We're ready with a delayed start to today's games. First up...
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Bianca. The purple cue gets the daily debut in 13-ball. Infinity's Fluffina was good early in game 1, but Southridge's Bianca matched that with a three-ball run. Bianca then pushed a four-ball run-out for a comeback win at the end, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Defenders' Bianca made a pair on the break in game 2, but she lacked positioning to close it out. The Torpedoes' Fluffina pushed back with great positioning, only struggling on her last ball. Fluffina still had plenty of time to earn the win, tying the series at 1. Bianca took advantage of a favorable start in game 3, while Fluffina couldn't get out of her own way. Fluffina's struggles led to Bianca getting the win and 2-1 series win to earn a road position in the bracket quarterfinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Whiskers v. Dominic. More 13-ball uses the red cue. Maplewood's Whiskers paced the offense early in game 1, but Southern's Dominic took over at the end with four balls over the last two turns. Dominic's win gave him a narrow 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Whiskers had a four-ball run to match a similar play from the Monarchs' Dominic early in game 2. Dominic then scratched, and Whiskers worked a three-ball run-out two turns later for the win that tied the series at 1. Whiskers was down to her last ball for what seemed like most of game 3, but she never put it in the bottom side. Dominic was defensive and efficient to earn the win and a 2-1 series win. Dominic will host the Diamond Gems' Leonardo in the bracket quarterfinals.
Google Hall, Modernistic: Maggie v. Pauline. A pair of Celebrity players meet in 10-ball with the purple cue. Queens' Pauline looked slightly sharper in game 1, but she faded toward the end. Modernistic's Maggie delivered the final pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was another back-and-forth battle, with the Union's Maggie starting well but dropping off later. The Flames' Pauline was there to clean up with a pair of shots at the end to tie the series at 1. Things remained close in game 3, but it was Pauline who pulled away on a three-ball run-out in the end to win the series 2-1 over Maggie. Pauline will visit Pronger Tridents veteran Potter in the bracket quarterfinals.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Lily v. Noelle. The green cue steps into action with 8-ball. Eastside's Lily gave away a couple of balls to Central's Noelle, which ended up being a critical mistake late in game 1. Noelle then converted the 8 to the bottom side, getting away with a less-than-precise effort for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Lily had a couple of bursts of offense in game 2, but her latter burst was a three-ball run that left the 8 at the top right. The Warriors' Noelle put away her last pair of shots, after a five-ball run got her in position. Noelle's win sealed the series at 2-0. Lily again started well in game 3, and Noelle again charged up later to make things close. At the end, Noelle scuffed a shot on the 8, giving Lily just enough time to make a pair for the win. Noelle won the series 2-1 and will visit Viewpoint Sound Meteors star Princess.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fuchsia v. Princess. The purple cue is back for Accuracy. Infinity's Fuchsia made a ball on the break in game 1 and stayed perfect from there. Viewpoint Sound's Princess rattled out only one shot, but Fuchsia took that for a 0-1 win and 1-0 series lead. Game 2 started out similarly, but both players completely lost their touch in the middle. The Meteors' Princess tried to drag the Torpedoes' Fuchsia down at the end, but Fuchsia held on to win 5-7, clinching the series at 2-0 in her favor. Fuchsia mixed the two games in game 3, starting perfect at first, completely unraveling late, and still hanging on to win 4-6 as Princess couldn't complete the comeback effort. Fuchsia swept the series 3-0 and will host the Todavía Stills' Bells in the bracket quarterfinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Esmeralda v. Sweetheart. The purple cue remains active in Rotation. Swordpoint's Esmeralda had a tough start, but she filled the void in game 1 when Boston's Sweetheart began to commit many errors. Esmeralda chipped her way to an 8-2 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Esmeralda kept up for a bit in game 2, but the Swifts' Sweetheart grabbed the lead on a four-ball run. Sweetheart was able to close up with an 8-5 win this time, tying the series at 1 game apiece. A humble beginning in game 3 turned into a massive run for Sweetheart, who strung together seven shots for an 8-1 victory. Sweetheart won the series 2-1 and will visit Diamond Gems veteran Leonardo in the bracket quarterfinals. Esmeralda was Sweetheart's 100th unique opponent.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Maison v. Gradley. The blue cue's lone turn today comes in Rotation. Boston's Gradley tried to make an impact in game 1, but he scratched more often than not. Eastside's Maison took advantage of it, slowly working his way to an 8-3 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Maison made a ball on the break in game 2 and just kept going, needing just one turn for an 8-0 shutout without letting the Swifts' Gradley to the table. Maison's shutout is of a particularly rare breed in Rotation, and it secured the series for him at 2-0. Maison again maintained a high level of play in game 3, and Gradley wasn't able to keep pace this time. Maison won 8-4 and swept the series 3-0, earning the right to visit the Golden Pilots captain Valencia in the bracket quarterfinals.
Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl: Neopolitan v. Shaggy. More Rotation activates the silver cue. Pace was not a big part of game 1, which saw Whitewater's Shaggy pick up the 8-5 win after a long back-and-forth battle with Pearl's Neopolitan. Shaggy leads the series 1-0. The Shores' Shaggy had an excellent start to game 2, but she would fall behind as the Surfers' Neopolitan surged. Shaggy then had a chance to win before she scratched, allowing Neopolitan to pot a pair for the 8-7 victory that tied the series at 1. Neopolitan had some offense early in game 3, but that tortured battle eventually saw Shaggy break away on a five-ball run-out for the 8-3 win. Shaggy won the series 2-1 and will return to this venue to visit the Surfers' Wings in the bracket quarterfinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Blizzard v. Buddy. The purple cue cycles in for 13-ball. Harrison's Blizzard attacked well from the start, but couldn't pot her last ball at the bottom side. Atlantic's Buddy was defensive and strong enough to ruin Blizzard's game, as he would make a late pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Buddy made a five-ball run from the break, with a little collateral damage. The Specters' Blizzard couldn't spark her offense in two turns, and she sank the 8 prematurely to gift the win and the 2-0 series to Buddy. Blizzard had a much improved offense in game 3, but it still didn't give her a win. Buddy played hard to get back in the series, then won with a three-ball run-out after Blizzard failed to pot the 8 on a bank. Buddy swept the series 3-0 and will host Southridge Defenders star Bianca in the bracket quarterfinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sarah v. Leonette. The silver cue is back for 12-ball. Tysini's Sarah made one of each on the break and chose solids, but her first shot tipped the balance to stripes. Pacific's Leonette had less trouble with positioning and managed to get a fairly comfortable win for the 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette made a quick pair in game 2 and then turned to positioning. The Hummingbirds' Sarah again wasted a good layout, with an overfill and an error ruining her ability to compete in the series. Leonette would add a pair at the end for the win, securing the series at 2-0. Leonette gave away a wild-card ball during a three-ball run at the start of game 3. Sarah couldn't capitalize on the flexibility, and Leonette slowly worked her way to a tough win for the 3-0 series sweep. Leonette will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia v. Pedey. The purple cue takes another turn in Accuracy. Golden's Valencia faltered badly at the end of game 1, staying behind as Todavía's Pedey haphazardly worked his way to a 4-6 win. Pedey holds a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia got back on track in game 2, playing perfectly until the last ball, which also saw the Stills' Pedey double his miss-count. Valencia emerged at the end with a 1-4 win to tie the series at 1. Valencia scratched on the game 3 break, an infuriating error that saw her lock down her play from there. Pedey nearly nullified it, but two misses at the end helped Valencia win 1-2 to take the series 2-1. Valencia will host Pacific Volcanoes veteran Ms. Kitty in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Shawn. The host's second series today is the red cue's last, coming in 9-ball. Infinity's Fluffina made six balls over her first two turns in game 1, but Midland's Shawn was there with a three-ball run-out on his second turn to get the win. Shawn leads the series 1-0. The Predators' Shawn started and ended game 2 with three-ball runs, limiting the Torpedoes' Fluffina to mostly ineffective shots. Shawn's balanced offense was enough to seal the series at 2-0. Shawn had an impressive four-ball run in the middle of game 3, once sinking the 5 and 6 to the top side on the same shot, but Fluffina would add the last pair of balls for the win. Shawn's 2-1 series win sees him travel to Eastside to take on the Sharks' Lily in the bracket quarterfinals.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Rosalina. The green cue is done today after Accuracy. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot led late in game 1, but missed on the last two balls to drop into a tie. Victoria's Rosalina battled Hoot over a perfect overtime rack, and Hoot missed on the second overtime break. Rosalina converted for a 3-4 win, a hard-earned 1-0 series lead following for her. The Meteors' Hoot had a double-pot early in game 2, which came back to bite him when he missed on the last ball. The Spurs' Rosalina converted for the 1-2 win this time, avoiding overtime as she clinched the series at 2-0. Rosalina played close again in game 3, but with nothing to gain from a tie, she sportingly let Hoot get a deserved win by a 3-4 score. Rosalina won the series 2-1 and will visit Celebrity club-mate and Modernistic Union rookie Maggie in the bracket quarterfinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Stephanie v. Twilight. The silver cue gets a 12-ball series. Southridge's Stephanie made a pair of stripes on the break, but her positioning wasn't great after that. Central's Twilight mixed offense and patience before making the 2 to the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Twilight scratched on the game 2 break, allowing the Defenders' Stephanie to pace the attack initially. Twilight then bounced back while Stephanie tried to position for her last ball. Twilight won with a four-ball run-out, securing the series at 2-0 in the process. Stephanie had her best chance at a win in game 3, but positioning again failed her. Twilight remained cautious until a good play opened up, and she struck at the top right for the win and 3-0 series sweep. Twilight travels to Del Sur to take on the Southern Monarchs' Dominic in the bracket quarterfinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Juno. Another 12-ball series also uses the silver cue. Golden's Sparkles scratched on the game 1 break, but she didn't give Stonebridge's Juno much to work with. Sparkles stumbled upon perfect positioning a bit later, converting a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Sparkles made two balls on the game 2 break, and that put the Wolves' Juno under immediate pressure. Sparkles maintained her advantage to end, where Juno's positioning attempt left Sparkles lined up on her last ball at the top right. The win clinched the series for Sparkles at 2-0. Juno gave away a wild-card ball to Sparkles in game 3, as if the host needed any help. Sparkles would get this win on a three-ball run-out, completing a thorough 3-0 series sweep. Sparkles is set to host the Pacific Volcanoes' Leonette in the bracket quarterfinals.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Max v. Omari. The venue doubleheader ends the day with the purple cue in Accuracy. Golden's Max had a decent game 1 until he missed contact on the last ball. Web City's Omari took the ball-in-hand play to secure a 2-3 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Omari had a scratch on the game 2 break and never really got back on track offensively. The Pilots' Max held his ground very well and carved out a 1-5 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 required overtime to settle, with Omari's early double-pot on the break setting a tone for the extra rack. Omari would miss at the bottom left later, and Max made a combination to the top left for the 1-2 win and 2-1 series win. Max will host the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Frosty in the bracket quarterfinals. Omari is the 11th eliminated player this year, and Max now has a kill on his ledger against his 100th unique opponent.
We'll be back at the regular time tomorrow and through the weekend as we approach the end of the Second Round.
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