This is it when it comes to the main events of Tournament X. Three series will determine the City Cup champions by the end of the day. Leading off the Semifinals...
Golden Pilots v. Lighton Prestige. The purple cue will oversee the first semifinal series today. Golden's Dusty wasn't ready to hit the ground running in 7-ball, and Lighton's Citrus took advantage of it with a three-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty did better in 8-ball with a five-ball run, establishing a lead over the Prestige's Spirit. Dusty went unchallenged for the win at the end, tying the series at 1. Angelica bounced back for Lighton in 9-ball, striking a 4-9 combination to the top left to beat Golden's Dusty. Lighton regained the series lead at 2-1. Spirit had some moments in 10-ball, but also sank the 10 on an uncalled shot early on. Sparkles regathered herself and struck a four-ball run-out at the end, helping the Pilots to retie the series at 2 versus the Prestige. Golden's Max was behind early after Lighton's Angelica executed a four-ball run. Max made a late push but ended with a scratch, and Angelica won at the top side to restore a 3-2 series lead to Lighton. The Pilots' Max exploded with three balls on the break in 13-ball. The Prestige's Citrus made a good push and led for most of the latter half of the game, but Max delivered the final pair and again evened the series at 3. Sparkles thought she'd done enough early in Rotation to give her team their first series lead, but Lighton's Citrus roared back on an eight-ball run-out for the 8-5 win to take the 4-3 series lead over Golden. A slow start to 15-ball gave way with a six-ball run by the Pilots' Sparkles. Angelica tried to latch on but couldn't find her shot, and Sparkles ran out the last four balls for the win to tie the series once more at 4. Max and Spirit would be on hand to decide the series in Accuracy, and it was here where Spirit lost control of the offense. She spiraled late and Max won 1-5, giving the Pilots a 5-4 series win with their first lead of the day. The Pilots await the winner of the next series in the City Cup Finals.
Victoria Spurs v. Midland Predators. The second semifinal uses the silver cue. Victoria's Sage had a decent break in 7-ball, and Midland's Kitty couldn't get her offense going. Sage then banked the 1 toward the top side as a decoy to get the 7 at the bottom left for her team's 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Americus made a four-ball run in 8-ball, but that wasn't enough to make a difference. The Spurs' Sage rattled off an eight-ball run-out on her second turn, extending her team's lead to 2-0. Midland's Shawn had a chance to make an impact in 9-ball, but left the 8 short of the bottom left. Strawberry regained her offense and made the last pair to put Victoria up 3-0 in the series. Strawberry showed immeasurable control in 10-ball, rarely making a misstep against the Predators' Americus. At the end, Strawberry capped a four-ball run-out with a 7-10 combination to the bottom side to give the Spurs a 4-0 series lead. Spice came within half a ball of winning 12-ball, but the Victoria captain's shortcoming was just enough for Midland's Americus to make a pair to save their season. Victoria remains ahead 4-1. The Spurs put Sage in action for 13-ball, and she established a quick lead. Kitty tried to battle back and nearly got onto the 8 before Sage put it away at the top right to clinch the series at 5-1. Spice rattled off a productive run in the middle of Rotation, but the Victoria captain fell as Shawn made a three-ball run-out to win 8-6. Shawn's victory got Midland a game back, but they trail 5-2. Spice appeared to conserve some energy in 15-ball, playing with less intensity, which allowed the Predators' Shawn to snag another win. This shrunk the Spurs' lead to 5-3. Strawberry had some good moments in Accuracy, but it got away from her at the end as Midland's Kitty earned a 3-4 win. Victoria settled for a 5-4 series win to earn their place in the City Cup Finals.
Victoria Spurs v. Golden Pilots. After a rest break, the top-two teams from the regular season battle for the postseason title using the red cue. Golden's Dusty was better in 7-ball, finishing on a three-ball run-out after Victoria's Sage struggled to attack. Golden leads the series 1-0. Dusty had some trouble after a six-ball run in 8-ball, but the Spurs' Sage wasted her chances on the 8 at the end. Dusty was able to grab another win to put the Pilots up 2-0 in the series. Dusty wasn't able to sweep her appearances for Golden as Strawberry made pair at the end of 9-ball. This got Victoria on the board, but they still trail 2-1 in the series. The Spurs' Strawberry kept her team trending in the right direction with four balls over the last two turns to beat the Pilots' Sparkles. This tied the series at 2. Max gained an early lead in 12-ball, but the Golden veteran never got a good look at his last shot toward the top side. An intentional scratch allowed Victoria's Spice to make her final pair to give her team a 3-2 series lead. Sage came back in for 13-ball and delivered a great start with a three-ball run for the Spurs. Max battled back to make it close, but Sage's positioning allowed her an easy win to put her team one win away from the title with a 4-2 series lead. Spice was up for Rotation and she battled with Sparkles quite evenly at first. Spice then unleashed a four-ball run-out for the 8-4 win, securing the series at 5-2 for Victoria as they complete the double over Golden. After settling down from their emphatic celebration, the Spurs' Spice was able to put in a solid effort in 15-ball. Sparkles still grabbed the win at the very end to cut the Pilots' deficit to 5-3. Strawberry handled the rest in Accuracy, dominating in her 1-5 win over Max to close Victoria's series win at 6-3. During their run, Sage won nine of her 12 games to be named as the City Cup MVP as the Spurs won both of the league's major team trophies.
The Victoria Spurs have joined the Modernistic Union as the only two-time City Cup Champions, and the Spurs are also the first team to earn three trophies in pool as they also have this year's Governor's Cup. The team will stay intact heading into next season, which bodes well for the group led by Spice, who has been on both City Cup winning rosters.
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