Tournament X - Finals Phase B

Action comes fast in the Finals, with the second phase playing today. The green cue won't be used. First up...

IBM Cathedral, North Modernistic: Peach (B) v. Blaze (R). The opening series today is in Rotation. North Modernistic's Peach attacked with a four-ball run at the start and cruised to an 8-1 win over Infinity's Blaze in Game 1. Peach leads the series 1-0. The Torpedoes' Blaze made a massive push after a close start in game 2. Blaze rallied for a six-ball run-out and an 8-2 win over the Nighthawks' Peach, impressively tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Peach start fairly well, but Blaze brought a fractured offense to keep it close at first. Blaze continued to chip in and took over for an 8-4 win to go ahead 2-1 in the series. Blaze and Peach again scrapped for possession early in game 4. At the end, Blaze had a slight edge when Peach missed on the 7. Blaze then took over with a three-ball run-out to close with an 8-3 win to move ahead 3-1 in the series. Blaze rolled on without trouble in game 5, winning 8-2 as Peach sent a majority of her shots off target. Blaze's dominant victory gave him the series at 4-1. Blaze piled on with another fantastic effort in game 6, working his way steadily to an 8-1 win that put him up 5-1 over Peach. Blaze let game 7 get away from him, his hot start not quite enough to hold off Peach's rally for an 8-6 win. Blaze still took the series 5-2 and will meet the Boston Swifts' Sweetheart for a Rivalry series in the next phase. Blaze has three kills, while Peach is the 147th player out and the Nighthawks are the 17th team done.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack (P) v. Nibbles (R). Next up is a series of 12-ball between Spiders teammates. Jack struck on the break in game 1, but he got a second stripe stuck near the bottom left. He tried to clear it out, but couldn't do it, and Nibbles made his final pair instead for the win. Nibbles leads the series 1-0. In game 2, Nibbles had a similar break to Jack's from game 1, and Nibbles made it worse by giving up a wild-card ball. Jack scratched the wild-card ball back onto the table, but still had better positioning at the end to get the win that tied the series at 1. Game 3 was as close as any, with a few mistakes on early shots leading to a close positioning battle. In the end, Jack made his final pair just before Nibbles could, giving Jack the 2-1 series lead. Late drama popped up again in game 4, as Jack and Nibbles were even right to the finish. The final shot saw Jack try to deflect a play at the bottom side, but he missed and sank Nibbles' last ball to give away the win. The series is tied again at 2. Jack efficiently work left to right across the table, and he got some help from a pair of scratches by Nibbles. This erased the wild-card ball Jack gave away before he kicked the 6 into the top right. Jack regained the series lead at 3-2. Jack had plenty of time to get the win in game 6, but he missed a kick on the 6. Nibbles had missed contact three times on the 14, but was able to intentionally scratch late to get in position for the win. Nibbles made the 15 to the bottom side from ball-in-hand after Jack's foul, taking the win to tie the series again at 3. Nibbles gave up a wild-card ball on the break in game 7, and Jack made great use of it as he won just three turns later. Jack took the series 4-3 and will visit the Golden Pilots' Max in the next phase. Nibbles is the 148th eliminated player, giving Jack his fourth kill.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Americus (P) v. Crystal (R). We've got 10-ball for this series. Queens' Crystal had a five-ball run in the middle of game 1, but anything could have happened after that. Midland's Americus will regret her scratch while sinking the 9, which allowed Crystal a free play on the 10 for the win. Crystal leads the series 1-0. The Predators' Americus made the 1 in an uncalled pocket in game 2, and the Flames' Crystal elected to play possession. Crystal then jammed the 2 into a cluster that double-bumped the 10 into the top left as called for the win and 2-0 series lead. Americus picked up a lot more offense in game 3 with six of the last eight balls, but that streak ended with a miss on the 10. Crystal was there to mop it up, poaching the win for a 3-0 series lead. Americus kept herself in the series with a solid game 4 performance. Crystal missed her chance on the 10, and Americus delivered a kick shot to the top left for the win instead, getting on the board in the 3-1 series. Crystal looked good in game 5, and she made five balls over her last two turns before leaving the 10 short at the bottom left. Americus made the tap-in and pulled closer in a 3-2 series. Americus rode a three-ball run deep into game 6, but she wasn't able to corral the 8. Crystal took over and buried the last three balls for the win to seal the series at 4-2. Crystal had another burst of offense early in game 7, but she couldn't finish it off. Americus sent the 10 to the bottom left on a cut for the win. Crystal settled for another 4-3 series win to get into Phase C tomorrow versus the Lighton Prestige's Spirit. Americus is the 149th player out, and Crystal's kill count stands at three.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Jake (B) v. Sarah (G). A battle in 9-ball goes fourth today. Choppy offense defined game 1, and it cost Tysini's Sarah when she missed on the 9 at the bottom left. Royal's Jake was there to convert for a close win and 1-0 series lead. The offense didn't smooth out in game 2, especially in a contested start. The Hummingbirds' Sarah got her share early, but the Crowns' Jake took over in the end for a three-ball run-out and 2-0 series lead. Both players briefly figured out their troubles in game 3 before reverting to previous form. Jake was a little shakier at the end, and Sarah mopped up his mistakes for her first win in the series, which Jake still leads 2-1. Sarah dropped off on offense in game 4, slipping up all around the table. Jake delivered at the end with a three-ball run-out for the win, moving ahead 3-1 in the series. Jake had a chance to tattoo the 9 in the top left to produce a strong finish in game 5, but he rattled it out. Sarah stepped in to bury it for the win, staying alive but trailing 3-2 in the series. Sarah kept her push going in game 6, starting in poor form but wrapping up the result nonetheless as Jake couldn't find a finish. Sarah has tied the series at 3. Sarah's break was close to success, but she left the 9 exposed at the top left. Jake converted on a three-ball run-out with a 3-9 combination to get the win, which also gave him the series at 4-3. Jake is going to visit the Victoria Spurs' Strawberry in tomorrow's action.

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Kitty (R) v. Fuchsia (P). Today's middle series comes in 7-ball. Midland's Kitty had a three-ball run early and a four-ball run-out at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead over Infinity's Fuchsia in game 1. The Predators' Kitty left a few more scraps lying around in game 2, but the Torpedoes' Fuchsia didn't attack well enough to take advantage. Kitty banked the 7 to the top left at the end for a 2-0 series lead. Fuchsia had a chance at the end of game 3, but she left the 7 short of the top left. Kitty was right there again, scooping it in for the win to move ahead 3-0 in the series. Fuchsia barely succeeded in game 4, making a three-ball run-out with the 7 rattling out of the bottom left but caroming perfectly to the bottom right. Kitty still holds a strong 3-1 series lead. Fuchsia had her best effort in game 5 with a five-ball run, but the 6 eluded her. Kitty sank it and put the 7 in the bottom side for a bit of a poached win to secure the series at 4-1. Fuchsia began with a four-ball run in game 6, but that ended with a scratch. Kitty took over from ball-in-hand for a three-ball run-out, stretching her series lead to 5-1 with the win. Fuchsia was there at the end of game 7, burying a pair of shots after Kitty couldn't bring about a finish. Kitty won the series 5-2 and gets a meeting with the Stonebridge Wolves' Hershey in Phase C. Fuchsia is the 150th eliminated player this year, and Kitty is up to three kills.

UPS Hall, Maplewood: Summer (B) v. Valencia (P). Talented opponents meet in Accuracy. Things were close in game 1 until Maplewood's Summer took control late, pushing Golden's Valencia far back. Summer was able to close out a 2-5 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Valencia fell into a deep deficit to start game 2, but she got close to tying the game. The Lumberjacks' Summer held on enough for Valencia to fall off again before closing out a 2-5 win. Summer leads the series 2-0. After the game, Valencia looked to be laboring through a left knee issue. Valencia didn't appear slowed by injury in game 3, but her sharpness was off in key moments. Summer was so good it didn't matter, missing just on the last ball in a 1-3 win that extended the host's series lead to 3-0. Summer made a ball on the break in game 4, and that ended up being worse for her. Valencia wrangled a lead as Summer skidded in the middle, and Valencia held on long enough to win 2-3. Summer remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Valencia made a ball on the break in game 5, and she kept it perfect for about half of the game. Summer matched her and stayed ahead when Valencia faltered. Summer ended up with a 1-2 win in the end, clinching the series at 4-1. Summer held a lead for much of game 6, but she faded hard at the end. Valencia held steady after a bad start, and that was enough for her to get a comeback 3-4 win. Summer retains the series lead at 4-2. Summer and Valencia engaged in a close game 7 as well, with Valencia picked up a 1-2 win for the road. Summer won the series 4-3 and will visit the Pronger Tridents captain Precious in Phase C. Valencia is the 151st player out, and Summer has recorded five kills.

Kraft Forum, Royal: Sunshine (S) v. Spice (P). A rookie takes on a captain in 15-ball. Royal's Sunshine uncovered a five-ball run early in game 1, but he couldn't recapture that form later. Victoria's Spice made the last four balls over two turns for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Sunshine struggled to find much successful offense in game 2, as the Spurs' Spice was effective even when her offense lacked. Spice would strike on a three-ball run-out at the end for a 2-0 series lead. Spice rattled off an eight-ball run in game 3, but surprisingly came up empty twice on the 15. Sunshine tapped it into the top right to get on the board while Spice holds a 2-1 series lead. Spice again seemed to have control in game 4, attacking fairly well, but her final run ended with the cue following the 12-15 combination into the bottom side. This gifted the win to Sunshine, in turn tying the series at 2. Sunshine wasn't able to dictate the pace of play in game 5, and Spice decided to take things slow. At the end, frustration started to emerge on both sides, but Spice settled down to make the final pair, restoring her series lead at 3-2. Sunshine again struggled to maintain offense in game 6, and Spice put the pressure on late. Spice converted four balls over her last two turns for the win, sealing the series at 4-2 in the process. Spice was able to find offense at the right moment in game 7 as well, picking up a late pair for the win and 5-2 series win over Sunshine. Spice will continue her journey into the next phase versus Tysini Hummingbirds sophomore Sarah in a Southwestern derby. Sunshine is the 152nd ousted player, and Spice has four kills.

Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Jane (S) v. Gradley (R). We've got 8-ball in the eighth spot today. Boston's Gradley had to battle for game 1, but Stonebridge's Jane had a brutal scratch that took her out of the running. Gradley made a pair and went ahead 1-0 in the series. Both players delivered with early three-ball runs in game 2, but the Wolves' Jane only made one ball after that. The Swifts' Gradley rallied with a five-ball run-out at the end, good for the win and 2-0 series lead. Gradley again went empty on the break in game 3, and he couldn't assemble much of a run this time. Jane carved out a four-ball run and eventually sank the 8 to the bottom left for the win, cutting Gradley's series lead down to 2-1. Jane kept the momentum going in game 4, knocking in a pair of four-ball runs in quick succession to get another win. Gradley made just one ball, and Jane's win tied the series at 2. Gradley got back on track after Jane had a bad break in game 5. Jane's offense suffered for it, while Gradley made a five-ball run and added the 8 on the next turn. Gradley regained the series lead at 3-2. Gradley brought the heat with a seven-ball run from the break in game 6. Jane made one shot, but Gradley easily won the game and the 4-2 series. Jane looked to have an edge for much of game 7, but Gradley stepped up at the end on a two-part attack to get the win. Gradley won the series 5-2 and moves on to visit Queens Flames youngster Briana in tomorrow's play. Jane is the 153rd player to exit the Tournament, and Gradley has taken four kills.

Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Sprinkles (B) v. Pounce (S). Closing out the day is 13-ball between daughter and father. Capital City's Sprinkles had an explosive break and a three-ball run in game 1. Southern's Pounce made a late push on a three-ball run but couldn't continue, and Sprinkles got the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Sprinkles again started well in game 2, but the Monarchs' Pounce battled back with a five-ball run this time. Sprinkles couldn't get set in time at the end, and Pounce sent the 8 to the top left for the win to tie the series at 1. Pounce took stripes on the break and overfilled at the top left early on. Sprinkles held her own well, but couldn't get ahead of Pounce's steady pace. In the end, Pounce kicked the 8 to the top left for the win and 2-1 series lead. Pounce made a pair on the break and a three-ball run-out in game 4, holding off Sprinkles' dynamic attack near the end. Pounce extended his series lead to 3-1. Pounce wasn't able to get good positioning in game 5, and that slowed him down just enough to let Sprinkles rally on a three-ball run-out for the win. Pounce is up 3-2 in the series still. Pounce got onto the 8 fairly easily in game 6, but he suffered a right knee injury on one of his shots. He was visibly troubled after that, and Sprinkles rallied for the win after butchering her positioning initially. The series is tied at 3, and Pounce is ready to close it out. Pounce was able to gut it out just fine, although Sprinkles had first crack at the 8. She missed it to the bottom left, and Pounce banked it top left for the win and 4-3 series win. Pounce is set to visit Central Warriors captain Twilight in Phase C. Pounce is up to four kills and Sprinkles is the 154th player out. 

Phase C goes tomorrow, potentially at a slightly later time.