It's the 50th day of Tournament play this year, beginning with...
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Gizmo. The blue cue opens the day in Rotation. North Modernistic's Gizmo was good early in game 1, but his lead faded under pressure late. Golden's Valencia rallied for a four-ball run-out, taking an 8-6 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia had a four-ball run in the middle of game 2 to establish her lead. The Nighthawks' Gizmo fired back with a three-ball run, but Valencia was clean in an 8-5 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Valencia didn't have much offense in game 3, as Gizmo's five-ball run put her into desperation mode. Valencia got one back, but Gizmo won the game 8-2. A 2-1 series win sees Valencia through to the second round.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Rosalina v. Stinky. More Rotation features the green cue. Victoria's Rosalina had a reasonable start to game 1, but her miss on the 6 proved critical. Freedom's Stinky went on a five-ball run-out for the 8-3 win, including a 10-12 combination to the top side and a pinch on the 10 to the top right. Stinky leads the series 1-0. The Cascades' Stinky had the lead early in game 2, but he couldn't hold on as errors piled up later. The Spurs' Rosalina steadily pulled closer and then made a pair at the end for an 8-6 win to tie the series at 1. Rosalina couldn't get out of the gate in game 3, while Stinky was strong throughout. Stinky won 8-2 and took the series 2-1, earning a trip to Central to visit the Warriors' Noelle in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Bandit v. Puff II. The red cue gets a look in 7-ball. Swordpoint's Bandit set a standard with a four-ball run to open game 1, and Boston's Puff II was very inconsistent with her shooting. Bandit would scrape together more offense later for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Bandit had a good chunk of offense in game 2, but his positional play on the 7 ended in a scratch. The Swifts' Puff II took the win from ball-in-hand, tying the series at 1. Game 3 was also a back-and-forth battle for the two players, which saw Bandit clean up a pair of shots at the end after Puff II missed contact. Bandit won the series 2-1 and will visit club-mate Jake of the Royal Crowns in the second round. This was Puff II's 100th unique opponent.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Esmeralda v. Dani. The venue doubleheader ends with the blue cue in 8-ball. Swordpoint's Esmeralda used a five-ball run to get deep into game 1, and not even a scratch was enough to hold her back. Viewpoint Sound's Dani made a three-ball run before missed contact allowed Esmeralda to pot her final pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Esmeralda had a steady offense in game 2, but it wasn't enough. The Meteors' Dani made four balls over her last two turns to pick up the win, tying the series at 1. Esmeralda tried to make a comeback in game 3, but Dani's pair on the break was a solid margin for her to protect. Dani won the game and the 2-1 series, and she'll visit Southridge to face the Defenders' Luigi in the second round.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Katharine v. Leonardo. The red cue is back in action for 13-ball. Whitewater's Katharine had decent positioning in game 1, but Diamond's Leonardo was stronger to finish it off. Leonardo pushed Katharine out of position and then made a pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Leonardo potted a pair of each suit on the game 2 break. He took stripes, and while he had some setbacks, a fortunate three-ball run set him up. The Shores' Katharine was too slow at the end, and Leonardo won again to seal the series at 2-0. Leonardo continued to play well from the break in game 3, and his work on solids was plenty to complete the 3-0 series sweep over Katharine. Leonardo will travel to Web City to face the Spiders' Jack in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Roxy v. Violetta. Back in 8-ball, the silver cue will make an appearance. Queens' Violetta had a four-ball run and a three-ball run in game 1, but it wasn't enough. Freedom's Roxy did enough early on for her four-ball run-out to be enough for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Roxy again started slow in game 2, while the Flames' Violetta was faster. At the end, Violetta stalled out and Roxy had a luck-fueled four-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Roxy made a ball on the game 3 break, but her next shot sank the 8 illegally, gifting the win away to Violetta. Roxy settled for a 2-1 series win that sees her set to host an Eastern Hills rival in the Stonebridge Wolves' Jane in round two.
Intel Center, Diamond: Leonardo v. Lize. The host's second series today is in Rotation with the purple cue. A slow start quickly gave way to a four-ball run by Diamond's Leonardo. Southridge's Lize made a 5-10-13 combination to the top right, but that was it. Leonardo had two more pairs of shots for an 8-1 win and 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Leonardo was a little slower on offense in game 2. The Defenders' Lize found more success, but not nearly enough to flip the result, as Leonardo won 8-3 this time to clinch the series at 2-0. Leonardo was once again good in game 3, although Lize's four-ball run put up a good fight at the end. Leonardo then made a pair to win 8-5, completing the 3-0 series sweep that allows him to host the Atlantic Pirates' Steven in an Eastern Hills derby in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Waluigi v. Bianca. The purple cue stays up for 13-ball. Web City's Waluigi made a ball on the break in game 1, but Southridge's Bianca eventually managed a five-ball run to take the lead. Waluigi had no answer as Bianca picked up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Bianca used a four-ball run in game 2 to get onto her last shot. The Spiders' Waluigi countered with a five-ball run, but his attempt on the 8 left things lined up for Bianca to make a pair of shots for the win. Bianca secured the series at 2-0 for the upset series win. Bianca made a crazy kick on the 10 to the bottom side, but the 8 eluded her just after that, buying Waluigi time to make a comeback for the win. Bianca won the series 2-1 and will head to the second round.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Blizzard v. Shelley. Another 13-ball series with the purple cue follows. Harrison's Blizzard worked a four-ball run early in game 1, but nearly found herself in trouble as Infinity's Shelley fought back late. Blizzard held on and got the win, going ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 saw the players battle back and forth. The Torpedoes' Shelley seemed to have it after the Specters' Blizzard missed contact. Shelley's three-ball run left the 8 standing, and Blizzard made the last pair for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Shelley made things interesting in game 3, after Blizzard had an overfill on the break. Shelley attacked firmly with a big run, but couldn't corral the 8. Blizzard pulled back on a four-ball run-out for the win, completing the 3-0 series sweep. Blizzard will host Atlantic Pirates rookie Buddy in the second round.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Esmeralda v. Kiwi. Club-mates meet with the purple cue in Accuracy. Swordpoint's Esmeralda made a good start in game 1, while Terrace City's Kiwi struggled a bit. Kiwi kept it close and capitalized as Esmeralda fell apart, with Kiwi getting a 2-4 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi had an awful start in game 2, and even as the Blades' Esmeralda faded, Kiwi couldn't correct her play. The result was a 5-6 win for Esmeralda, who will get away with some sloppy play to tie the series at 1. Esmeralda made a ball on the game 3 break, but scratches and generally bad play doomed her after that. Kiwi controlled the game and got a 1-6 win to take the 2-1 series win. Kiwi will play in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Dustin v. Melissa. Cue exits today begin with the green cue in 8-ball. Central's Dustin got a much quicker start on offense in game 1, while Terrace City's Melissa struggled to get anything going. Dustin had a tougher finish but still took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Dustin scratched on the game 2 break, but had a solid five-ball run on his second turn. The Knights' Melissa answered with a five-ball run of her own, and she made the 8 to the top left on the next turn for the win. Melissa's victory tied the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 saw Dustin work a seven-ball run on his first turn, but a pair of scratches would slow him down. Melissa's defense was a factor, but not enough, as Dustin struck late for a pair of shots to get the win and 2-1 series win. Dustin will visit Victoria Spurs veteran Strawberry in the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Waluigi v. Andrew. A second series for the host sees the blue cue up for 12-ball. Web City's Waluigi made a four-ball run from the game 1 break, even while giving Freedom's Andrew a wild-card ball. Andrew did nothing with it, and Waluigi had no trouble making his last two balls for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Waluigi made one of each on the game 2 break, but this time his offense soon went cold. With the added flexibility, the Cascades' Andrew made five balls over two turns for the win, tying the series at 1. Andrew gave away a wild-card ball as he made a four-ball run from the break in game 3. Waluigi made a four-ball run immediately after that, but he couldn't strike a shot to either of the right corners. Andrew survived a scratch and got the win, taking the series 2-1. Andrew will visit Southern Monarchs rookie Molly in the second round.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Lionel. The silver cue cycles in with 13-ball. Everton's Goldy committed a handling foul early in game 1, setting up a big run for North Modernistic's Lionel. Goldy didn't have time to recover, and Lionel easily got the win for a 1-0 series lead on a three-ball run-out. The Nighthawks' Lionel completely fell apart in game 2, a mess of scratches and misses plaguing him this time. The Eagles' Goldy didn't have a standout turn, but steady play all around helped her get the win to tie the series at 1. Goldy scratched on the break in game 3, an unfortunate event that sparked Lionel's early offense. With bad positioning weighing her down, Goldy was far behind when Lionel won with the 8 dropping in the bottom right. Lionel took the series 2-1 and will visit a major Urban rival, the Modernistic Union rookie Maggie, in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Sunshine v. Bear. A rookie takes on a veteran in 9-ball with the purple cue. Royal's Sunshine had a decent start to game 1, but the finish belonged to Everton's Bear, who made a three-ball run-out for the win. Bear leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Sunshine refused to go quietly, as the Eagles' Bear had a staggering start to game 2. Sunshine then found the opening for a six-ball run-out to get the win, tying the series at 1. Sunshine kept his offense up in game 3, taking a couple of turns to get going against a defensive Bear. Sunshine then found a four-ball run-out, capped by a 7-9 kick combination to the bottom left for the 2-1 series win. Sunshine will host Capital City Sharpshooters mainstay Missy in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Mr. Snowman v. Americus. Another 9-ball series uses the red cue. Central's Mr. Snowman opened game 1 with a five-ball run, but he got shaky at the end. His miss on the 9 allowed Midland's Americus to poach the win at the top left for a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Americus remained good at the start of game 2 with three balls on the break, but she couldn't keep it up. The Warriors' Mr. Snowman made a four-ball run, missed a bank on the 9, and then cleaned it up at the top side on the next turn after Americus also missed a bank attempt. The series is tied at 1. Americus had a modest performance in game 3, keeping it even with Mr. Snowman. At the end, Mr. Snowman left the 9 short at the bottom left, and Americus potted it for the win to take the series 2-1. Americus will visit Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi in the second round.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Taylor M. v. Rosemary. The day ends with the purple cue in Accuracy. A close start turned into an absolute blowout as Eastside's Taylor M. held a perfect line for the 0-5 win over a skidding and slumping Commerce's Rosemary. Taylor M. is up 1-0 in the series. The Tradewinds' Rosemary stayed in the series with a 2-4 win in game 2, as the Sharks' Taylor M. had one costly skid in the middle. Rosemary made it closer at the end, but held on to tie the series at 1. Rosemary fell apart in game 3, a scratch and a couple of tough misses ruining her performance. Taylor M. was strong, with a 2-4 win to her credit to win the series 2-1. Taylor M. will host the Royal Crowns' Jake in the second round.
That's all for today. We're six days out from the end of the First Round, which gives many players a chance for a little positive momentum in the coming days.
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