The Bracket Finals are here, which means we shift down to nine series a day of five games each over the next five days. Leading off...
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Greg. The green cue gets the start in 13-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Dani held the lead early in game 1, and she added a three-ball run late, but Archtown's Greg made the final pair just in time for the win. Greg leads the series 1-0. The Arrows' Greg had an overfill on the game 2 break, but it was better than the late overfill that ended the Meteors' Dani's comeback push. Greg struck the 8 to the top left after that for the win and a 2-0 series lead. Dani finally got her win in game 3, but she made it interesting by requiring multiple attempts on the 8. Greg almost had enough time to catch up, but he still has a 2-1 series lead. Dani started got in game 4, and her offense was enough to fend off Greg, who had trouble with positioning. Dani's win tied the series at 2. Dani continued to surge in game 5, while Greg again had bad positioning to work with. Dani sank the 8 to the bottom side to complete the 3-2 series comeback and punch her ticket for the Finals. She had a 14-7 record on the bracket. Dani's second kill of the year made Greg the 110th eliminated player.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack v. Stinky. First-year captains clash in 12-ball with the purple cue. Freedom's Stinky played a bit recklessly in game 1, twice yielded wild-card balls to Web City's Jack. The host Jack gave one back and couldn't capitalize on the other before Stinky won with his final pair for the 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack yielded a wild-card ball to the Cascades' Stinky early in game 2, but Jack's better positioning helped him hold on for the close win. This tied the series at 1. Jack held a lead for most of game 3, but couldn't make it stand. Stinky pushed on a four-ball run and won the battle at the bottom side for the win and 2-1 series lead. Stinky had the lead in game 4, but couldn't make it last as Jack battled back to be even with a ball to go. Jack then banked the 3 to the top side after blocking Stinky on the previous turn. Jack's bold play tied the series again at 2. Jack found a good source of offense in game 5, and finally took an early lead. Stinky wasn't able to battle back even with Jack scratching late, and Jack went on for the win and 3-2 series win. Jack is the headed to the Finals with 14-7 record from the bracket. Jack took his third kill of the year and Stinky is the 111th player to exit the Tournament.
Audi Hall, Terrace City: Melissa v. Sprinkles. The blue cue comes aboard for its lone series in 13-ball. A tough battle emerged in game 1, and Capital City's Sprinkles was able to finish it off after Terrace City's Melissa fumbled a play on the 8. Sprinkles leads the series 1-0. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles started game 2 well with stripes, but the Knights' Melissa battled back. The showdown came to a head at the top right, and Sprinkles eventually prevailed for the win and 2-0 series lead. Game 3 went back-and-forth between the two players, right from the start to the very end. Melissa's mistake was sinking Sprinkles' last ball, and Sprinkles then made a crazy cut on the 8 at the top right for the win. Sprinkles clinched the series at 3-0. Melissa finally got on the board in game 4 after Sprinkles couldn't navigate poor positioning. Sprinkles' last shot allowed Melissa an easy finish on the 8 at the top left to cut the deficit to 3-1. Melissa made quick work of game 5, sinking all seven balls over a span of three turns. Sprinkles settled for a 3-2 series win to get into the Finals after going 16-5 on the bracket. Sprinkles now has five kills while Melissa is the 112th eliminated player this year.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Waluigi v. Spice. The silver cue draws in for 9-ball. Victoria's Spice looked a bit threatening early in game 1, but Web City's Waluigi handled the finish with a pair at the end for a 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Spice was a little better on offense in game 2, working a late four-ball run that ended when she missed on the 9. The Spiders' Waluigi was there to bury the 9 at the bottom side for the win, giving him a 2-0 series lead. Waluigi did better to create his own luck in game 3, striking once on the break and adding a 6-9 combination to the top left at the end after Spice's solid offense in between. Waluigi sealed the series at 3-0 with this win. Waluigi controlled the pace of game 4, but that got him nowhere when Spice counterattacked on a four-ball run-out for the win. Waluigi remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Waluigi weathered a five-ball run from Spice in game 5, but Spice was the one to snipe the 9 to the bottom right for the win. Waluigi took the series 3-2 and will play in the Finals after his 14-7 record on the bracket.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Marissa v. Isabella. The silver cue's day ends with 12-ball. Atlantic's Isabella sparked to life with a five-ball early in game 1. Maplewood's Marissa tried to counter it, but Isabella was sharp and easily earned the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Marissa yielded a wild-card ball in game 2, but it threw off the Pirates' Isabella, who needed that ball as a pivot point on her planned last run. Marissa's disruptive generosity helped her pick up the win with a pair to tie the series at 1. Isabella was right back in it in game 3, putting together a solid offense from the start. Marissa had an overfill on the break but kept things close to the end. Isabella just poked her last ball to the top side in time to regain the series lead at 2-1. Marissa had to weather a couple attacks from Isabella in game 4. Marissa responded well both times with three-ball runs, the latter giving her a win to tie the series at 2. Isabella fended off the attack from Marissa in game 5, although it was still a close battle as many have been. Isabella won the series 3-2, and she's the first player to feature in the Play-In Round to make the Finals with a 17-7 record in the event. Isabella has three kills this year, and Marissa is the 113th player out.
Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Princess v. Nibbles. Another 12-ball series features the red cue. Viewpoint Sound's Princess started off strong in game 1, then swooned a bit as Web City's Nibbles caught up. Princess still finished with the win at the top right for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Princess took a scratch on the game 2 break. The Spiders' Nibbles built a lead, but Princess battled back and found a three-ball run-out after his last scratch. Princess is now ahead 2-0 in the series. Princess gave away a wild-card ball on the game 3 break. Nibbles didn't look to have much offense early on, but he executed a four-ball run-out for the comeback to win to cut Princess' series lead to 2-1. Nibbles yielded a wild-card ball on his opening run in game 4, but he had already done a lot of work on solids. Princess didn't execute well enough to catch up, and Nibbles made his final pair to tie the series at 2. Nibbles rode the momentum into game 5, while Princess struggled to get her shots lined up. Nibbles took a three-ball run-out at the end for the win and 3-2 series win. Nibbles finished 14-7 on the bracket to get into the Finals. Princess is the 114th eliminated player, and that gave Nibbles his first kill.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Chicky Phil v. Pedey. The green cue exits after this 8-ball set. Midland's Chicky Phil had an empty break in game 1 and didn't get another shot when Todavía's Pedey ran the table on his first turn. Pedey leads the series 1-0 with confidence. The Stills' Pedey didn't have such a cohesive effort in game 2, while the Predators' Chicky Phil did well when getting multiple turns. Pedey's last attack came up short, and Chicky Phil earned the win to tie the series at 1. Pedey was able to regain control early in game 3 as Chicky Phil's offense left plenty to be desired. Pedey finished with a three-ball run and retook the series lead at 2-1. Pedey came up empty on the game 4 break, allowing Chicky Phil to strike first with a pair. On a crowded table, Pedey then wove an eight-ball run-out for the second time in the series to secure a 3-1 series advantage. Pedey and Chicky Phil put on quite a tight show in game 5, with Chicky Phil taking the victory at the end. Pedey won the series 3-2, advancing to the Finals with a strong 16-5 record. Pedey has his first kill as Chicky Phil is the 115th player out of action.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Mams v. Crystal. The red cue is set to play in 10-ball. A choppy game 1 came to an end when Queens' Crystal put her second attempt on the 10 in the bottom right to earn the 1-0 series lead over Southern's Mams. The Monarchs' Mams continued to flub shots she should have made, and the Flames' Crystal capitalized again in game 2. Crystal walked away with a late attack to go up 2-0 in the series. Crystal polished up her play in game 3, save for one mid-game scratch. Mams got very little from the ball-in-hand situation, and Crystal finished with a four-ball run-out to clinch the series at 3-0. Crystal slowed down a bit in game 4, making for a battle between the two players this time. Mams wasn't able to impact the offense late, and Crystal won on a three-ball run-out to stretch her series lead to 4-0. Crystal again backed off in game 5, and this time Mams cashed in with a three-ball run-out at the end to avoid the sweep. Crystal finished the series with a 4-1 win and takes a 14-7 record into the Finals. Mams is the 116th eliminated player this year, and Crystal has her first kill.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Bianca. Southeastern rivals end the day in Accuracy. A close start gave way to a sloppy finish for Southridge's Bianca, as her attempts to stay competitive allowed Boston's Sweetheart to take control. Sweetheart won 1-5 and owns a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 followed a similar pattern, but this time it was the Swifts' Sweetheart who experienced a late fade. The Defenders' Bianca held her line well for a 1-5 win to tie the series at 1. Sweetheart again fell off the pace late in game 3, a pair of misses enough for Bianca to grab and hold a 1-3 win. Bianca now leads the series 2-1. Game 4 saw Bianca waste a multi-point lead, but Sweetheart attempted to play defense late. Sweetheart then missed on the last ball, and Bianca's tap-in earned her a 2-3 win to seal the series at 3-1. Bianca took a hit in game 5, playing ultra-casually as Sweetheart wrangled a 3-6 win for the road. Bianca won the series 3-2 and will play in the Finals sporting a 17-7 record.
That's it for the first day of the Bracket Finals. There's four more to go.
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