We're set to begin the final stretch to close out the round. First up today...
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Leonardo. The red cue gets the opener today, playing 13-ball. Southern's Dominic had a three-ball run from the break in game 1, but shaky play to close things out later allowed Diamond's Leonardo to make a comeback. Leonardo was able to make a pair on his last turn for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Dominic didn't do himself any favors with positioning in game 2, and the Gems' Leonardo played patiently to earn another win. Leonardo is up 2-0 in the series now. Leonardo made three stripes on the break in game 3, but one was an overfill. His positioning after that was a disaster, and Dominic took advantage at the end to rally for the win. Leonardo's series lead holds at 2-1. Dominic struck on stripes in game 4, but Leonardo got very close to a win at the end. Dominic's defense held up just long enough for him to rally for a comeback win that tied the series at 2. Dominic made one of each and nearly had the 8 at the top left, but he chose a four-ball run on stripes to start. Leonardo failed to catch up, and he sank the 8 illegally when he did to gift the win and 3-2 series win to Dominic, who will visit the Tysini Hummingbirds' Sugar in the bracket semifinals.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Puff III. The purple cue is ready to go in a Northeastern derby in 12-ball. Web City's Jack had a big performance in game 1, shutting out Everton's Puff III over four turns to get the win. Jack leads the series 1-0 after a dominant win. Game 2 was a little tougher, as the Spiders' Jack had to play for positioning more. He still maintained a noticeable lead over the Eagles' Puff III, who came close on a desperate kick at the end, but Jack closed the door for the win and 2-0 series lead. Puff III gave away a wild-card ball early in game 3, but Jack would scratch as he fought for positioning late in the game. On level terms, Puff III excelled to get the win, cutting Jack's series lead to 2-1. Puff III flirted with danger again in game 4, yielding another wild-card ball for Jack. This time, Jack capitalized, easily taking the win in the end to seal the series at 3-1. Jack faltered on his last ball multiple times in game 5, allowing Puff III to push back at the end for the win. Jack won the series 3-2 and will host the Freedom Cascades' Stripes in the bracket semifinals.
Nike Field Events Center, Commerce: Niki v. Ice Cream. Back in 13-ball, the purple cue goes again. Commerce's Niki had a positive start in game 1 but lost her way in the middle. Boston's Ice Cream failed to capitalize, scratching twice late before Niki finished off for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Niki didn't have it easy in game 2, as the Swifts' Ice Cream defended at the bottom left like she had no other choice. Ice Cream again had a couple of desperate scratches, and Niki pushed through to get the win for a 2-0 series lead. Niki wasn't outright dominant in game 3, but she was sharp enough to get early offense and then set up her final run. Ice Cream made a strong push, but Niki won with a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 3-0. Niki had a great start with a four-ball run in game 4, but she still needed a pair of missed contacts for Ice Cream on her last ball after a five-ball run. Niki scraped by for the win to stretch her series lead to 4-0. Ice Cream avoided the sweep in a close game 5, as Niki was a step behind for the first time. Niki won the series 4-1 and will host the Freedom Cascades' Andrew in the bracket semifinals. Ice Cream is the 44th eliminated player this year, while Niki earns her first kill.
Intel Center, Diamond: Debby v. Spot. The blue cue gets a turn in Rotation between Eastern Hills rivals. Diamond's Debby struck on the break, but Pronger's Spot had a lot of the early success in game 1. Spot scratched late with the game tight, and Debby won 8-6 with a three-ball run-out to pull ahead 1-0 in the series. The Gems' Debby had a thorough attack in game 2, although her late five-ball run was truncated by a scratch. The Tridents' Spot responded with a three-ball run, but Debby made a shot to seal an 8-3 win that put her ahead 2-0 in the series. Spot held the lead for part of game 3, but Debby wouldn't stay down for long. A five-ball run put Debby on the brink of a win, and she finished with an 8-4 win on the next turn to secure the series at 3-0. Both players took a step back from the established pace in game 4, with Spot leading the way for the early stages. Debby again returned to form late, winning 8-5 on another surge that gave her a 4-0 series lead. Debby completed the sweep in game 5, earning an 8-2 win this time as Spot failed to make much of an impact at all. Debby will host Celebrity club-mate and North Modernistic Nighthawks captain Peach in the bracket semifinals.
Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Oreo. The purple cue exits the day with 8-ball between Prime club-mates. Terrace City's Oreo had a lead in game 1, but she couldn't corral the 8 before Todavía's Easter caught up. At the end, Easter made a pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. Both players had scratches in game 2, but the Stills' Easter had hers early enough to recover from. The Knights' Oreo stalled out after her scratch, and Easter won on a three-ball run-out for the 2-0 series lead. Easter held the lead for a bit in game 3 as well, but this time she came up short at the end. Oreo was persistent on offense and made a late pair for the win to cut the series to 2-1 in Easter's favor. Oreo saved her offense for late in game 4, as Easter appeared set for victory early on. Oreo then made a five-ball run to pull even, and she used her defensive advantage a turn later for a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 2. Easter had a six-ball run in game 5, but a scratch and slow play at the end opened the door for Oreo to rally for the win. Oreo took the series much the same way, a comeback 3-2 win that sets her up to visit the Whitewater Shores' Katharine for an Urban derby in the bracket semifinals.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Spice v. Puff I. Reality club-mates use the silver cue in 9-ball for its lone appearance today. Victoria's Spice made no mistake on the game 1 break, sending the 9 just behind the 6 to fall at the top left for the win and 1-0 series lead over Modernistic's Puff I. The Spurs' Spice was much sloppier in game 2, but it didn't stop her from collecting the win with a late pair. The Union's Puff I didn't play much better, and Spice took advantage of that to get the 2-0 series lead. Spice made five balls over two turns at one stage of game 3, but it wouldn't matter when she rattled the 8 out of the bottom right. Puff I struck back with a pair for the win, getting on the board but still trailing 2-1 in the series. Puff I couldn't sustain the momentum in game 4, falling into a chippy battle with Spice. At the end, Spice took a pair for the win to clinch the series at 3-1. Puff I cleaned up the scraps late in game 5 with a pair of shots, leaving Spice to advance on a 3-2 series win. Spice is set to host the Golden Pilots' Strut in the bracket semifinals. Spice took her first kill of the year, and Puff I's exit as the 45th eliminated player means a quarter of all players are inactive.
Apple Center, Todavía: Ruby v. Sprinkles. Back on the coast, the blue cue is done after 13-ball. Todavía's Ruby had the lead early in game 1 and tried to finish late, but a scratch held her back. Capital City's Sprinkles had better positioning too, and won with a three-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles sank one of each to start game 2, and she chose solids from there. That was a good choice, as the Stills' Ruby struggled while Sprinkles looked relatively strong throughout the game to earn another win for the 2-0 series lead. Sprinkles again potted one of each on the game 3 break, choosing solids as she already had a side pocket down. Sprinkles went on a four-ball run-out later while Ruby remained out of position. Sprinkles sealed the series at 3-0 in the process. Sprinkles had a good start in game 4, but she couldn't quite corral the 8 at the end. Ruby tapped it into the top left for the win, cutting Sprinkles' series lead to 3-1. Ruby couldn't save another game, as he offense was slow to arrive in game 5. Sprinkles had time to be patient and smart with her shots, and she succeeded at the end for the win and 4-1 series win. Sprinkles will be on the road again in the bracket semifinals. Sprinkles earned her second kill of the year to make Ruby the 46th eliminated player.
Sony Center, Queens: Mario v. Missy. The green cue's lone outing of the day is in 7-ball. Queens' Mario got the 2 to fall in the bottom side on the break, and the sequence ended with the 1 pinching the 7 to the bottom right for the instant win. Mario leads the series 1-0. The offense was slow to arrive on both sides in game 2 after the Flames' Mario scratched on the break. The Sharpshooters' Missy eventually found her way forward with a six-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Mario came up clutch in game 3 with a three-ball run-out, featuring a hard bank of the 6 to the bottom left to keep the turn going. Mario reclaimed the series lead at 2-1 over Capital City's Missy. In game 4, Missy's first and ultimately only shot was a miss on the 1. This left a 1-7 combination aligned for Mario to convert at the top right, which he did to secure the series at 3-1. Mario didn't make much impact after potting a pair on the break, his miss on the 6 leading to Missy making the final pair for the win. Mario won the series 3-2 and will host the Westside Rockers' Slinks in the bracket semifinals.
T-Mobile Center, Victoria: Rosalina v. Dani. Another 7-ball series features the red cue. Victoria's Rosalina didn't get much early offense in game 1, but she struck down the last two balls after Viewpoint Sound's Dani ran out of steam. Rosalina leads the series 1-0. The Spurs' Rosalina made a couple balls on the break and a jump shot later on to pot the 4 at the bottom left, but she scratched in her attempt on the 7. The Meteors' Dani pounced on it for a tap-in at the bottom side and tied the series at 1. In game 3, Dani made a pair of three-ball runs to pick up the win, with Rosalina missing contact on the 5 in her one chance to make a comeback. Dani leads the series 2-1 now. Rosalina kept herself in the series with a game 4 win. The 7 found itself near the bottom left early on, and Rosalina deflected a shot off the 3 to tap it in, retying the series at 2 as Dani failed to find an angle. Dani didn't find much offense in game 5, as Rosalina potted a four-ball run and then made the final pair on her next turn. Rosalina won the series 3-2 and will host Tysini Hummingbirds' sophomore Sarah in the bracket semifinals.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Toki v. Bianca. Young opponents end the day with the red cue in Accuracy. A close battle at first devolved into a chase for the last ball. Southridge's Bianca missed it three times before Eastside's Toki put it away for the 4-5 win and 1-0 series lead in a textbook case of how not to finish a game. The Sharks' Toki made a ball on the game 2 break, but he faltered early this time. The Defenders' Bianca limited her mistakes quite well to earn a 1-3 win to tie the series at 1. Bianca didn't deliver a great break in game 3, leading to a sloppy battle on both sides. Bianca held the edge throughout the game and won 4-5 as Toki couldn't close the gap. Bianca leads the series 2-1. Bianca made two balls on the game 4 break, but her offense after that didn't remain at a high standard. Toki wrestled the lead away and took a 2-5 win to retie the series at 2 to set up a decisive finale. With the series on the line, Bianca found her game at the perfect time, winning 0-3 as her shutout helped her beat Toki 3-2 in the series. Bianca is set to be on the road again in the bracket semifinals. Toki is the 47th player out of the Tournament, and Bianca has her first kill.
We'll keep the action moving tomorrow for a new day of games.
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