We're here for another full day of games. Leading off...
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Mams v. Puff I. The red cue gets the first look today, playing in Rotation. Southern's Mams had a four-ball run early in game 1, only to be upstaged by Modernistic's Puff I on a five-ball run. Mams recovered a three-ball run for the lead and wound up with an 8-5 win on the next turn to give her a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was much more of a choppy battle at first, which saw the Union's Puff I hold a small lead. The Monarchs' Mams surged ahead on a four-ball run, but Puff I fired back on a three-ball run-out to win 8-7, tying the series at 1. Puff I had a little offense early in game 3, but she never got a chance to respond to a six-ball run-out from Mams in the host's 8-2 win. Mams won the series 2-1 and will host Infinity Torpedoes newcomer Fuchsia in the bracket quarterfinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Fluffina. The purple cue draws in for 8-ball between veterans. Infinity's Fluffina had most of the offense early in game 1, but it was Freedom's Nikolai who surged with six balls over his last three turns. Fluffina fell flat and Nikolai marched to the win for a 1-0 series lead. The offense came quickly in game 2, with the Cascades' Nikolai making a six-ball run before the Torpedoes' Fluffina answered with a seven-ball run-out. That strong counterattack gave Fluffina the win and tied the series at 1. Nikolai won game 3 on a three-ball run-out after a close battle with Fluffina. This gave Nikolai the 2-1 series win, and he'll play on into the bracket quarterfinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Rosemary. In 15-ball, the blue cue gets a turn. Golden's Strut had a slight edge on offense early in game 1, then pounded a five-ball run-out with a narrow make on the 11 at the bottom right to set up his 13-15 combination to the same place. Commerce's Rosemary was outmatched as Strut took the 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Strut didn't find much joy in game 2, a three-ball run early on accounting for all of his offense. The Tradewinds' Rosemary used a six-ball run, a pair, and a four-ball run-out to get this win, tying the series at 1. Rosemary wasn't able to dominate the offense in game 3, instead scrapping back and forth with Strut. That plan failed when Strut won on a three-ball run-out after Rosemary fouled. A 2-1 series win allows Strut to host Whitewater Shores veteran Twinkie III in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Mr. Snowman v. Puff III. A Northeastern derby uses the purple cue for 7-ball. Central's Mr. Snowman wasn't remarkable in game 1, but he won with a 6-7 combination to the top right from a tough angle, taking the 1-0 series lead over Everton's Puff III. The Eagles' Puff III tried to provide more offense in game 2, but it backfired when she scratched after potting the 6. The Warriors' Mr. Snowman cleaned up the close battle with the 7 going to the bottom side from ball-in-hand, clinching the series in his favor at 2-0. Puff III picked up a three-ball run from ball-in-hand after a scratch by Mr. Snowman, but Puff III missed the 7. Mr. Snowman made it to complete a 3-0 series sweep that sends him to the bracket quarterfinals.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Mams v. Shadow. More 7-ball features the silver cue. Diamond's Shadow made no effort to disguise his frustration early in game 1, and while he would make a three-ball run later, Southern's Mams answered with a pair to take the win. Mams holds a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Mams pushed a four-ball run on her second turn in game 2, but missed the 5 narrowly. The Gems' Shadow bounced back with a hard-hitting three-ball run-out, including a bank of the 7 to the bottom left, to tie the series at 1. Shadow ripped a five-ball run on his second turn, only to miss the 6 with a rattle. Mams made the final pair for the win to take the series 2-1, earning her place in the bracket quarterfinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Sunshine v. Puff III. Club-mates battle in Rotation with the purple cue. Royal's Sunshine displayed a couple of rookie moments in game 1, but his offense was fairly strong. Everton's Puff III pulled ahead late and fell short, allowing Sunshine to win 8-7 on a three-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Sunshine was a little less stable on offense in game 2, and the Eagles' Puff III exploited that easily with a steady stream of small offense. Puff III wound up winning 8-4 to tie the series at 1. Puff III had a poor break in game 3, but it didn't slow down Sunshine at all, as he worked a five-ball run very early on. Sunshine finished with an 8-2 win to take the series 2-1, and he'll host Pearl Surfers veteran Bright in the bracket quarterfinals.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Kitty v. Roxy. The silver cue cycles back in for 13-ball. Midland's Kitty opened game 1 on a four-ball run, a massive advantage. Freedom's Roxy tried to keep up, but she only sank a single ball in the game, and Kitty walked away with a 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Kitty made a three-ball run on solids from the game 2 break despite some collateral damage. The Cascades' Roxy also had a three-ball run, but Kitty bounced back on a four-ball run-out, banking the 8 to the top side to seal the series at 2-0. Kitty remained unchallenged in game 3, as Roxy made a couple of shots in the middle, but only after Kitty's opening four-ball run. Kitty swept the series 3-0 and will host again in the bracket quarterfinals. Kitty earned her first kill of the year, as Roxy is the third player to exit the competition.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Hershey. Eastern Hills rivals are set to meet in 15-ball with the green cue. Stonebridge's Hershey had a four-ball run in the middle of game 1, but he peaked too early. His finish was sloppy, and Pronger's Spot battled just enough to snag the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Spot looked pretty good with a six-ball run in game 2, but that was again too soon to make a difference. The Wolves' Hershey won on a three-ball run-out two turns later, getting the win to tie the series at 1. Spot didn't have much going his way in game 3, and that showed in the end result, as Hershey controlled the pace and ultimately made a 13-15 combination to the top left for the win. Hershey won the series 2-1 and will be a host in the bracket quarterfinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sugar v. Kitty. The visitor's second series today comes in 15-ball with the silver cue. Midland's Kitty didn't excel at first in game 1 as Tysini's Sugar held her ground early. Kitty broke free later with a five-ball run, and won with a three-ball run-out on her next turn to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Predators' Kitty didn't sustain that offense into game 2, where the Hummingbirds' Sugar supplied a four-ball run and a three-ball run. The ending was a little tense, but Sugar took the win to tie the series at 1. Kitty played hard in an attempt to close out game 3, but she got a little shaky, and Sugar struck for a three-ball run-out to get the win. Sugar won the series 2-1 and will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gal v. Jake. The red cue returns for Rotation. North Modernistic's Gal needed some time to ignite her offense, but she did so with a five-ball run. Royal's Jake never answered it, and Gal cruised to an 8-0 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Gal had a much tougher time with offense in game 2, and it showed as she trailed for most of the game. When she caught up to the Crowns' Jake, he slipped away with a pair for the 8-6 win to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Jake tried to establish himself early in game 3, but Gal pulled out to a lead. Jake was pushing late with a three-ball run to answer Gal's big mid-game run before Gal closed him off for an 8-6 win. Gal won the series 2-1 and will play a visiting role in the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Jennifer v. Puff II. The blue cue will be on hand for 9-ball. Terrace City's Jennifer won game 1 on her second turn, working a four-ball run-out that ended with a deflection off the 5 to push the 9 to the top left. She leads Boston's Puff II 1-0 in the series. Game 2 went the distance, as the Knights' Jennifer stumbled a bit early on. The Swifts' Puff II failed to gain momentum from that, and Jennifer recovered with another four-ball run-out for the win. This secured the series at 2-0 for Jennifer. After a few empty turns early on, Puff II ran the table in game 3 to get her lone win of the series. Jennifer advanced to a road position in the bracket quarterfinals on a 2-1 series win.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Max v. Pauline. Southeastern rivals battle in 8-ball with the red cue. Despite a delay in play in game 1, Golden's Max retained momentum to make his last pair of shots after the delay. He also held off a furious comeback effort from Queens' Pauline, giving Max the 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Max had a four-ball run and a three-ball run in game 2, but still nearly faltered too much at the end. The Flames' Pauline again pressed hard, only for Max to escape with the win, this time sealing the series at 2-0. Pauline played her best in game 3, but she was a little too creative at the end, sinking the last solid and the 8 on the same shot. This gifted away the last win, allowing Max to sweep the series 3-0 en route to a visiting role in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Ms. Kitty. The green cue's last outing today is in 12-ball. Commerce's Niki took solids from the break and even received a wild-card ball later in game 1 as Pacific's Ms. Kitty made a feeble comeback effort. Niki added a pair at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Niki had an even easier time in game 2, making a three-ball run on each of her two turns to beat the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty again. Niki's shutout win clinched the series for her at 2-0. Game 3 was more of the same, although Ms. Kitty did knock in a four-ball run to make things interesting. Niki still fought it off with a three-ball run-out to finish her 3-0 series sweep. Niki will visit the Golden Pilots' Max in the bracket quarterfinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Brownie. The host's second series today uses the silver cue in 9-ball. Golden's Strut had a brilliant six-ball run in game 1, but he missed on the 9 three times. Royal's Brownie would make it on her third try for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Strut retained the majority of possession in game 2, especially by making the last five balls on two separate turns. His winning burst was a three-ball run-out, putting him into a 1-1 tied series against the Crowns' Brownie. Strut brought his best effort in game 3, working a four-ball run at each end of the game to easily wallop Brownie. Strut won the series 2-1 to advance to the bracket quarterfinals.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Quincy v. Wario. The blue cue draws in for 7-ball in its last set of the day. Terrace City's Quincy managed a three-ball run in game 1, but he missed on the 6. Southridge's Wario immediately followed that with a pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Wario didn't let the Knights' Quincy get a chance at redemption. Wario cranked his game 2 break to sink the 7 at the top side, instantly sealing the series at 2-0 with the victory. Wario made a mental mistake as he shot the 3 with the 2 still on the table. Quincy only got a ball from ball-in-hand, and Wario won with a three-ball run-out to complete the 3-0 series sweep. Wario will visit the Everton Eagles' Vincent in a big series in the bracket quarterfinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach v. Lionel. A pair of Nighthawks end the day with the purple cue in 10-ball. Lionel found some happiness early in game 1, but he couldn't sustain the offense. The 10 proved elusive until Peach slammed it to the top right for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was more of the same, with Peach pushing a four-ball run before a narrow miss on the 9 at the bottom right. Lionel bounced back to make the last pair, earning a win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Peach stumble a bit early on. She remained confident, but Lionel didn't let her in as he charged to victory on a six-ball run-out. Lionel won the series 2-1 and earned a place in the bracket quarterfinals. This was Lionel's 100th unique opponent.
At tomorrow's quarter-mark, the Second Round will be half completed.
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