-ball here. Royal's Katelynn had most of the offense in game 1, while Commerce's Taylor S. didn't find much success. Katelynn buried a deflection off the 6 to knock the 10 in the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Katelynn looked ready to continue her fairly dominant play with a five-ball run during game 2. She missed on the 7, sparking a three-ball run-out from the Tradewinds' Taylor S. This victory for the visitor tied the series at 1. Katelynn didn't have much early in game 3 as Taylor S. chipped in offense. Katelynn then attacked with a five-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win, which put her in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Dusty v. Toki. Two Reality members clash in Accuracy with the red cue. Eastside's Toki sent Golden's Dusty spiraling early in game 1, then fell apart himself. A sloppy finish forced overtime, where Dusty's break was no good, allowing Toki to take a 6-7 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Toki didn't have as many troubles in game 2, although he briefly allowed the Pilots' Dusty to catch him near the end. Dusty then missed late, and Toki won 2-3 to secure the series at 2-0. Dusty finally put in a worthy effort in game 3, and a skid from Toki in the middle of the game allowed Dusty to win 1-3. Toki took the series 2-1 and will visit Web City Spiders newcomer Nibbles in the second round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Yekaterina v. Acorn. Two of the Southwest's best tangle in 12-ball with the red cue. Both players spent more time ruining each other's shots than making their own at the end of game 1. Lighton's Acorn bent first with missed contact, allowing Victoria's Yekaterina to pot her last ball for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Yekaterina had a good start to game 2 and her positioning remained solid. The Prestige's Acorn desperately gave her a wild-card ball to set up his last shot, and Yekaterina missed her last ball. Acorn then tapped home a winning shot to tie the series at 1. Acorn gave away a wild-card ball on the game 3 break, an added advantage that made things much easier for Yekaterina. Acorn couldn't stop overfilling the top left, and Yekaterina used the free possession to get the win for a 2-1 series win, earning her place in the second round. Acorn has now played 100 unique opponents.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Chicky Phil v. Fuchsia. The host meets the player he replaced for a series of 15-ball with the purple cue. Midland's Chicky Phil didn't have a great performance in game 1, yielding a five-ball run and a three-ball run-out to Infinity's Fuchsia. The thorough offense gave Fuchsia a 1-0 series lead. The Torpedoes' Fuchsia was a little weaker in game 2, as neither player found a great grip on the offense. The Predators' Chicky Phil really struggled late, allowing Fuchsia to get the win that clinched the series at 2-0. Chicky Phil didn't get a chance to make an impact in game 3. Fuchsia had most of the offense, winning with a three-ball run-out that ended as she bounced the cue off the 6 to send the 15 to the top left. Fuchsia swept the series 3-0 and will play in the second round.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Misty. In 13-ball, the blue cue is used. Westside's Misty was just a little sharper in game 1 than Queens' Violetta. At the end, Misty's better positioning helped her get the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Misty made one of each on the game 2 break. The Flames' Violetta managed a good attack, but Misty had a three-ball run to get onto the 8 before she made it at the top side a turn later. Misty sealed the series at 2-0 with this win. Violetta wouldn't come up empty in the series, taking game 3 after a late gamble eventually paid off when Misty failed twice on the 8. Misty won the series 2-1 and will visit Todavía Stills star Ruby in the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Dewey v. Hughbert. Outcast sends a pair of players to battle in 13-ball with the green cue. Harrison's Dewey led for most of game 1, but his missed contact on his second try at the 8 was costly. Tysini's Hughbert turned the ball-in-hand play into a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Hughbert had a four-ball run on his second turn, a lead he held tightly for the rest of game 2. The Specters' Dewey tried to keep up but couldn't set up shots at the side pocket. Hughbert went on to win with a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 2-0. Dewey again tried to line himself up and struggled in game 3, giving Hughbert time to manage a three-ball run-out for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Hughbert is off to the second round.
Sony Center, Queens: Mario v. Spirit. The silver cue returns to action in Rotation. Queens' Mario stepped up with an early four-ball run in game 1. Lighton's Spirit got some of it back, but Mario was strong enough to win 8-2 for the 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit held the lead in parts of game 2, but she wasn't able to finish it off. The Flames' Mario was dogged in his pursuit and managed to win 8-6, which secured the series in his favor at 2-0. Game 3 was a quick one, as Mario merciless pushed a five-ball run on his second turn and added a three-ball run-out after Spirit missed contact. Mario won the game 8-0 and swept the series 3-0 to earn the right to host Terrace City Knights veteran Melissa in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Mams v. Ice Cream. The red cue is back for 12-ball. Boston's Ice Cream deployed a crafty three-ball run early on, giving her enough of an edge to hold off Southern's Mams later in game 1. Ice Cream won with a ball-in-hand play to take the 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Ice Cream had the better start in game 2, but it was a close finish after she gave away a wild-card ball and scratched while making her last ball. The Monarchs' Mams came close to a win, but her bank shot failed, and Ice Cream finished at the bottom side to seal the series 2-0. Mams did another good start in game 3, but she wasn't able to wrangle her last shot. Ice Cream had better positioning and sank the 9 to the top side for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Ice Cream will visit Viewpoint Sound Meteors star Princess in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine v. Spice. More 12-ball features the purple cue. Victoria's Spice received a wild-card ball early in game 1 and ended up a shot away from victory. Whitewater's Katharine answered with a late three-ball run-out, the brilliant turn snatching the win away from Spice. Katharine owns a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Katharine worked a remarkable four-ball run in game 2, but it wasn't quite enough. The Spurs' Spice played just enough defense to make Katharine miss contact. Spice then made her final pair of shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Spice didn't have the best start but managed to get down to her last ball in game 3. Katharine tried defensive positioning after Spice scratched, but that failed. Spice still couldn't finish the game before Katharine kicked her last ball to the top right for the win and 2-1 series win. Katharine will play on into the second round.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Prism v. Bells. Former teammates collide in Accuracy with the purple cue. Pronger's Prism had a few too many struggles early in game 1. Todavía's Bells got sloppy with scratches on her last two shots, but still won 2-3 for the 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Prism improved in game 2, but her early miss was all it took to put things out of reach. The Stills' Bells played a perfect game for the 0-1 win, clinching the series at 2-0. Bells eased up quite a bit in game 3, her finish coming on a particularly sour note. Prism held her ground late to take a 3-6 win, leaving Bells to head to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Sunshine. The purple cue stays up for an 8-ball series. Royal's Sunshine got down to the 8 rather quickly in game 1, but it was behind the 3 that Todavía's Easter used for defense. Over two turns, Easter made seven balls to steal the win away after Sunshine couldn't finish the effort. Easter leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Easter didn't erupt on offense until the end, weathering a couple of poorly-finished runs by the Crowns' Sunshine. Easter was sharp with a four-ball run-out to get the win, clinching the series at 2-0. Easter didn't have much in the way of offense in game 3, letting Sunshine mostly run wild as he picked up his lone win. Easter took the series 2-1 and will play in the second round.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Midnight v. Avril. The red cue's last outing today is in 13-ball. Westside's Midnight made game 1 very fast, as her fourth shot was a failed kick that resulted in the 8 going down prematurely. This gifted a win to Pronger's Avril, who leads the series 1-0 without taking a shot. The Tridents' Avril ended up gifting game 2 to the Rockers' Midnight as well. Avril's kick into a cluster sent the 8 to the top side, allowing Midnight to tie the series at 1. Game 3 finally saw a game get to full term. Avril led after an early burst of offense, and she was able to hold off Midnight long enough to win. Avril took the series 2-1, and she'll travel to Diamond for an Eastern Hills Derby versus the Gems' Autumn in the second round.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Greg v. Boots. A rookie meets a veteran in 7-ball with the purple cue. Archtown's Greg had five balls over his first two turns in game 1, but Pearl's Boots made a pair at the end to snatch the win away. Boots holds a 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots rocked a four-ball run late in game 2, but she just missed on the 7. The Arrows' Greg took an odd bank on the 7, which fell in the top side somewhat surprisingly to give him the win that tied the series at 1. Greg wasn't all that confident in his play, but a split-shot on the 4 and 7 ended up sinking the 4 to the top right. Boots could only watch as Greg surged with a five-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series win to advance to the second round. Atlantic Pirates rookie Buddy will come to Archtown to face Greg.
Intel Center, Diamond: Leonardo v. Rudolph. The 500th series of the Tournament comes in 15-ball with the silver cue to end the day. Diamond's Leonardo had a close call at the end of a game 1 he controlled on offense. Harrison's Rudolph tried and missed an 11-15 combination to the top left, and Leonardo converted it for the win to take a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Leonardo spent all his energy on a four-ball run just after the middle of game 2. He struggled after that, but got the win when the Specters' Rudolph scratched as he made the 15. Leonardo secured the series at 2-0. Game 3 saw patience run low for both players with the series already decided. Leonardo still stepped up with a four-ball run-out capped by a 14-15 combination to the bottom side to sweep Rudolph 3-0 in the series. Leonardo is set to continue in the second round.
With 500 series in the book, the Tournament is quickly approaching halfway done with the First Round. More to come tomorrow.
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