We're ready to go for another full day of pool action. First up...
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Hoppy v. Greg. The blue cue opens the day in 8-ball. Hoppy had the better start in game 1, but she faded in quality as the game progressed. Greg held a steadier level of quality and made a pair of shots on his last turn for the win and 1-0 series lead. Hoppy had a six-ball run to start game 2, but she was denied on her last ball multiple times and added a late scratch. Greg stayed in the fight with a five-ball run and sank the 8 before Hoppy could. This gave Greg the series at 2-0. Hoppy again jumped out to the lead in game 3, only for Greg to make four balls over his last two turns for the win. Greg swept the series 3-0 and will continue to play a visiting role in the bracket quarterfinals.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Twinkie II v. Ice Cream. The blue cue remains active in 15-ball. Harrison's Twinkie II kept a strong pace throughout game 1, but Boston's Ice Cream was right there with her. A close battle throughout the game ended with Ice Cream cutting the 15 to the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Twinkie II had a stretch of seven balls over two turns, but that would indicate an early peak in game 2. The Swifts' Ice Cream took her time before making a three-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Ice Cream had some good moments in attack in game 3, but it was Twinkie II who made the final pair of shots for the win. Ice Cream settled for a 2-1 series win to send her to the bracket quarterfinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally v. Valencia. Back in 8-ball, these captains use the silver cue. Archtown's Sally jumped out to a nice lead in game 1 with a big run. Golden's Valencia had a three-ball run in response, but Sally held on for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia put up a strong fight in game 2, working a five-ball run on her opening turn. The Arrows' Sally would catch up and cover that damage, but Valencia shot back with a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Valencia continued to surge on offense in game 3, but her shot on the 8 missed at the called top side and took a slight deflection before falling in the bottom side to gift the win to Sally. This decided the series at 2-1 in Sally's favor, setting her up to host the Diamond Gems' Salmo in the bracket quarterfinals.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sarah v. Maison. A sophomore hosts a rookie in 9-ball with the green cue. Eastside's Maison had the edge in play quality in game 1, most notably with a late three-ball run, but he couldn't corral the 9. Tysini's Sarah tapped the winning shot into the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Maison used a pair of three-ball runs to prove his quality in game 2, but he again missed a critical shot on the 9. The Hummingbirds' Sarah struck it to the bottom left to win again, securing the series in her favor at 2-0 despite having little offense. Sarah began game 3 on a three-ball run, but Maison shot back with a six-ball run-out, including a pinch on the 6 to send it to the top left while deflecting the 9-8 combination to the bottom right in the middle. Sarah still won the series 2-1 and will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot v. Andrew. High-flying players clash in 13-ball with the purple cue. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot scratched on the game 1 break, immediately giving Freedom's Andrew an upper hand. Andrew kept a steady performance and easily got the win as Hoot never got in position. Andrew leads the series 1-0. The Meteors' Hoot had a tough time with positioning in game 2, leaving him a step behind the Cascades' Andrew throughout the battle. Andrew wasn't crisp, but he was good enough for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Hoot wasn't able to snag game 3 away from Andrew, as neither player started well but Hoot remained out of position late. Andrew swept the series 3-0 and will continue to the bracket quarterfinals. This was Hoot's 100th unique opponent.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Waluigi v. Blizzard. The silver cue cycles back in for 9-ball between Northeastern rivals. Harrison's Blizzard did well in the middle of game 1, but it was Web City's Waluigi who made a three-ball run-out capped by a 7-9 combination to the top left. Waluigi's win gave him a 1-0 series lead. Neither player looked to have much control in game 2. The Specters' Blizzard had a short stretch of good play, but it ended too soon. The Spiders' Waluigi made the 9 to the bottom side eventually, clinching the series at 2-0 in the process. Waluigi had some offense in a slightly faster game 3, but the finishing run belonged to Blizzard as she dodged the sweep. Waluigi's 2-1 series win has him in line to host again in the bracket quarterfinals.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Kirstin v. Nibbles. The blue cue draws in for 7-ball. Both players struggled on offense early in game 1. Stonebridge's Kirstin eventually got on track to make the last five balls over two turns for the 1-0 series lead over Web City's Nibbles. The Wolves' Kirstin made a pair from the break in game 2 before a missed contact on the 2. The Spiders' Nibbles took over from there with a five-ball run-out, the stunning surge of offense enough for him to tie the series at 1 game apiece. Nibbles looked to put together another run in game 3, but he fell short after just four straight shots. Kirstin was able to tap the 7 into the bottom left for the win and 2-1 series win. Kirstin is through to the bracket quarterfinals.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Dustin. A rising star meets an established one in 15-ball with the green cue. Oceanside's Celestia had a lot of confidence in game 1, including a four-ball run that nearly saw her double-pot the 4 and 15. That didn't slow her down, and Central's Dustin faltered with a miss on the 15 that Celestia punished for the win. Celestia leads the series 1-0. The Waves' Celestia started and ended game 2 in the same fashion, with a three-ball run. In the middle, the Warriors' Dustin showed quality, but Celestia's finishing attack clinched the series in her favor at 2-0. Celestia produced a surprising finish in game 3, kicking the 6-15 combination to the top side from a tough angle to stun and sweep Dustin. The 3-0 series win has Celestia in the bracket quarterfinals with confidence.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter v. Shadow. Eastern Hills rivals meet in 12-ball with the blue cue. Pronger's Potter gave away a wild-card ball as part of a three-ball run from the break, but he'd be let off the hook when Diamond's Shadow yielded a wild-card ball on a three-ball run of his own. Potter then made his final pair of shots on his second turn for the win and 1-0 series lead after game 1. The Tridents' Potter claimed stripes quickly in game 2, while the Gems' Shadow tried to play the long game in set-up work. Potter punished that strategy with a four-ball run-out to seal the series at 2-0 with a quick win. Shadow didn't have much energy to play out game 3, making just a single ball before Potter was able to finish another dominant win. Potter swept the series 3-0 to earn his place in the bracket quarterfinals.
Sony Center, Queens: Violetta v. Leonette. The red cue finally makes an appearance in 7-ball. Queens' Violetta had a slight edge in possession in game 1, but Pacific's Leonette did her part to make a pair at the end for the win. Leonette holds a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Leonette made the 6 to the top left and the 7 to the bottom right on the game 2 break, but the cue fell in the bottom side for a scratch. This automatically gave the win to the Flames' Violetta, tying the series at 1. Violetta had a five-ball run to open game 3, although the 6 gave her some trouble. Leonette wasn't able to capitalize before Violetta made the last pair for the win and 2-1 series win. Violetta will host the Tysini Hummingbirds' Sarah in the bracket quarterfinals.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Greg v. Pauline. The green cue exits the day in 13-ball, the host's second appearance of the day. Archtown's Greg already had a slight edge in game 1 when Queens' Pauline helped him out more. Greg returned the favor later, but only to help himself en route to a three-ball run-out for the win. Greg leads the series 1-0. The Arrows' Greg had to fight for every bit of positioning in game 2, but he held the advantage over the Flames' Pauline throughout the game. Pauline challenged late, only for Greg to make the final pair of shots for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Pauline used a four-ball run to gain the edge in game 3, and only a scratch slowed her down. The 8 blocked Greg's path forward, so he gave the game away and settled to advance on a 2-1 series win. Greg will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Patches v. Crystal. Southeastern captains meet in 9-ball with the red cue. Boston's Patches established a pace she couldn't keep herself on early in game 1. Queens' Crystal did most of the late offense, creating drama before finally burying the 9 to the bottom right to take a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal left the 9 very near the bottom left on the game 2 break. The Swifts' Patches never got a clear look at it, and Crystal would strike it down in a 5-9 combination to cap her three-ball run-out. Crystal secured the series at 2-0 with this win. A choppy game 3 saw runs become rare. Patches had a few good shots, but it was Crystal who cut the 9 to the top left to finish off a 3-0 series sweep. Crystal will host her appearance in the bracket quarterfinals.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Shawn. The blue cue finishes its day in 10-ball. Swordpoint's Dreamy had a clear majority of the possession in game 1, but she missed a medium-range cut on the 10 to the top left. Midland's Shawn cleaned it up for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Shawn got a bit more involved in the offense in game 2, but that only led him to a scratch near the end. The Blades' Dreamy took the last pair of shots for the win, tying the series at 1. Dreamy made a mental error in game 3, a brilliant kick on the 4 to the bottom side with its only flaw being the 3 still on the table. With ball-in-hand, Shawn converted a 3-10 combination to the top right to take the series 2-1. Shawn will advance to the bracket quarterfinals. This was Shawn's 100th unique opponent.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Sweetheart. The purple cue takes a turn in 13-ball. Commerce's Niki kept her pace pretty strong in game 1, although Boston's Sweetheart threatened with a mid-game run. Both players were even heading into their last ball, but Niki had the first shot and made a pair to get the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Niki made one of each on the game 2 break and chose stripes. The Swifts' Sweetheart struck back with a quick four-ball run on solids, and it was just a matter of time before she got the right positioning. Sweetheart ended with a pair of shots for the win to tie the series at 1. Sweetheart seemed to have the edge in game 3, although Niki always kept it close. At the end, Sweetheart missed her chance at the 8, and Niki made the last pair for the win to take a 2-1 series win. Niki will host again in the bracket quarterfinals.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Lionel v. Mario. The red cue's done after this 8-ball set. North Modernistic's Lionel was a little cleaner in game 1, but neither player had a smooth performance. Queens' Mario just came up short on offense as Lionel worked his way to a win and 1-0 series lead early on. The Flames' Mario worked a five-ball run early in game 2, but his offense stalled out after that. The Nighthawks' Lionel applied a little pressure but couldn't catch up. Mario then illegally potted the 8 on an unlucky deflection, gifting the win to Lionel as the host sealed the series at 2-0. Mario again took a nice lead in game 3, only to watch it slowly fade before Lionel wiped the rest away on a three-ball run-out. Lionel swept the series 3-0 and will play in the bracket quarterfinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Cowzart v. Cheddar. The finale today features the silver cue in 10-ball. A close battle in game 1 saw neither player develop any runs. North Modernistic's Cheddar got the win with a pair at the end, beating Pacific's Cowzart narrowly for the 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Cowzart fired back hard in game 2 with an eight-ball run on his opening turn. The Nighthawks' Cheddar had a chance at the 9 and missed, allowing Cowzart to bury the last two balls for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 was a chaotic battle between the two players, one that saw Cowzart hold most of the offense. Both Cowzart and Cheddar illegally potted the 10 once, but it was a four-ball run-out that lifted Cowzart in the end to a win and 2-1 series win. Cowzart heads on to the bracket quarterfinals.
We'll likely have another slight delay to start tomorrow's action, which sees the Second Round cross the quarter pole.
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