We're ready to go with only a slight delay today. First up...
Sony Center, Queens: Pauline v. Bandit. The purple cue gets the opener in Rotation. Swordpoint's Bandit was fairly thorough with a three-ball run and a four-ball run in game 1. He then made the 8 on his second try, winning 8-1 over Queens' Pauline for the 1-0 series lead. While she didn't have the same menace with runs in game 2, the Flames' Pauline controlled the effort and got an 8-1 win over the Blades' Bandit, who was often left with no clear angle. Pauline's win tied the series at 1. Pauline stormed ahead on a seven-ball run in game 2, narrowly missing a shutout as she illegally hit the 10 to end the run. Bandit got a ball, but Pauline answered for an 8-1 win to take the series 2-1 as she advances to the second round. Pauline will visit the Central Warriors' Dustin in the second round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Rosalina v. Steven. On to 9-ball, where the blue cue enters the action. A choppy game 1 saw few turns last more than three shots. Victoria's Rosalina made a late pair but left the 9 standing for Atlantic's Steven to bury at the bottom left. Steven leads the series 1-0. Game 2 was slightly smoother for both players, as pairs of successful shots were more common. Each player had one late, but it was the Spurs' Rosalina banking the 9 to the bottom left that earned the win, pulling even with the Pirates' Steven at 1 game apiece. Rosalina broke away from Steven in game 3 with a three-ball run-out, earning the 2-1 series win to take her place in the second round.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Avril. Back in Rotation, the silver cue makes an appearance. Pearl's Neopolitan disappointed early in game 1 and only woke up on offense after Pronger's Avril had a massive lead. Avril went on to win 8-3, taking a confident 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Avril had the lead early in game 2, but she couldn't make it stand. A close finish saw the Surfers' Neopolitan win 8-7 with a pair of shots. Neopolitan's win tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw Avril again pull ahead early on, only for Neopolitan to battle back into the series. Neopolitan ended up with an 8-5 win this time, taking the series 2-1 to earn a spot in the second round. This was Neopolitan's 100th unique opponent.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Dewey v. Andrew. The 500th series of the round is in Accuracy with the green cue. Harrison's Dewey played very well early on, but squandered a three-shot lead as Freedom's Andrew took over in the end. Dewey completely unraveled under pressure, and Andrew went ahead 1-0 in the series with a 3-5 win. The Cascades' Andrew stayed perfect deep into game 2, but when he started failing, he couldn't hold onto an even score line. The Specters' Dewey was true at the end, earning the 2-3 win to tie the series at 1. Andrew kept things close in game 3, taking a late lead and holding on as Dewey fell out of contention. Andrew won 2-3, taking the series 2-1 to set himself up for a trip to Lighton to face the Prestige's Spirit in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Hershey. The green cue remains in action for 15-ball. Maplewood's Diddley had a three-ball run early in game 1 and a four-ball run later, but he missed the 15 at the top side. Stonebridge's Hershey tapped it to the top left for the win and a 1-0 series lead that might have gone against the run of play. Game 2 took on a more choppy style of play on both sides. The Wolves' Hershey didn't really see any runs develop, but the Lumberjacks' Diddley was no better. Hershey was able to seal the series at 2-0 with a pair of shots at the end. Hershey had a good break in game 3, but it served Diddley even better, as the host got on the board with a 4-15 combination to the top left for his lone win. Hershey won the series 2-1 and will visit Pronger Tridents star Spot in an Eastern Hills Derby in round two.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Jane. The green cue continues in 10-ball. Southern's Dominic had the bulk of the offense in game 1, featuring a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out in his win over Stonebridge's Jane. Dominic holds a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Dominic made quick work of game 2, striking for a ball on the break and later adding the 2-3-10 combination to the top left after the Wolves' Jane couldn't piece together a counterattack. Dominic's tricky finish clinched the series for him at 2-0. Dominic dominated in game 3, barely letting Jane pot a ball. Dominic's best attack was a four-ball run, and he won on a pair at the end to complete a 3-0 series sweep. Dominic will visit the North Modernistic Nighthawks' Gizmo in the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Violetta. The host's doubleheader ends with Accuracy and the blue cue. Southern's Dominic scratched on the game 1 break, and Queens' Violetta showed him no mercy. Violetta held a perfect line for the 0-2 win, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Flames' Violetta slipped behind with a miss in game 2, followed by a triple-pot, and then another miss to damage her comeback hopes. The Monarchs' Dominic held at perfection this time, winning 0-2 to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw both players stay perfect for a long time, but Violetta would hold on even as Dominic faded. Violetta won 0-3 and took the series 2-1, meaning she'll head to Tysini for a meeting with the Hummingbirds' Sugar in the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Lionel v. Smudge. The silver cue is back for a series of 12-ball. North Modernistic's Lionel had a great start in game 1, but he gave Infinity's Smudge a wild-card ball. Smudge made good use of it in the end, sneaking by Lionel for the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Torpedoes' Smudge didn't have any single huge run in game 2, but steady offense with good positioning kept her ahead of the Nighthawks' Lionel. Smudge went on to win with a shot on the 6 at the bottom right, securing the series in her favor at 2-0. Smudge stayed strong in game 3, showing no mercy to Lionel as he struggled for positioning. Smudge got the win with a kick to the bottom side, sweeping the series 3-0. She'll visit her nephew and former teammate Solaris, now of the Commerce Tradewinds, in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Shiny v. Leandra. Southwestern rivals clash in 10-ball with the blue cue. Lighton's Shiny made a ball on the break, and then stepped up with a six-ball run-out when Tysini's Leandra failed to make an impact. Shiny's massive finish was good for a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra was a little too free with her shooting, resulting in poor mistakes. The Prestige's Shiny didn't have an elegant finish, but it was enough to get the win that sealed the series at 2-0. Shiny played well to start game 3, but her late three-ball run ended with a narrow miss on the 9. Leandra potted the last two shots for the win, leaving Shiny to advance to the second round on a 2-1 series win.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Fluffina. Enterprise club-mates meet in 10-ball with the silver cue. Infinity's Fluffina nearly had game 1, but she left the 10 at the bottom right. Pearl's Neopolitan gladly tapped it in after a strong early performance. Neopolitan leads the series 1-0. The Torpedoes' Fluffina continued to struggle with the 10 in a close game 2 battle. She left it short at the top right, allowing the Surfers' Neopolitan to cash in for the win and 2-0 series lead after her previous three-ball run wasn't enough. Neopolitan had a decent break in game 3, but it was Fluffina who struck for a three-ball run-out capped by a 4-10 combination to the bottom right very early on. Neopolitan won the series 2-1 and will play on in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Max v. Graham. The silver cue stays active with 15-ball. Golden's Max was alright at the start, but Central's Graham put on a seven-ball run to establish himself in the middle of game 1. Max had a chance to finish it, but he missed. Graham made the 15 to the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Max pushed the 15 close to the top left on a combination attempt. He tried to deflect a shot off the 5 to pot the 15, but he scratched on the same play, gifting game 2 and the series to the Warriors' Graham, who now leads 2-0 overall. Graham lost his pace in game 3, causing a bit of an awkward finish. Max eventually put the 15 in the top side to get the win. Graham won the series 2-1 and will visit Katelynn of the Royal Crowns in the second round.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Starlight v. Sprinkles. Another 15-ball series uses the silver cue. Pacific's Starlight had some moments on offense in game 1, but Capital City's Sprinkles was a bit stronger with a noticeable four-ball run. Sprinkles also made the 15 to the top left after Starlight's bank left it short. Sprinkles leads the series 1-0. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles ran out of energy in game 2, but the Volcanoes' Starlight wasn't really any stronger. Starlight took a chance at a 10-15 combination to the bottom right, which connected but also ended in a scratch. This gifted the win and 2-0 series lead to Sprinkles. With nothing to play for, Sprinkles took it easy in game 3. Starlight proved her skill at the end after a stalemate battle early on, getting a four-ball run-out for the win. Sprinkles took the series 2-1 and advances to the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Stephanie. We've got another 15-ball set, this one with the blue cue. Harrison's Twinkie II found her groove on offense with a six-ball run, not that Southridge's Stephanie put up much of a challenge in game 1. Twinkie II added a pair at the end, banking the 15 to the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II didn't have the same venom on her runs in game 2, but the Defenders' Stephanie remained very detached offensively. Twinkie II would get a little tricky, deflecting off the 13 to send the 15 to the bottom left for the win that secured the series at 2-0. Twinkie II had a four-ball run and plenty more offense in game 3, and she also cleaned up the 15 to sweep Stephanie 3-0 in the series. Twinkie II is set to host the Boston Swifts' Ice Cream in the second round.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gizmo v. Roxy. The red cue's only appearance today is in 12-ball. North Modernistic's Gizmo played patiently in game 1, allowing Freedom's Roxy to damage early on. Roxy gave Gizmo a wild-card ball that he quickly gave back. Roxy then removed her defense at the top right, and Gizmo struck for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gizmo played some defense after sinking two solids on the break in game 2. The Cascades' Roxy got down to her last ball but couldn't solve her positioning problems. Gizmo then made his final pair to the top corners for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Gizmo had virtually no positioning after scratching on the game 3 break. Roxy made good use of the extra offense, easily getting the win this time. Gizmo's 2-1 series win pushes him into the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Snuggle v. Esmeralda. The silver cue exits the day in 9-ball. Swordpoint's Esmeralda composed herself well in game 1, finding a six-ball run-out to stun Oceanside's Snuggle. It was a good win that put Esmeralda ahead 1-0 in the series. The Blades' Esmeralda still had a good attack in game 2, but it turned into a back-and-forth battle quickly. The Waves' Snuggle struck for a pair at the end, giving him the win to tie the series at 1. Snuggle nearly made the 9 at the top left on the break. It lingered there for a couple turns before Esmeralda shoved the 2 behind the 4 to bump the 9 down for the win. Esmeralda won the series 2-1 and is set to appear in the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Citrus v. Sweetheart. Today's finale comes in 8-ball with the green cue. Boston's Sweetheart had a large advantage in game 1 when Lighton's Citrus made a bold positioning play. Citrus failed, deflecting the 8 prematurely to the top side to gift a 1-0 series lead to Sweetheart. The Prestige's Citrus found a five-ball run in game 2, but her last solid just wouldn't fall. The Swifts' Sweetheart countered at the end, needing just a couple turns to get the win after Citrus' run. Sweetheart clinched the series at 2-0. Citrus stepped up in game 3, staying consistent and ending with a three-ball run-out for the win over Sweetheart. The series still went to Sweetheart 2-1, and she'll visit Southeastern rival Chicky Phil of the Midland Predators in the second round.
We'll be back on the usual schedule tomorrow if all goes to plan.
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