Tournament X - Bracket Semifinals Day 8

We've got just two days left in the Bracket Semifinals. Today's games start with power-outage conditions in...

UPS Hall, Maplewood: Summer v. Yekaterina. The blue cue opens the day in Accuracy. Maplewood's Summer scratched on the game 1 break, but played well from then on. Victoria's Yekaterina missed a late pair and Summer won 3-4 for the 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Summer made a ball on the game 2 break and baited the Spurs' Yekaterina into another pair of misses late. Summer prevailed 2-3 in the game to go up 2-0 in the series. Yekaterina got a double-pot early in game 3, but it wound up working against her at the end. Summer stayed strong throughout and won 1-3 this time, clinching the series at 3-0. Game 4 was a close battle, but Yekaterina was unable to hold a late lead. Summer pushed on for a 3-4 win and moved up to a 4-0 series lead. Yekaterina finally got some revenge in game 5, grabbing a 1-5 win to avoid the sweep. Summer won the series 4-1 and will visit Archtown Arrows captain Sally in the bracket finals. Summer earned her third kill of the year to make Yekaterina the 98th eliminated player.

IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Lionel v. Gradley. In 8-ball, the red cue gets a turn. North Modernistic's Lionel didn't seem to enjoy the darkness much, as he failed to make a shot during game 1. Boston's Gradley capitalized with a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Gradley made one of each on the game 2 break. He elected to play stripes, and the Nighthawks' Lionel struggled at first. Lionel got better, but Gradley surged late to nab the win for a 2-0 lead in the series. Gradley held a large lead in game 3, only to see Lionel make six balls over his last three turns. Gradley's slow attempt at a finish wasn't good enough, and Lionel got the win to cut the deficit to 2-1. Lionel reverted to form in game 4 as well, starting slow. He didn't get a chance to catch up to Gradley this time, as Gradley made a four-ball run to get away and then added his final pair to seal the series at 3-1. Gradley had a hot start in game 5, but Lionel challenged with a six-ball run. Gradley was able to fight off the danger with a pair at the end, taking the series 4-1. Gradley is set to host Commerce Tradewinds youngster Rosemary in the bracket finals. Gradley got his first kill of the year while Lionel is the 99th player out of the Tournament.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani v. Isabella. The green cue activates for a series of 13-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Dani had a four-ball run early in game 1 to establish a lead. Atlantic's Isabella also made a four-ball run, but her positioning was worse at the end. Dani then made a pair for the win to go up 1-0 in the series. The Meteors' Dani made one of each on the break in game 2, but couldn't fend off a four-ball run from the Pirates' Isabella. At the end, Isabella took her time to finish on the 8, but she did it eventually for the win to tie the series at 1. Game 3 favored Isabella early on as she made two stripes and a solid on the break. She got close to the finish, but her last ball wouldn't line up. Dani took over at the end, winning on a three-ball run-out to regain the series lead at 2-1. Isabella took too long to align her shots in game 4, as Dani's early offense was the talk of the game. Dani struck for a late pair and the win in the end as well, securing the series at 3-1. Isabella had a decent start in game 5, but she sank the 8 illegally on a failed combination play. Dani took the free win for a 4-1 series win, and she'll play host to Archtown Arrows rookie Greg in the bracket finals.

Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Buddy. The purple cue's only series of the day is in 7-ball as the host opens a doubleheader. Todavía's Easter took game 1 fairly early, converting a 2-7 combination to the bottom right on her second turn after Atlantic's Buddy missed on the 2. Easter has a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 had a balanced start, with the Pirates' Buddy looking to make an impact. He faltered late, and the Stills' Easter made the last three balls over two turns for the win and 2-0 lead in the series. Easter lacked offense in game 3, struggling to put a run together. Buddy wasn't great at the start, but he recovered for a four-ball run-out at the end to get the win. This cut the series to 2-1 in Easter's favor. Easter tried to make the 7 on a bank to the top side, but ended up with a scratch there instead. The ball-in-hand allowed Buddy to grab another win to tie the series at 2. Buddy began with a four-ball run in game 5, but he missed on the 5. Easter took over for a three-ball run-out to earn the win and 3-2 series win. Easter is set to host the Infinity Torpedoes' Fuchsia in the bracket finals. Easter claimed her fourth kill of the year, and Buddy is the 100th player eliminated from the Tournament.

Apple Center, Todavía: Easter v. Puff III. The host's doubleheader ends with the blue cue in 10-ball. Everton's Puff III started fast in game 1, but faded late. Todavía's Easter bounced back on a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter kept her momentum up to start game 2, but the Eagles' Puff III found some offense late. Easter then made the 10 at the top side for the win and 2-0 lead in the series. In game 3, Easter started fine and faltered late. Puff III got on the board with a three-ball run-out at the end, cutting the series to 2-1. Puff III couldn't strike again in a sloppy game 4, with her late scratch setting up Easter for a three-ball run-out. Easter clinched the series at 4-1. Puff III would waste another late chance in game 5 as Easter picked up another win for the 4-1 series win. Easter will visit the Lighton Prestige's Spirit in the bracket finals. Easter added her fifth kill of the year, dispatching Puff III as the 101st player to exit the competition.

AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Katharine. The green cue is done for the day after this Rotation appearance. Oceanside's Celestia ripped a five-ball run on the game 1 break and took an 8-5 win despite Whitewater's Katharine making a rally. Celestia leads the series 1-0. In game 2, the Waves' Celestia slowed down a bit. The Shores' Katharine picked up the slack and earned an 8-5 win of her own this time, enough to tie the series at 1. A choppy back-and-forth battle emerged in a slow-moving game 3. Celestia found a late groove with a three-ball run-out to win 8-5, regaining the 2-1 series lead over Katharine. Celestia zoomed ahead in game 4, using an early pair and a six-ball run-out on her second turn for an 8-1 win to seal the series at 3-1 as Katharine could only watch. Katharine wouldn't go quietly in game 5, making five balls over her last two turns to earn an 8-3 win. Celestia settled for a 3-2 series win that sets her up to visit Todavía Stills captain Easter in the bracket finals. Katharine is the 102nd player to exit the Tournament, and Celestia is up to three kills.

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy v. Dominic. The blue cue is back for a 9-ball set. Everton's Goldy took a fast game 1 win with a 3-9 kick combination to the top left to close a three-ball run-out. That gave her a 1-0 series lead over Southern's Dominic. The Monarchs' Dominic had more time to play in game 2, but he remained pretty slow on offense. The Eagles' Goldy ended a three-ball run-out with a 3-7-9 combination to the the top right, extending her series lead to 2-0. Tricky plays continued to aid Goldy, as she took game 3 with a deflection off the 5 to sink the 9 at the top left. Dominic had previously failed a pinch play with the 4-9 combination off the 7 to the same pocket. Goldy sealed the series at 3-0. Goldy played sportingly in game 4, skipping a winning combination chance to make a three-ball run. Dominic fought back and got the win with the 9 at the top right, cutting Goldy's advantage in the series to 3-1. Goldy stormed away after Dominic's positive start to game 5, as Goldy won a six-ball run-out for the 4-1 series win. That sends her to the bracket finals, where she'll host the Royal Crowns' Jake.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Hoppy v. Nibbles. Northeastern rivals meet for the second time this round, playing 12-ball with the red cue. Archtown's Hoppy gave away a wild-card ball at the start of game 1, and Web City's Nibbles followed up a four-ball run. Nibbles added one more late shot for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Nibbles scratched but claimed solids on the game 2 break. The Arrows' Hoppy was patient early on, then made six balls over two turns for the win to tie the series at 1. Hoppy started game 3 on a four-ball run to establish an early lead. She faltered on her last pair, and Nibbles caught up to earn the win, which restored his lead in the series at 2-1. Nibbles opened with a three-ball run in game 4, but that was all he could muster. Hoppy pushed hard and picked up a wild-card ball from Nibbles, eventually getting through for the win to retie the series at 2. Hoppy went all-out at the start of game 5 and couldn't make it work, as Nibbles took over with a four-ball run-out for the win. Nibbles won the series 3-2 and will visit Princess of the Viewpoint Sound Meteors in the bracket finals.

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Vincent v. Wario. The blue cue is done for the day after this 15-ball series. Everton's Vincent started and ended game 1 with three-ball runs, while Southridge's Wario tried and failed to find momentum in the middle. Vincent leads the series 1-0. The Eagles' Vincent remained solid early in game 2, but he had no answer for a four-ball run from the Defenders' Wario. At the end, Wario made a 12-15 combination to the top right for the win, tying the series at 1. The pace dropped completely in a slow game 3. Vincent eventually found his form at the end with a three-ball run-out, enough to regain the series lead at 2-1 over Wario. Game 4 saw a continuation of both players' struggles late, but Vincent was able to find the win with a late pair this time as Wario never really got on track. Vincent secured the series at 3-1. Wario made an early three-ball run in game 5, but Vincent capitalized on his illegal contact foul later. Vincent took a 5-15 combination to the bottom left without mercy to finish the series at 4-1. Vincent will host the Whitewater Shores' Twinkie III in the bracket finals.

Intel Center, Diamond: Salmo v. Dusty. The silver cue's lone outing comes in 8-ball. Diamond's Salmo wasted a good start to game 1, as Golden's Dusty pounded a four-ball run and a late pair for the win. Dusty owns a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Salmo stayed on pace with a four-ball run early in game 2, but was again denied the win as the Pilots' Dusty made five balls over two turns for the win and 2-0 lead in the series. Dusty continued to play well early in game 3 until a scratch stalled out her offense. Salmo attempted to catch up but fell short, and Dusty clinched the series with a late pair for the win and 3-0 series lead. Dusty played from behind in much of game 4, and her final push wasn't enough. Salmo held on after weathering the attack, then took a late pair for the win to get on the board as Dusty now leads the series 3-1. Salmo was too sloppy in game 5 and didn't come close to getting the win. Dusty battled back with a four-ball run-out to finish a 4-1 series win that sets her up to host Stonebridge Wolves rookie Jane in the bracket finals. That ended Salmo's season as the 103rd eliminated player, and Dusty has her first kill of the year.

That's all for an odd, powerless day of play. Publication was delayed by the outage, so today will likely see the end of the Bracket Semifinals in a few hours.