The stretch run of the Second Round is this weekend. Leading off today...
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Puff III. Two longtime Everton Eagles battle in 12-ball with the purple cue. Cleo had a good start in game 1 and worked from left to right across the table. Puff III kept it close but failed late on positioning, and Cleo was able to grab the win for a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw Cleo take another quick lead despite scratching on the break. At the end, Puff III turned to defense to save her series, and it worked. Cleo never got a good look at the 1 to the top left, and Puff III was able to sneak away with a win to tie the series at 1. Puff III nearly ran the table from the break in game 3, leaving her last ball at the edge of the top right. Cleo failed to counterattack, and Puff III won the game and 2-1 series win. Puff III will visit the Web City Spiders captain Jack for a Northeastern derby in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Solaris v. Smudge. Former teammates clash in 12-ball with the silver cue. Commerce's Solaris potted two stripes and a solid on the game 1 break. The wild-card ball that went to Infinity's Smudge was all she needed, and she added five balls potted during a three-turn stretch for the win. Smudge leads the series 1-0. The Torpedoes' Smudge had a nearly identical break for game 2, giving the Tradewinds' Solaris a wild-card ball. Once again, the advantage favored the player with it, as Solaris needed only two turns to pot five balls in a big win to tie the series at 1. Solaris couldn't keep his game 3 break clean, yielded a wild-card ball again. This time, things were close at the end, but Solaris couldn't pick out the side pockets before Smudge's three-ball run-out gave her the 2-1 series win. Smudge will learn her bracket quarterfinals opponent later in the day.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Esmeralda v. Kiwi. Enterprise club-mates meet in 13-ball with the blue cue. Swordpoint's Esmeralda made one of each on the break in game 1, and then worked a four-ball run on stripes on her second turn. Terrace City's Kiwi never got great positioning, and Esmeralda eventually earned the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Knights' Kiwi seemed to bounce back early in game 2, but her late positioning left plenty to be desired. The Blades' Esmeralda had an easier time at the end, making the comeback for a win to seal the series at 2-0. Esmeralda made one of each on the game 3 break, but she would commit an unseen foul later on. That had no bearing on the result, as Kiwi won on a three-ball run-out to avoid the sweep. Esmeralda took a 2-1 series win and will host Terrace City Knights veteran Melissa in the bracket quarterfinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Katelynn v. Oreo. The red cue comes aboard for 10-ball here. Royal's Katelynn wasn't sharp enough in game 1, leading to a choppy battle as Terrace City's Oreo was a little strong on the pressure. Oreo got the win with a pair at the end, going ahead 1-0 in the series. The Knights' Oreo carved out a three-ball run with a double-pot, but both of those were not called. The Crowns' Katelynn battled a bit at the end and four a three-ball run-out for the win, using good positioning to tie the series at 1. Game 3 wasn't easy for Katelynn, as Oreo applied pressure with a five-ball run. Oreo then had a scratch, and Katelynn won on a three-ball run-out to take a 2-1 series win. Katelynn will host again in the bracket quarterfinals.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Luigi v. Dani. The blue cue is back for an 8-ball series. Southridge's Luigi scratched on his opening turn and again later in game 1, giving Viewpoint Sound's Dani time to win with a kick on the 8 to the top right. Dani holds a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dani had an empty break in game 2, and the Defenders' Luigi made a quick pair. Dani would recover later with a seven-ball run-out for a stunning surge to the win, securing the series at 2-0 in the process. Dani was a little slow on offense despite a four-ball run in the middle. Luigi had enough of an advantage at that point to finish off his lone win, while Dani advanced with a 2-1 series win. Dani will face the Everton Eagles' Puff III in the bracket quarterfinals.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Marissa v. Kitty. A rookie and a sophomore battle in 12-ball with the silver cue. Maplewood's Marissa made one of each on the break and parlayed that into a four-ball run on solids with good positioning. Midland's Kitty couldn't do anything with her one turn, and Marissa made the final pair for a win and 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Marissa tried to play stripes in game 2, but couldn't get things aligned quite right. The Predators' Kitty was much crisper on offense, finishing with a pair after a hot start. Kitty's win tied the series at 1. Kitty yielded a wild-card ball on the break, but Marissa gave one away in the middle of game 3. Marissa then put her own back on the table, but it didn't stop her in the end, as Kitty's attempt to break Marissa's defense led to the host's last ball going down. Marissa won the series 2-1 and will host Infinity Torpedoes captain Smudge in the bracket quarterfinals.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Nibbles v. Toki. Next up is Accuracy with the red cue. Eastside's Toki slung shots around the table with ease, including a double-pot that gave him the last-shot advantage after Web City's Nibbles made a ball on the break. Toki's strong play to the top right in particular helped him earn the 1-2 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Toki scratched on the break in game 2 and faded early on. The Spiders' Nibbles held the lead for much of the game until he missed on three straight turns. Toki was able to hold his lead to the end for a 3-4 win that secured the series in his favor at 2-0. Toki made a ball on the break in game 3 and only faltered a little bit late, with Nibbles already out of contention. Toki won 2-3, sweeping the series 3-0 and earning the right to host the Southridge Defenders' Bianca in the bracket quarterfinals.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Sprinkles. The green cue gets its daily debut in 10-ball. Queens' Violetta didn't have the cleanest performance in game 1, but Capital City's Sprinkles missed the 10 after a three-ball run. Violetta converted the 10 at the top left easily, stealing away a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Violetta looked very dangerous with a five-ball run in game 2, but she just missed the 10 at the bottom left. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles poached this win with a tap-in, tying the series at 1 in what has been a close battle so far. Violetta played a bit recklessly in game 3, with a strong attack early on and a later three-ball run. Sprinkles answered the latter attack with a three-ball run-out, good enough for the win and 2-1 series win. Sprinkles is set to host the Whitewater Shores' Katharine in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fluffina v. Kiwi. The visitor's second series today uses the purple cue in Accuracy. Terrace City's Kiwi was a little off the mark from the start, and that made it easy for Infinity's Fluffina to take a 1-0 series lead on a 2-5 win despite a late fade. Both players showed their star-level capabilities in game 2, as the Torpedoes' Fluffina made a ball on the break and took the only miss in a 0-1 win for the Knights' Kiwi. This perfect effort from Kiwi tied the series at 1 game apiece. Game 3 saw Kiwi return to her early form, a disastrous fall from grace. Fluffina was a little more poised in this one, winning 3-8 for the 2-1 series win. Fluffina heads to the bracket quarterfinals to host the Royal Crowns' Jake.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Cheddar v. Watermelon. The red cue appears in 13-ball. North Modernistic's Cheddar had six balls down on her first turn, picking each pocket perfectly. Pearl's Watermelon got one back before Cheddar put the 8 in the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Cheddar wasn't as quick in game 2, but she did hold the lead for most of it. The Surfers' Watermelon fought back with a four-ball run-out at the end, nabbing the win to tie the series at 1 with a well-made attack. Cheddar used a four-ball run to get a strong lead in game 3, but Watermelon kept things close at the end. Watermelon wasn't able to bank her last ball to the top side, and Cheddar made a pair on her next turn for the win to take a 2-1 series win. Cheddar is set to visit Oceanside Waves captain Snuggle in the bracket quarterfinals. Cheddar took her first kill of the year to make Watermelon the 12th player out of this Tournament.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Maison v. Marissa. Rookies collide in 10-ball with the red cue. Eastside's Maison couldn't get much offense in game 1, while Maplewood's Marissa had a four-ball run and a pair at the end for the win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. Game 2 was rather slow in pace and bland on offense. At the end, the Sharks' Maison potted the 7 in an uncalled pocket. The Lumberjacks' Marissa wanted her chance at the 10 and took possession, but missed the bank attempt. Maison then converted at the top left for the win to tie the series at 1. Both players had illegally potted balls in game 3, making for a high-pace and back-and-forth battle. Marissa took possession late, but couldn't corral the 10 on a bank to the top left. Maison tapped it down for the win and 2-1 series win, which sets him up to visit the Royal Crowns' Katelynn in the bracket quarterfinals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Fuchsia v. Bandit. The silver cue exits the day with 9-ball. Infinity's Fuchsia sank three balls on the break to spark an eight-ball run, but she couldn't sink the 9 at the top left. Swordpoint's Bandit scavenged it for the cheap win and 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Bandit participated more in game 2, getting a pair on each of his first two turns. The latter pair ended in a 3-9 combination to the top left for the win, which put him up 2-0 in the series over the Torpedoes' Fuchsia. Bandit had a decent start in game 3, but Fuchsia deflected a shot off the 2 to pot the 9 at the top left very early on. Fuchsia dodged the sweep, so it's a 2-1 series win that gets Bandit into the bracket quarterfinals and Golden, where he'll face the Pilots' Strut.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sugar v. Violetta. The visitor gets a second look today, using the blue cue in Accuracy. Tysini's Sugar looked in total control for much of game 1, although Queens' Violetta was not at her best quality of play. Sugar was strong to win by a 1-3 score, going up 1-0 in the series. Game 2 was tight all the way to the end, where things got interesting as both players missed twice on the last ball. The Flames' Violetta was unfortunate to have a scratch on her second miss, and the Hummingbirds' Sugar used the ball-in-hand to secure a 3-4 win that clinched the series at 2-0. Sugar couldn't find much control in game 3, allowing Violetta to have her way in a lopsided 2-6 result. Sugar won the series 2-1 and will host Reality club-mate and Pacific Volcanoes captain Starlight in the bracket quarterfinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Pedey v. Rosemary. The purple cue's finale today is in 12-ball. Commerce's Rosemary found good distribution and easy shots at the side pockets early in game 1. Her late positioning was a little off, inducing a foul for illegal contact. From ball-in-hand, Todavía's Pedey rallied on a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Pedey had an explosive game 2 break with an overfill, a wild-card ball surrendered, and two legal balls downed. The Tradewinds' Rosemary still had a battle for positioning on her hands, but Pedey's lack of clarity at the top side game Rosemary time even after she scratched her wild-card ball back onto the table. Rosemary would make a pair at the end for the win to tie the series at 1. Rosemary gave away a wild-card ball on the game 3 break, and two turns was all Pedey would need to clear the rest of the solids from the table. Pedey's fast victory gave him a 2-1 series win and the trip to Midland to face the Predators' Chicky Phil in the bracket quarterfinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Brownie v. Diddley. The green cue is next to exit with Accuracy. Both players stayed perfect remarkably deep into game 1, but it was Royal's Brownie who missed first. Determined, she finished strong, while Maplewood's Diddley missed on consecutive turns, giving Brownie a 1-2 win and 1-0 series lead. Chaos reigned in game 2 after the Crowns' Brownie had a bad break. Brownie would add three double-pots in the battle, while the Lumberjacks' Diddley faltered late. Brownie got the 1-2 win again to seal the series at 2-0. Brownie kept up the attack fairly well in a slower game 3. Diddley kept it even initially, but faded once again at the end as Brownie won 2-4 for the 3-0 series sweep. Brownie will visit the Lighton Prestige's Spirit in the bracket quarterfinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sugar v. Fuchsia. Southwestern newcomers end the day with the red cue in 13-ball. Tysini's Sugar had a good start to game 1, but she got the win for free as Infinity's Fuchsia overthought a late play. Fuchsia tried to deflect the 7 off the 3 but instead hit it square to sink the 8 prematurely at the top left, giving Sugar a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Sugar was good in game 2, and she had plenty of time to operate as the Torpedoes' Fuchsia skidded with a pair of early scratches. Fuchsia still closed the gap, only for Sugar to pot a pair at the end to clinch the series at 2-0 with the win. Sugar maintained excellent control after a hot start in game 1, allowing Fuchsia to do a little work before finally striking back at the top side and bottom left. Sugar swept the series 3-0 and will host the Oceanside Waves' Celestia in the bracket quarterfinals.
There's just a weekend and a half-day left in the Second Round.
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