Tournament X - Second Round Day 6

We're back again as the Second Round crosses the quarter mark today. Leading off...

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Twinkie III. The green cue opens the day with 12-ball. Freedom's Nikolai had a slightly better performance in game 1, striking early and keeping his play clean. Whitewater's Twinkie III had the positioning to counterattack but missed on the execution, allowing Nikolai to win for a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Nikolai had a tougher time in game 2, overfilling the bottom left on the break. The Shores' Twinkie III kept good pressure up and received a wild-card ball which made it easier for her to claim this win. The series is tied at 1. Twinkie III got off to a good start, but it wouldn't be an easy finish. Nikolai played a lot of defensive positioning to slow things down, but Twinkie III navigated it well enough for the win and 2-1 series win. She'll head back home for her bracket quarterfinals series. This was Twinkie III's 100th unique opponent.

Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Vincent. The host's doubleheader concludes with Rotation and the blue cue. Freedom's Nikolai looked crisp in game 1, but he faded after his four-ball run. Everton's Vincent didn't back down, using Nikolai's scratch near the end to pot the last two balls himself. An 8-7 win put Vincent ahead 1-0 in the series. The Cascades' Nikolai had a choppy offense in game 2, but it was more consistent than the Eagles' Vincent, who couldn't seem to stabilize his shots. Nikolai took an 8-4 win to tie the series at 1. Vincent had the upper hand initially in game 3, but his offense was slow. Nikolai charged back at the end on a five-ball run-out for an 8-5 win to give himself the 2-1 series win. Nikolai will host again in the bracket quarterfinals.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Leonardo. Rising veterans meet in the red cue's lone series today, playing 13-ball. Web City's Jack had a good start, but a scratch and some wimpy shooting allowed Diamond's Leonardo to pull ahead and eventually win. Leonardo wasn't his best either, but he holds a 1-0 series lead anyway. The Gems' Leonardo had a three-ball run in the middle of game 2 to overcome his early scratch. The Spiders' Jack pushed back a bit but had no angles for the side pockets, and Leonardo earned the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Leonardo blasted a five-ball run from the break in game 3, allowing him to be patient as Jack flailed around again. Leonardo finished the game victorious, a 3-0 series sweep sending him to his next road match in the bracket quarterfinals.

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Solaris. The green cue is back in action for 15-ball. Commerce's Solaris had the pace with a four-ball run and a three-ball run late in game 1, but he missed on the 15. Everton's Cleo cleaned it up at the bottom left to take the win and 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Cleo took on a more active role in the attack in game 2, exchanging multiple salvos with the Tradewinds' Solaris. This fast-paced battle went to Cleo at the end, as her three-ball run-out stood for a win and secured the series in her favor at 2-0. Solaris again amplified his offense in game 3, but it wouldn't matter when Cleo counterattacked with a four-ball run-out at the end. Cleo completed a 3-0 series sweep to get into the bracket quarterfinals, where she'll host Solaris' sister, the Oceanside Waves' Celestia.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Rocky v. Delila. A rookie meets a captain for 12-ball with the blue cue. Atlantic's Delila had a huge advantage in game 1, until she overfilled at the top right. Oceanside's Rocky kept her pinned out of position until he could make a three-ball run-out for the win. Rocky leads the series 1-0. The Waves' Rocky opened game 2 on a four-ball run, immediately putting the Pirates' Delila under pressure. Rocky was patient later on, and Delila only got half of her solids down before Rocky sent the 9 to the top right for the win. Rocky sealed the series at 2-0. Rocky had a lead for much of game 3, but he wasted the opportunity at the end as Delila pulled off a comeback in her lone win. Rocky won the series 2-1 and will play in the bracket quarterfinals.

Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Dreamy v. Missy. Southwestern mainstays battle in 7-ball with the green cue. Capital City's Missy got the better of Swordpoint's Dreamy in game 1 after the latter scratched on the 4. Missy made the final pair for the win to gain a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Missy had a poor start to game 2 with multiple errors, but the Blades' Dreamy failed to gain any momentum from that. At the end, Missy was back on track, taking a pair for the win to secure the series at 2-0. Missy didn't have the same fortune in game 3, as her mistakes in the later parts of the game allowed Dreamy to earn her lone win. Missy's 2-1 series win gets her into another road appearance in the bracket quarterfinals.

Google Hall, Modernistic: Kodiak v. Rudolph. The silver cue comes aboard with Accuracy. Modernistic's Kodiak held on in a rough start, while Harrison's Rudolph quickly lagged behind. Kodiak then kept the pace strong and earned a 1-4 win to go ahead 1-0 in the series. The Union's Kodiak blasted a pair on the break in game 2, and he again played very well. The Specters' Rudolph held on a bit longer this time, but the fall was worse than before. Kodiak collected a 1-5 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Kodiak had a good performance in game 3, but not enough for the win, as he sportingly allowed Rudolph to pick up a 1-2 result in the finale. Kodiak won the series 2-1 and will visit Pronger Tridents captain Precious in the bracket quarterfinals.

Intel Center, Diamond: Debby v. Twilight. The only series today for the purple cue is in 13-ball. Diamond's Debby lacked positioning in game 1, a close battle that saw Central's Twilight pull away on a three-ball run-out after Debby fouled late. Twilight's win put her ahead 1-0 in the series. The Warriors' Twilight made a stripe on the game 2 break, but the Gems' Debby soon made a five-ball run on solids. Twilight scratched on her second turn, and Debby made her last ball before the 8 from an illegal shot. Twilight proceeded to rip a five-ball run, and that pressure made Debby scratch as she sank the 8, gifting Twilight the win and the 2-0 series lead. Twilight couldn't seal off a sweep in game 3, her shooting a little too loose at the end. Debby kept it clean to finish off her lone win of the series, while Twilight's 2-1 series win sends her on the road again in the bracket quarterfinals to face Viewpoint Sound Meteors newcomer Cobalt.

Intel Center, Diamond: Leonardo v. Esmeralda. The host's second appearance today concludes a venue doubleheader with the silver cue in 9-ball. Swordpoint's Esmeralda wasn't great in game 1, but she got a chance at the 9. She was able to pot it, but she also scratched at the bottom side, gifting the win and 1-0 series lead to Diamond's Leonardo. The Blades' Esmeralda worked a three-ball run early in game 2 before taking a scratch. From ball-in-hand, the Gems' Leonardo launched a four-ball run-out, splitting the 5 and 9 to the left corners for a double-pot finish. Leonardo clinched the series at 2-0. Esmeralda got few chances to make an impact in game 3. Leonardo would provide the finish again with a 7-9 combination to the top left, sweeping the series 3-0 to put himself into the bracket quarterfinals.

FedEx Arena, Eastside: Toki v. Diddley. The blue cue exits the day with 13-ball. Eastside's Toki was just a little too shaky at the end of game 1, whiffing a shot that tipped the game to Maplewood's Diddley, who made three shots over his last two turns for the win. Diddley leads the series 1-0. The Lumberjacks' Diddley potted two solids and a stripe on the game 2 break, and he chose to play solids. The Sharks' Toki couldn't really find his offense, while Diddley quickly got on track. At the end, Diddley worked a three-ball run-out for the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Diddley had a big break in game 3, but the perfection distribution on both suits wouldn't last long. Toki bumbled his first few shots, yet still managed to keep the game close. Diddley didn't care, striking a pair at the end for the win to finish his 3-0 series sweep. Diddley will play in the bracket quarterfinals.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Andrew. The green cue is back to play Accuracy. Freedom's Andrew just managed to get into overtime as Lighton's Spirit missed the last ball. Andrew then missed two turns into overtime, giving Spirit the 2-3 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit left nothing to chance in game 2, taking two balls on the break and at least one on every other shot. The Cascades' Andrew couldn't keep up as Spirit claimed a 0-3 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Spirit stayed strong for most of game 3, but Andrew held the perfection line this time, and Spirit had to fade off at the end to avoid overtime. Andrew won 0-3, avoiding the sweep as Spirit advances to the bracket quarterfinals on a 2-1 series win.

Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Pedey. Another green cue series comes in 8-ball. Commerce's Niki had an embarrassingly bad break in game 1, but she nearly got away with it. Her offense stalled later on, and Todavía's Pedey picked up the slack for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Pedey kept his offense up in game 2, quickly getting onto the 8 before suffering a missed contact. The Tradewinds' Niki pushed back on a three-ball run before her late miss, and Pedey put the 8 away at the top left for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Pedey looked to have a little initial trouble in game 3, but he shook it off with a seven-ball run on his second turn. Niki had no response for that, and Pedey won with the 8 at the bottom left for the 3-0 series sweep. Pedey will visit Westside Rockers captain Misty in the bracket quarterfinals.

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Cheddar. Star players meet in 7-ball with the silver cue. Everton's Cleo was a little shakier than expected in game 1, leading to some weakness at the end. North Modernistic's Cheddar got on track at the right time, sending a three-ball run-out down for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Cheddar wasn't totally sharp in game 2, but she left the 7 close to the top right. The Eagles' Cleo took a couple of ill-fated swipes at that position, but it was a 6-7 combination from Cheddar that won the game and secured the series at 2-0. Cheddar made a four-ball run from the break, but she needed a second turn to beat Cleo. That happened as Cleo missed the 7 to the bottom right, which Cheddar cleaned up to finish a 3-0 series sweep. Cheddar is set to appear in the bracket quarterfinals.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Kayla v. Rosalina. The silver cue's finale today is in 8-ball. Consistent offense paced Victoria's Rosalina very well in game 1, while Royal's Kayla was slow from the start. Rosalina capped off the victory with a three-ball run-out, banking the 8 to the bottom side to grab the 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Rosalina was a little slower at the start of game 2, allowing the Crowns' Kayla to briefly hold the lead. At the end, Rosalina made a pair after Kayla faltered, and Rosalina's win secured the series in her favor at 2-0. Kayla held a bigger lead in game 3, but a miss on the 8 would prove costly. Rosalina punished it with a four-ball run-out for the win and series sweep, which sends Rosalina on the road again in the bracket quarterfinals.

BMW RockDome, Westside: Slinks v. Wario. The green cue is back in action for 9-ball. Westside's Slinks dominated game 1, winning in two turns that featured a six-ball run and a three-ball run-out. Southridge's Wario was cold on offense as Slinks pulled out to a 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Slinks was a little less confident in game 2, but still opened the offense with a three-ball run. The Defenders' Wario shot back with a three-ball run of his own, but it was Slinks who buried a three-ball run-out in the end to get the win. Slinks clinched the series at 2-0. Slinks took a step back on offense in game 3, allowing Wario to make four balls over his last two turns for the win. Slinks settled for a 2-1 series win to get into the bracket quarterfinals in Queens against the Flames' Mario.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Citrus v. Hughbert. A Southwestern derby in 13-ball using the green cue brings the day to a close.A four-ball run by Tysini's Hughbert completely altered game 1, leaving Lighton's Citrus scrambling. She couldn't catch up in time, as Hughbert put the 8 in the bottom right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Hughbert rocked a three-ball run from the break, but the Prestige's Citrus raised the stakes on a five-ball run in response. A contact play helped Citrus gain possession, as Hughbert missed contact on his next turn. Citrus then made a pair from ball-in-hand for the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 had plenty of twists and turns, as Citrus jumped out to a lead, nearly lost it before Hughbert scratched, and ultimately pulled off two hard shots for the victory. Citrus won the series 2-1 and will be on the road in the bracket quarterfinals.

Tomorrow, the 1,000th series of the year will be played.