A Friday full of games, with the silver and purple cues sitting out, is ready to begin with...
Chevrolet Center, Everton: Vincent v. Wario. Rising stars clash in 7-ball with the blue cue. Everton's Vincent butchered his finish in game 1, clipping the 7 on an approach for the 6. Vincent made the 6, giving Southridge's Wario the free shot on the 7 to the bottom right. Wario leads the series 1-0. The Defenders' Wario maintained his edge on offense in game 2, battling at first with the Eagles' Vincent before finding a three-ball run-out. Wario now leads the series 2-0. Vincent made two pairs of shots in game 3, but the 6 eluded him at the top left. Wario stepped in to sink the final two shots for the win, clinching the series at 3-0. Neither player wanted to give much up on the 6, leading to a slight stalemate before Wario made it. He then missed on the 7, and Vincent struck at the bottom side for his first win, cutting the series to 3-1. Wario faltered again late in game 5, and Vincent was able to collect another win with his second attempt on the 7. Wario still won the series 3-2, and he'll be a visitor again in the bracket semifinals.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Nikolai v. Ms. Puppy. Another 7-ball series uses the blue cue. Freedom's Nikolai saw the 7 move one way on the break before a hard redirect sent it to the bottom left and the 5 to the bottom side for a double-pot. Nikolai has a 1-0 series lead over Modernistic Ms. Puppy after game 1. The Cascades' Nikolai made a three-ball run from the break and a pair on his next turn before a tough miss on the 7. The Union's Ms. Puppy stepped up to pot the final pair for the win to tie the series at 1. Ms. Puppy had a pair on the game 3 break, but misfortune struck when she jammed the 1 and 5 together at the top left. Nikolai broke the jam to ignite his five-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series lead. Nikolai kicked off game 4 with another five-ball run, but he missed on the 6. He wouldn't get back to the table this time, as Ms. Puppy buried the last pair for the win to retie the series at 2. Ms. Puppy had an empty break in game 5, and Nikolai struck a 1-7 bank combination to the bottom left for a stunning win and 3-2 series win. Nikolai will host his bracket semifinals appearance. Nikolai has his first kill of the year, while Ms. Puppy is the 51st player to exit the Tournament.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Spot v. Potter. A pair of Tridents teammates meet in 9-ball with the red cue. Spot didn't get anything on the break, but he was lucky that Potter left the 9 at the bottom left on his first turn. Spot made a 2-9 combination to get the win for a quick 1-0 series lead. In game 2, Potter got going and just wouldn't stop, collecting a seven-ball run-out after an initially tight start against Spot. Potter's surge tied the series at 1. Spot had a creative double-pot of the 4 to the top right and the 8 to the top side on a kick of the 1, but his next shot was much worse. Potter fired back on a 1-9 combination to the bottom left for the win and 2-1 series lead. Spot put up a valiant effort in game 4, but his attempt at a late run ended far too early. Potter bounced back with a five-ball run-out for the win, sealing the series at 3-1. Both players made four-ball runs in game 5, but Potter couldn't quite get the 9 at the end of his. Spot knocked it, and Potter settled for a 3-2 series win. Potter will host Midland Predators captain Shawn in the bracket semifinals.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Neopolitan. The red cue is done for the day after this Accuracy series. Both players were lucky to stay perfect halfway through game 1, but when Central's Noelle lost her grip, she really lost it. Pearl's Neopolitan skated off with a 0-3 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle did well to force overtime in game 2, and she gave Neopolitan the longest possible shot on the overtime break. Neopolitan almost missed the rack and ended up scratching anyway, allowing Noelle to claim a 1-2 win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 saw Noelle fall behind after making a ball on the break. Neopolitan tried to hold on but fell back later and couldn't force overtime in the end. Noelle earned a 2-3 win this time, pulling ahead 2-1 in the series. Noelle's game 4 effort looked a lot like game 1, where she held on at first and then unraveled late. Neopolitan picked up the 1-4 win at the end, tying the series at 2. Noelle had a lead for much of game 5, but collapsed into a tie that forced overtime. Neopolitan didn't miss on the extra rack, taking a 2-3 win over Noelle for the 3-2 series win. Neopolitan will host her bracket semifinals outing.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Marsell v. Dani. The green cue takes a turn today in 13-ball. Whitewater's Marsell had a decent start to game 1 with a three-ball run, but he failed to get positioning at the bottom side. Viewpoint Sound's Dani surged later and completed the comeback for a win and 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Dani had a strong break in game 2 with a four-ball run on solids. The Shores' Marsell sank balls to the side pockets, but didn't have time to align at the end. Dani won with a pair of shots to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Game 3 began with Dani on a three-ball run from the break. Marsell put up much more of a fight this time with a late five-ball run, but he missed on the 8. Dani fired back with a three-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 3-0. Dani scratched on the break in game 4, allowing Marsell to set the tone. Marsell was a little weaker in the middle, but he roared back on a four-ball run-out to get the win, cutting Dani's series lead to 3-1. Dani couldn't get much going in game 5 either, her positioning suffering at the end. Marsell won on a three-ball run-out. Dani advanced with a 3-2 series win, and she'll host Atlantic Pirates hotshot Isabella in the bracket semifinals. Dani earned her first kill to make Marsell the 52nd eliminated player this year.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Puff II v. Summer. The blue cue is back for Accuracy. Boston's Puff II kept perfection deep into game 1, thanks to a triple-kiss on the 12 to the bottom right. Maplewood's Summer faltered after that, and Puff II held on for a 1-2 win for a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Puff II looked prepared to take a big win again in game 2 until she fell apart at the end. The Lumberjacks' Summer played a steadier game to earn the 3-4 win, tying the series at 1. Game 2 had a nearly identical finish, as Puff II missed a late shot after already struggling to keep things close. Summer was calm and cleaned up Puff II's miss to secure a 3-4 win again. Summer leads the series 2-1. Puff II went into full desperation to force overtime in game 4, but Summer struck on the overtime break and Puff II rattled her shot out of the bottom left. Summer won by a 3-4 score again, securing the series at 3-1. Puff II wouldn't get any redemption for the road in game 5, as Summer held her ground for a 2-4 win that gave the visitor a 4-1 series win. Summer will host the Victoria Spurs' Yekaterina in the bracket semifinals. Summer is up to two kills this year, while Puff II is the 53rd player to exit the Tournament.
Sony Center, Queens: Mario v. Slinks. Veterans meet in 9-ball with the green cue. Seemingly out of nowhere, Queens' Mario found an eight-ball run-out in game 1. It stunned Westside's Slinks as well, but that gave Mario a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Mario had too many errors in game 2 despite controlling the pace of play. The Rockers' Slinks cashed in the 9 at the top left from ball-in-hand after Mario scratched while potting the 8. The series is tied at 1. Mario still had some trouble with errors in game 3, but Slinks picked a bad time to miss contact while shooting at the 8. Mario took the ball-in-hand to make a pair of shots at the end, regaining the series lead 2-1. Game 4 was as choppy as they've been in the series. Neither player looked particularly comfortable, and Mario just barely scraped by with a win to clinch the series at 3-1 over Slinks. Game 5 was a little cleaner, and Mario made the last five balls over three turns to grab another win for the 4-1 series win. Mario will host the Atlantic Pirates' Dusky in the bracket semifinals.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Twinkie I v. Spirit. The blue cue takes a turn in 10-ball. What started out fine in game 1 turned into a slow finish, with Pacific's Twinkie I just getting the win over Lighton's Spirit with the former's third try on the 10. Twinkie I holds a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit took away the momentum from the Volcanoes' Twinkie I very early in game 2. Spirit put the 1 in the bottom right, then pinched the 2-10 combination off the 3-6 cluster to pot the winning shot as called in the bottom left. The series is now tied at 1. Spirit changed styles again in game 3, relying on her defense to slow things down. Towards the end, Twinkie I turned it around and got defensive, and Spirit had no answer for it. Twinkie I poked the 10 to the top left for the win and 2-1 series lead. Twinkie I had a tough time commanding her shots in game 4, and that allowed Spirit to hang around. Spirit finished on a three-ball run-out with a 9-10 combination to the top left for the win. Spirit has retied the series at 2. Twinkie I tried to make a smart play by deferring possession to allow Spirit to get a three-ball run in the middle of game 5. Twinkie I then flubbed her shot on the 8, and Spirit made a three-ball run-out for the win and 3-2 series win. Spirit is set to host the Golden Pilots' Sparkles in the bracket semifinals. Spirit has her first kill this year, making Twinkie I the 54th eliminated player.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Shawn v. Easter. Captains collide in another 10-ball series using the blue cue. Midland's Shawn showed some skill with a 1-7 jump combination at the bottom side as part of an opening three-ball run. He would later miscue on the 8. Todavía's Easter used the ball-in-hand to win in two shots with a 9-10 combination at the top left giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter had more offense in game 2, including a four-ball run over the middle. The Predators' Shawn missed his cut on the 10 at the top left, and Easter tapped it in for the win and 2-0 series lead. Shawn was very lucky to keep his series alive in game 3, as Easter smashed an eight-ball run from the break and added the 9 on the next turn before missing the 10. Shawn won on a tap-in to cut the deficit to 2-1. Shawn began game 4 on a five-ball run despite potting the 10 on the break, causing it to be respotted. Easter had a four-ball run in response, but the last ball she potted was illegally hit. Shawn then made a pair for the win to tie the series at 2. Easter remained a force in game 5, finding her former glory at the end with a dominant four-ball run-out to finish off Shawn. Easter won the series 3-2 and will host Everton Eagles veteran Puff III in the bracket semifinals.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Princess v. Noelle. Brute Force club-mates end the day by beginning a split-day venue doubleheader with the green cue in 8-ball. Central's Noelle had a clear edge on offense in game 1, so Viewpoint Sound's Princess leveled the playing field with defense. Princess' strategy baited Noelle into illegally potting the 8, giving Princess the 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle found a six-ball run fairly early in game 2, but her follow-up saw her miss on the 8. The Meteors' Princess rallied back on a six-ball run-out for the win, going up 2-0 in the series. Noelle had another big burst of offense in game 3, but it didn't hold up against a balanced and staggered finish from Princess, who took four balls over the last two turns to win. Princess secured the series at 3-0 with this win. Noelle had a quick five-ball run in game 4, then took too long on the rest of her shots. Princess scratched twice to maintain defense, and then won with a three-ball run-out to make it a 4-0 series lead. Princess finally slipped up late in game 5, unable to complete the sweep after Noelle grabbed a win on a three-ball run-out. Princess won the series 4-1 and will host the Todavía Stills newcomer Pedey in the bracket semifinals.
Check back tomorrow for some weekend action with just three days remaining in the Bracket Quarterfinals.
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