We're back for another day of action, hopefully with 100% fewer power outages. The blue cue is also resting today. We begin with...
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Wild Thing. The green cue gets the first look today, playing 12-ball. Todavía's Easter gave up a wild-card ball on the break in game 1, but Stonebridge's Wild Thing gave her one and scratched to lose his own in the middle of the game. Easter then had the advantage and used it well to grab the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter struggled a bit on offense in game 2, but she was able to find a three-ball run-out at the end after the Wolves' Wild Thing snookered himself on his last ball. Easter's comeback put her ahead 2-0 in the series. Wild Thing was desperate near the end of game 3, but Easter had the better defensive positioning at the bottom right. Wild Thing ceded the wild-card ball, and Easter promptly made her last ball for the win to clinch the series at 3-0. Easter gave up a wild-card ball early in game 4, and this time, Wild Thing was able to hold onto it. He still almost lost, but Easter missed a short shot that would have ignited her run. Wild Thing instead got the win and cut the series to 3-1. Easter had a decent push in the middle of game 5, but she gave away a late wild-card ball, and Wild Thing made the next pair of shots for the win. Easter still won the series 3-2 and will earn a place in the bracket semifinals. Easter has her long awaited first kill of the year as Wild Thing is the 28th eliminated player.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Avril v. Slinks. Strong opponents meet in 7-ball with the green cue. Both players made three-ball runs in game 1 before Pronger's Avril missed the 7 three times. Westside's Slinks sank it on her third try to get the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Avril couldn't really get anything going in game 2, while the Rockers' Slinks made a pair of three-ball runs and cut the 7 to the top left for the win. Slinks has control with a 2-0 lead in the series. Avril again wasted her chances on offense in game 3, making it fairly easy for Slinks to get the win when she finally roared to life with a six-ball run-out. Slinks sealed the series at 3-0. Slinks remained dominant in a slow game 4, as Avril mostly played defensive and hoped to pick offense off late. Slinks didn't allow it, her three-ball run-out stretching the series lead to 4-0. Avril finally got on the board with five balls over two turns to close out game 5, leaving Slinks to advance to the bracket semifinals on a 4-1 series win.
IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Gizmo v. Sage. The purple cue cycles into action for 8-ball. North Modernistic's Gizmo got a good start on stripes in game 1, but faded late. Victoria's Sage made a three-ball run to get ahead, and then converted the 8 after Gizmo sank her last ball for her. Sage leads the series 1-0. The Spurs' Sage found a lucky five-ball run in game 2, operating on tight margins on most of the shots. The Nighthawks' Gizmo answered with a four-ball run and pressed late, but Sage banked the 12 to the top side and put the 8 in the bottom side for the win to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Gizmo blew a lead again in game 3, getting down to the 8 first but allowed Sage to bank the 3 to the bottom side and then convert on the 8 at the end. Sage secured the series at 3-0 with this win. Sage never trailed in game 4, making one of each on the break and playing quite well on stripes. Gizmo looked wiped out by the end, as Sage made a pair of shots to extend her series lead to 4-0. Gizmo had a real chance to grab game 5, but he fouled after a five-ball run put him onto the 8. Sage used the ball-in-hand to make a five-ball run-out for the win and 5-0 series sweep. Sage will visit Central Warriors captain Twilight in the bracket semifinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Salmo. In 15-ball, the red cue makes its daily debut. Game 1 went at a fairly casual pace, with Central's Noelle looking good early on. She had a late four-ball run, but Diamond's Salmo snagged the win with the final pair to go up 1-0 in the series. The Gems' Salmo couldn't sustain much offense in game 2, and the Warriors' Noelle struggled a bit at first too. Noelle recovered well in the end with a four-ball run-out, earning the win to tie the series at 1. Noelle took over in the second half of game 3, working a seven-ball run. Salmo had a chance at the 15 but rattled it out of the top left, and Noelle scooped it up for the win to go ahead 2-1 in the series. Salmo played well in game 4, including a six-ball run over the middle. Noelle made it tight at the end, but Salmo took care of business for the win to retie the series at 2. Salmo seemed to have a slight edge initially in game 5, but Noelle kept it very close right to the end, when she got the win with a pair of shots. Noelle won the series 3-2 and will visit the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Whiskers in the bracket semifinals.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Sunshine v. Citrus. The green cue is back for a 13-ball series. Royal's Sunshine worked well early in game 1, but couldn't quite corral his last two solids. Lighton's Citrus finished better with a three-ball run-out to earn the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Citrus made a pair of solids on the break in game 2, but it was the Crowns' Sunshine who surged at the end for a four-ball run to get onto the 8. He missed it at the bottom right, a stunning flop after his run, and Citrus made a three-ball run-out for the win to move to a 2-0 lead in the series. Citrus made one of each suit on the game 3 break, and decided to play with stripes. Sunshine was good on solids, but Citrus worked a three-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 3-0. Citrus made one of each on the game 4 break and proceeded to run the table on solids. Sunshine didn't bother attempting a counterattack opportunity, allowing Citrus to stretch her series lead to 4-0. Sunshine salvaged a result in a close game 3, as Citrus fouled with an overfill near the end. Sunshine made a three-ball run-out for the win, while Citrus advanced to the bracket semifinals on a 4-1 series win. Citrus will visit the winner of the next series.
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Cleo v. Greg. The green cue exits the day after another 13-ball set between Northeastern rivals. Archtown's Greg needed little time to get onto his last ball in game 1, but he couldn't get it converted to the top right. Everton's Cleo chipped back and defended long enough to pull away for the win in the end. Cleo has a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 took on the form of a race, with the Arrows' Greg getting the lead late but then missing on the 9. The Eagles' Cleo had blown her early lead, but struck firmly at the end to grab the win for a 2-0 series lead. Greg again pulled out to the lead in game 3 as they battled again from left to right around the table. Cleo pushed back and got first crack at the 8, leaving it on the edge of the top left, where Greg finished with a pair of shots for the win. Cleo remains ahead 2-1 in the series. Greg made a three-ball run at the start of game 4, and that gave him enough cushion to survive a late scratch. Cleo's positioning failed her again, and Greg took the win to tie the series at 2. Greg got the jump in game 5 despite an overfill on the break. He left Cleo with no good positioning, and Greg would navigate her late efforts on defense to pick up the win. Greg won the series 3-2 and is set to host the Lighton Prestige's Citrus in the bracket semifinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Leonardo. The silver cue comes aboard for 9-ball between two of this year's best. Diamond's Leonardo erupted with a five-ball run-out in game 1, his deflected shot off the 7 sinking the 9 to the top left to stun Central's Noelle. Leonardo leads the series 1-0. The Gems' Leonardo kept his offense strong in game 2, turning in a seven-ball run-out after the Warriors' Noelle couldn't corral the 3. Leonardo's big surge earned him another win for a 2-0 series lead. Leonardo was slower from the start in game 3, and it would cost him when he missed the 9 at the end after a three-ball run. Noelle tapped it in for her first win, while Leonardo retains a 2-1 series lead. Leonardo again worked a three-ball run late in game 4, only to miss the 9 short at the top left this time. Noelle gladly stayed alive in the series with a tap-in for the win to tie it at 2 games apiece. Leonardo would be denied the series a third time when he left the 9 short at the bottom right in a close battle. Noelle slammed it down and got the win for a 3-2 series win that sends her to the bracket semifinals.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Precious v. Kodiak. The silver cue is done for the day after an Accuracy series. Modernistic's Kodiak slipped up early and often in game 1, while Pronger's Precious mostly held her control fairly well. Precious wrapped up with a 2-5 win thanks to Kodiak's late scratch and miss on consecutive turns. Precious leads the series 1-0. Game 2 ended in a flurry of misses before the Tridents' Precious sank the 1 at the top right. The Union's Kodiak missed multiple chances to force overtime, and Precious won 4-5 to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Precious held the lead for much of game 3, but never by more than one shot. Kodiak took advantage of that and forced overtime late, then finished off his only shot on the extra rack to win 3-4. Precious has a 2-1 series lead now. Precious held the lead again in game 4, but dropped into a tie late in the game, and then missed her chance on the last ball. Kodiak sent it to the top side for the 2-3 win to tie the series at 2. Game 5 came down to the wire, as expected. Kodiak fell behind briefly, but a miss from Precious retied the game. Kodiak then saw the 13 nearly drop at the top side before popping back up to hang on the edge. Precious converted and went on to win 2-4 for the 3-2 series win. Precious is through to the bracket semifinals, where she'll host again.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Charli v. Kiwi. The red cue's finale for the day is in 9-ball. Tysini's Charli rattled off a four-ball run-out in game 1, sinking the 3 and 5 to the right corners on a double-pot before converting a 4-9 combination to the top left. Charli leads Terrace City's Kiwi 1-0 in the series. The Knights' Kiwi put up a bit more of a fight in game 2, but it didn't make a difference when the Hummingbirds' Charli pummeled a five-ball run-out at the end. Charli's strong finishes have her ahead 2-0 in the series. Kiwi again took some looks on offense in game 3, but she wasn't able to make a difference in a shaky finish. Charli made a pair at the end this time, banking the 9 to the bottom side for the win to clinch the series at 3-0. Kiwi looked much more threatening in game 4, taking several looks at the 9. Charli eventually scratched while potting the 6, and Kiwi would pick up the 8-9 combination at the bottom right two shots later for the win. Charli keeps her series lead at 3-1. Kiwi made a three-ball run with a scratch from the break. Charli bounced back with a six-ball run-out to snag the win for a 4-1 series win. Charli will host her bracket semifinals appearance. Kiwi is the 29th player out of the Tournament, and Charli has her first kill of the year.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Hoppy v. Jack. A Northeastern derby ends the day with the purple cue in 15-ball. Archtown's Hoppy made some waves early in game 1 with crafty play, then dominated Web City's Jack at the end with a seven-ball run-out showing all sorts of skill. Hoppy is up 1-0 in the series. The Arrows' Hoppy tried to keep up her momentum in game 2, but it didn't work out after an error. The Spiders' Jack took over with a five-ball run, then let Hoppy make a brief counterattack before Jack stormed back on a six-ball run-out. Jack's massive win tied the series at 1. Jack couldn't sustain his offense as play wore on in game 3, and it turned into a choppy battle between the well-matched foes. At the end, Hoppy picked up the 15 on a cut to the top right to regain the series lead at 2-1. Jack began to slip about halfway through game 4, and Hoppy recognized the opportunity quickly. She waited a bit, then struck a four-ball run-out for the win, giving Hoppy advancement as she extended the series lead to 3-1. In game 5, Jack had a lot of chances to establish himself early on, but he couldn't do it. Hoppy made the last five balls over two turns for the win and 4-1 series win. Hoppy will take on another Spider in the bracket semifinals, visiting her club-mate Nibbles in Web City.
We'll be back with another slightly delayed start time tomorrow.
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