Tournament X - Finals Phase A

The first round of matchups in the Finals are here, which means series are now seven games long. The blue cue will not feature today. First up...

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Nibbles (R) v. Isabella (S). We begin today's action with a 12-ball series. Web City's Nibbles stepped up with a strong break and rode solids right to the end. He made three balls over his last two turns while Atlantic's Isabella saw her four-ball run cut short by a scratch. Nibbles took game 1 for a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Nibbles didn't slow down in game 2, again working with solids and having a fairly easy time doing so. The Pirates' Isabella tried to shift to defense, but she was too slow to stop Nibbles, who now leads the series 2-0. Nibbles switched to stripes for game 3, and that was a fine choice. He had a few nervy moments early on, but Isabella couldn't press hard late. Nibbles banked the 10 to the bottom right and converted the 9 at the top side for the win to move ahead 3-0 in the series. Nibbles surrendered two wild-card balls in game 4, one on the break and another as he tried to break Isabella's late-game defense. Isabella potted four balls over her last two turns to get the win, cutting Nibbles' series lead to 3-1. Nibbles was right back on attack in game 5, even as Isabella made a ball on the break. Tough positioning stalled out Isabella's comeback before Nibbles put the 4 in the top right for the win to clinch the series at 4-1. Isabella and Nibbles engaged in a tight battle along the bottom rail, with Nibbles fouling as he tried to play for positioning on his last shot. Isabella scooped up her last two shots for the win, trimming the deficit to 4-2. Isabella yielded a wild-card ball again in game 7, and Nibbles made it work for him quite well, taking a dominant victory to win the series 5-2. Nibbles is set to stay at home versus his Spiders teammate and captain Jack in the next phase. Nibbles got his second kill of the year, and Isabella is the 138th eliminated player. The Pirates are also the 10th team out.

Ford Forum, Pronger: Avril (G) v. Spice (P). Next up, one of these two players moves on in the 15-ball ladder. Pronger's Avril had some tricky ideas in game 1, but couldn't get many of them to work. She had a three-ball run, but Victoria's Spice answered on a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Spurs' Spice kicked up the offense a little stronger with a pair of three-ball runs at the end of game 2. The Tridents' Avril was already rattled after having to play in tight spaces, and she was unable to gain control after that. Spice won the game and pulled ahead 2-0 in the series. Spice continued to pace the offense in game 3, making a five-ball run-out after dominating the tougher early portion of the game. Spice has a stranglehold 3-0 series lead over Avril. In game 4, Avril had a chance to get back on track with a 7-15 combination attempt to the bottom right. She rattled it out, then scrapped with Spice before the end, where Spice pulled off a 14-15 bank combination to the top right to seal the series at 4-0. Avril converted a pair of four-ball runs in game 5, finally showing some life and stability on offense, but Spice fired back at the end with a four-ball run-out to stretch her series lead to 5-0. Spice wasn't at her best in game 6 by any means, but Avril was unable to capitalize on numerous opportunities for momentum. Spice ended up making the final pair anyway for the win and 6-0 lead in the series. Avril avoided total disaster in game 7, converting on her third try on the 15 after Spice couldn't quite put it away. Spice won the series 6-1 and will face Royal Crowns rookie Sunshine tomorrow. Avril is the 139th eliminated player, and Spice now has three kills.

Nissan Hall, Infinity: Blaze (R) v. Shaggy (S). A rookie takes on a captain in Rotation. Infinity's Blaze got most of his offense in game 1 on pairs of shots. Whitewater's Shaggy tried a similar strategy, but couldn't keep up very well. Blaze won 8-2 and established a 1-0 series lead early on. The Torpedoes' Blaze had a hot run in the middle of game 2, but he had to grind for the rest of his offense. The Shores' Shaggy wasn't consistent enough to mount a challenge, and Blaze won 8-4 for the 2-0 series lead. Shaggy responded well in game 3, finally establishing a lead early on. Blaze had a chance to go on a late run, but he rattled the 8 out of the bottom left. Shaggy knocked it in for an 8-2 win to get a game back in the 2-1 series. Shaggy held the lead for much of a back-and-forth game 4, as Blaze couldn't retain his momentum very well. A close finish favored Shaggy 8-7, tying the series at 2. Blaze got back on track with a surge in the middle of game 5, giving him a late lead. Shaggy evened the score but couldn't win, and Blaze took an 8-7 result to reclaim the series lead at 3-2. Blaze kept it up in game 6, battling with Shaggy early on in a close fight. Blaze then pulled away late on a three-ball run-out to win 8-4, clinching the series at 4-2 in the process. Blaze had no answer for Shaggy's massive five-ball run to start game 7. The quality dropped off after that, but Shaggy still won 8-3. Blaze took the series 4-3 and will visit the North Modernistic Nighthawks' Peach in the next phase. Shaggy is the 140th player out, and Blaze has his second kill. The Shores are the 11th eliminated team.

Sony Center, Queens: Crystal (R) v. Boots (G). The focus shifts to the 10-ball ladder here. Queens' Crystal got some early offense in a chaotic start, but Pearl's Boots delivered the finish on a seven-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Boots kept it going with a three-ball run to start game 2. A stronger battle emerged from that, and the Flames' Crystal posted a three-ball run-out at the end for the win to tie the series at 1. Boots again ripped a massive seven-ball run late in game 3, but this time she missed on the 10. Crystal missed contact on her next shot, and Boots took the 10 from ball-in-hand to reestablish the series lead at 2-1. Boots had another good share of the offense in game 4, but her late three-ball run ended when she missed the 10 at the bottom left. Crystal buried it for the win, again tying the series at 2. Crystal made three balls on the break in game 5 and added a four-ball run-out at the end, turning up the heat to smother Boots. Crystal pulled ahead for a 3-2 series lead. Crystal had a four-ball run at the end of game 6, but couldn't give herself good positioning on the 10. Boots then converted it to the bottom left to tie the series again at 3. Crystal had a good grip on offense in game 7 with a four-ball run early on. She added the finishing touches late with a pair as Boots faltered too much to sustain herself. Crystal won the series 4-3 and will visit the Midland Predators' Americus tomorrow in a Southeastern derby. Boots is the 141st player to exit, giving Crystal her second kill. The Surfers are the 12th team to finish.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Waluigi (S) v. Sarah (G). The visitor here is one of two players with multiple bids remaining as she plays in 9-ball. Tysini's Sarah showed some offense early in game 1, but Web City's Waluigi buried it with a three-ball run-out at the end to give himself a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Waluigi absolutely butchered the finish of game 2, while the Hummingbirds' Sarah made one fewer mistake that allowed her to sink the 9 from ball-in-hand at the end. Sarah's cheap win tied the series at 1. Sarah was in better shape to deliver in game 3, working a five-ball run-out after weathering Waluigi's early attack. Sarah's victory put her ahead 2-1 in the series. Waluigi had a brutal pair of scratches in game 4, one to end a five-ball run and the other after he converted his second attempt on the 9. The latter scratch gifted the win to Sarah, who now leads the series 3-1. Waluigi finally redeemed himself a bit for his previous mistakes. Sarah had a chance at a run in game 5, but missed on the 7, and Waluigi cut her off with a three-ball run-out to pull back to a 3-2 deficit in the series. Waluigi stayed alive again as Sarah's late attack ended with a missed kick on the 9 to the bottom left. Waluigi tapped it down and tied the series at 3 games apiece. Waluigi had a little early offense, but he and Sarah both turned defensive on the 6. Waluigi had a chance to win on a combination and missed, and Sarah won instead on a deflection for the 4-3 series win. Sarah is set to visit Royal Crowns veteran Jake in the second phase. Sarah has a league-leading seven kills, making Waluigi the 142nd ousted player.

Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Valencia (P) v. Bianca (R). Club-mates battle in Accuracy. Southridge's Bianca held a lead for much of game 1, but missed twice late and again in overtime as Golden's Valencia skimmed by for a 3-4 win and a 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia was good aside from a shaky point a little after the start of game 2. That was enough of an advantage for the Defenders' Bianca, who stood perfect in a 0-2 win to tie the series at 1. Valencia wanted to get the lead early in game 3, but she wasn't able to hold onto it well. Bianca took over and survived a shaky finish to grab a 3-4 win. Bianca now leads the series 2-1 and has looked like the better player. More twists came out in game 4, as a sloppy start eventually stabilized with Valencia holding a thin lead. Bianca missed late and Valencia clamped down for a 2-4 result, retying the series at 2. Valencia made a ball on the break in game 5, and that last-shot advantage came in handy when Bianca missed the last ball at the top left. In overtime, Bianca couldn't generate anything off the break, and Valencia completed the 2-3 comeback win with a simple shot. Valencia now leads the series 3-2. Valencia wasn't quite at her best in game 4, but she did enough early on to get Bianca to spiral out of control. Valencia then wrapped up a 3-5 win to secure the series at 4-2. Valencia didn't have a lot of room for error as Bianca was nearly perfect in a 1-2 win to salvage an extra game. Valencia advanced on a 4-3 series win and will visit the Maplewood Lumberjacks' Summer in tomorrow's action. That was Valencia's second kill of the season, and Bianca is the 143rd player out, as well as the Defenders becoming the 13th team done.

Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Hoppy (S) v. Fuchsia (P). Another pair of club-mates are set to square off in 7-ball. Infinity's Fuchsia had better offense in game 1 with a four-ball run and a successful second effort on the 7 after Archtown's Hoppy flubbed her try. Fuchsia holds a 1-0 series lead. The Arrows' Hoppy made another big mistake by missing contact on the 4 in game 2. The Torpedoes' Fuchsia was right there for a four-ball run-out to earn the win, pushing her series lead to 2-0. Fuchsia had a dream break in game 3, sinking the 6 to the bottom side and the 7 caromed into the top left for the instant win and 3-0 series lead over Hoppy. In game 4, Hoppy proved she still had something to play for. Fuchsia wasn't very strong, and Hoppy made a four-ball run before tapping down the 7 to the bottom left on her next turn after Fuchsia left it short. Hoppy cut the deficit to 3-1. Fuchsia didn't do herself any positioning favors in game 5, forcing herself to take a kick attempt on the 7. She hit it too square, and Hoppy sent it to the bottom left for another win to get closer in the 3-2 series. Fuchsia got everything to line up in her favor again in game 6, working a four-ball run-out at the end to seal the series at 4-2 over Hoppy. Fuchsia made a pair in game 7, but questionable shooting after that allowed Hoppy to finish on a three-ball run-out. Fuchsia won the series 4-3 and is set to visit Midland Predators sophomore and former teammate Kitty in tomorrow's games. Fuchsia earned her fifth kill of the year, and Hoppy is the 144th player to exit. The Arrows are also done, finishing 14th as a team.

Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound: Dani (G) v. Pounce (S). A Coastal derby goes in 13-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Dani had a four-ball run from the break, but took too long to position her final pair. Southern's Pounce bounced back on a three-ball run and a wicked kick on the 7 to the bottom side, which set him up for the win on the 8. Pounce leads the series 1-0. The Monarchs' Pounce made one of each to start game 2 and made a surprise choice to take solids despite a stripe in the bottom side. Dani held defense late, but fouled making her last ball. Pounce then rallied for a three-ball run-out and the win, going up 2-0 in the series. Pounce scratched a couple times in game 3, putting him a bit behind Dani's pace. Pounce then baited Dani into a shot on the 11 toward the top right, and Dani took it, sinking the 8 accidentally to the top side. Pounce leads 3-0 in the series. Pounce had more struggles with scratches in game 4, and Dani was there to slow him down. Dani made the 8 on a kick to the top right at the end, just beating Pounce to stay alive in a 3-1 series. Dani made one of each on the game 5 break, and she chose to play solids. Pounce did well on stripes, and he made five balls over two turns to get onto the 8. Pounce then kicked the 8 to the bottom right for the win that secured the series in his favor at 4-1. Pounce wasn't able to get anything going in game 6, as Dani dominated with positioning in a quick win to cut the series to 4-2. Dani did a little more damage control in game 7, navigating a tricky rack well to get the close win over Pounce again. Pounce still took the series 4-3 and will visit his daughter and Capital City Sharpshooters star Sprinkles in the second phase. Pounce's third kill made Dani the 145th player out of the Tournament. Humanity Senior is the second club to fall, and the Meteors are the 15th team out.

Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Gradley (R) v. Oreo (P). Today's finale is in 8-ball. Terrace City's Oreo made a critical blunder in game 1, accidentally sinking the 8 early at the bottom side to gift Boston's Gradley a win. The Knights' Oreo had another solid start in game 2, but the Swifts' Gradley didn't care. He made consecutive four-ball runs, including one where he deflected off the 13 to take the 9 at the bottom left, banked the 13 to the top side and cut the 8 to the top right for the win. Gradley is up 2-0 in the series. Oreo finally found the right positioning to slow down Gradley's explosive offense. This led to a close finish that Oreo narrowly won to get on the board in a 2-1 series. Oreo couldn't close out game 4 despite getting down to her final ball after Gradley scratched. The tough finish saw Gradley make three balls over two turns for the win and 3-1 series lead. Oreo had multiple chances to secure victory in game 5, but failed to do so. Gradley then roared back on a four-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 4-1. Gradley was the one who was a little too slow in game 6, unable to solve his final attempts at a run. Oreo took her time as well, but struck for the win to shrink Gradley's series lead to 4-2. Gradley had to wait for the right attack to open in game 7, but he delivered a five-ball run-out when it did to make his series win over Oreo a 5-2 result. Gradley is set to face Stonebridge Wolves rookie Jane in the next phase. Oreo is the 146th player done, and Gradley has his third kill. The Knights are also the 16th finished team.

That's all for today, with Phase B action set to start tomorrow.