We're back in action today after the administrative break to begin a roughly week-long postseason. First up, as per tradition, is the Tournament of Champions. For the first time ever, we begin with a wild-card series. All series are seven games and all matches are in Ford Forum in Pronger.
Jake (9-ball) v. Juno (10-ball): On the coin flip, it'll be Juno's 10-ball as the event with Jake's preferred blue cue. Royal's Jake had a good control on game 1 and picked up a three-ball run-out at the end to beat Stonebridge's Juno. Jake leads the series 1-0. The Wolves' Juno put in a better effort in game 2, but she didn't have anything to finish it off, and the Crowns' Jake delivered a pair of shots at the end. Jake now leads 2-0 in the series. Jake began with a three-ball run in game 3. Juno had a little offense in the middle, but Jake executed a 7-10 combination to the top left for the win, stretching his series lead to 3-0. Jake had a five-ball run end with an uncalled shot, which allowed Juno to take possession on the 9. She made a shot to the top side but couldn't sink the 10, and Jake potted it at the top right for the win to seal the series at 4-0. Jake finally faltered late in game 5, making four of the last five balls before letting the 10 slip away to Juno. Jake retains a 4-1 series lead. Juno flexed a bit more offense in game 6, ripping a seven-ball run-out at the end as her control finally came into focus. Jake's series lead shrunk again to 4-2. Jake got back on track at the end of game 7, weathering a storm from Juno to snatch the 10. Jake's win gave him a 5-2 series win and a meeting with the Tysini Hummingbirds' Sugar in the quarterfinals.
Celestia (12-ball) v. Sweetheart (Rotation): Sweetheart won the coin flip to play Rotation, meaning Celestia's preferred blue cue will be in action. Boston's Sweetheart didn't have a fast start in game 1, but she controlled the middle of the game. Oceanside's Celestia couldn't find any late offense as Sweetheart won 8-2 for the 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia put in a stronger effort in game 2, but her mid-game surge wasn't enough. The Swifts' Sweetheart made four balls over two turns at the end to win 8-6 and pull ahead to a 2-0 series lead. Celestia again played well in game 3, keeping things close initially, but it failed to be enough. Sweetheart held on at the end and converted on the 15 for an 8-7 win to move up to a 3-0 series lead. Celestia did just enough to hang on in game 4, battling tightly with Sweetheart right to the finish. Celestia emerged with an 8-6 win to cut the series to 3-1. That was all the wake-up call Sweetheart needed. She chunked her way through game 5, building a big lead and closing on an 8-3 win over Celestia to secure the series at 4-1 in Sweetheart's favor. Celestia stormed back on a seven-ball run early in game 6. Sweetheart only got two shots and went empty on both as Celestia picked up an 8-0 win to cut the series to 4-2. Sweetheart faltered again in game 7 as Celestia pushed a four-ball run early and won by an 8-2 score. Sweetheart still won the series 4-3 and will play in the semifinals.
Sugar (13-ball) v. Jake (9-ball): The next quarterfinal features Sugar's 13-ball event preference with Jake's blue cue. Tysini's Sugar started slow but kept control later on in game 1. Royal's Jake had a three-ball run but missed on the 8, and Sugar made the last pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Sugar started slower in game 2, while the Crowns' Jake quickly got down to his last ball. Jake then failed to strike at the bottom side, and Sugar worked her way back for a win on a three-ball run-out. Sugar leads the series 2-0. Sugar was unable to strike late in a close game 3 battle. Jake had the better positioning and won with a bank on the 8 to the top right, giving him a lifeline in the 2-1 series. Jake had the edge again in game 4, keeping better positioning for late in the game as Sugar tried to put up an early fight. Jake converted on his late chances for the win, tying the series at 2. Sugar got back on track with a five-ball run early in game 5, countering a three-ball run by Jake. Sugar closed it out on the second turn with kicks on the 3 to the top side and the 8 to the bottom left to regain the series lead at 3-2. Sugar had all the control early on, then faltered late with a scratch and many misses on the 8. Jake cleaned it up to the bottom right for the win, tying the series again at 3. Jake made a pair of solids on the break, and Sugar added two more on collateral damage plays. Without Sugar's generosity, Jake would have worked a lot harder in the game 7 win that gave him the series 4-3. Jake will continue his designated road run versus Sweetheart in the semifinals.
Kitty (7-ball) v. Precious (Accuracy): Precious won the coin flip to play Accuracy, while the series will use Kitty's preferred red cue. Midland's Kitty had a respectable start in game 1 before completely falling off the pace. Pronger's Precious locked in late for a 2-6 win and 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Kitty made a great improvement in game 2, playing perfectly while the Tridents' Precious struggled. Kitty's great effort resulted in a 0-3 win to tie the series at 1. Kitty was nearly perfect again in game 3, scratching only on her final shot to spoil things. Precious was nowhere close to Kitty in the 1-5 game, which gave Kitty a 2-1 series lead. Kitty had an early lead in game 4, but couldn't make it stand. She also missed a chance to avoid overtime, and then went empty on the overtime break before Precious won 4-5 to retie the series at 2. Kitty found her groove again in game 5, denied perfection for a second time in the series with a late miss. She still easily beat Precious 1-4 to reclaim the series lead at 3-2. Peak performance struck in game 6, as neither player missed until Kitty couldn't make the final ball. Precious took a tough angle to sink it at the top side for a 0-1 win to even the series once more at 3-3. Kitty and Precious battled closely early on, but Precious' experience helped her finish off a 2-4 win to take the series 4-3 in the end. Precious awaits the winner of the next series in the semifinals.
Gradley (8-ball) v. Sarah (15-ball): Sarah won the toss to make it a series of 15-ball, while Gradley gets to activate the red cue again. Boston's Gradley had most of the offense in game 1, but wasn't able to get out of his own way at the end. Tysini's Sarah poached the win with a shot on the 15 to the bottom right, giving her a 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Gradley backed off on offense while the Hummingbirds' Sarah gladly picked up the slack in game 2. This led to a role reversal, which saw Sarah slip up enough at the end for Gradley to grab the win, tying the series at 1. Game 3 could have gone either way, but neither player really had much control. In the end, Sarah was able to pick up the final pair for the win, restoring her series lead at 2-1. Frustration began to raise tempers in game 4 of the slow series. Gradley channeled that anger well enough to make a three-ball run-out at the end, tying the series versus Sarah at 2. Gradley had a four-ball run that lined him up for a 6-15 combination at the top side in game 5. He missed that, but Sarah couldn't recover, and Gradley made the play on his next attempt to pull ahead 3-2 in the series. Gradley had some decent offense initially, but Sarah was there with a five-ball run-out in the end, pulling even once more in a 3-3 series. Game 7 saw the 15 parked near the bottom left for quite some time. Gradley eventually made a pair of shots at the end to beat Sarah for the 4-3 series win. Gradley takes on the Pronger Tridents' Precious in the second semifinal series.
Sweetheart (Rotation) v. Jake (9-ball). The semifinals begin with Rotation as Sweetheart won the coin flip. Jake will again get to wield his preferred blue cue. Boston's Sweetheart couldn't get anything going after Royal's Jake unleashed a five-ball run. Jake ended up winning 8-1 for the 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Jake had a productive comeback attempt with a four-ball run in game 2, but he missed on the 15. The Swifts' Sweetheart was able to make her five-ball run stand for something in an 8-7 win to tie the series at 1. Sweetheart struggled from the start of game 3, allowing Jake to establish and hold a lead nearly throughout the whole game. Jake finished with an 8-5 win to retake the series lead at 2-1. Jake took control again in game 4 with a five-ball run, which Sweetheart wasn't able to answer. Jake locked in with an 8-2 win to pull ahead 3-1 in the series. Jake couldn't fend off Sweetheart's four-ball run-out in game 5, as Sweetheart started hitting with authority in an 8-4 win. She's cut Jake's series lead to 3-2. Sweetheart refused to go quietly, making waves in a back-and-forth game 6. Jake played too cautiously on a 12-14 combination attempt, leaving things tied. Sweetheart then made a pair of shots for the 8-6 win to even the series at 3 games apiece. Jake held on at the end in game 7, picking up an 8-3 win with an 11-14 combination to the bottom left after Sweetheart failed to rally. Jake took the series 4-3 and will appear in the Tournament of Champions Finals after starting in the wild-card series.
Gradley (8-ball) v. Precious (Accuracy): Gradley won the coin toss this time, which will bring about 8-ball, but it will come with Precious' preferred silver cue. Pronger's Precious didn't have a great time in game 1, starting well but watching Boston's Gradley catch up on a six-ball run. Gradley then added another pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Swifts' Gradley immediately doubled the lead with a clean 8 on the break at the top side to give him a 2-0 series lead in perhaps the biggest instant-win moment in league history. Gradley clobbered a five-ball run off the break in game 3, quickly building a lead. The Tridents' Precious couldn't get anything going, and Gradley finished it off with a pair for a 3-0 series lead. Gradley was behind for virtually all of game 4, but caught up at the end, only to scratch as he sank the 8. He had a mistake to spare, but that put Precious on the board while Gradley leads the series 3-1. Gradley held the lead for most of game 5 but couldn't make it stand this time. Precious was strong with a comeback and sliced in the 8 to the bottom side on her second try for the win, bringing her to just a 3-2 deficit in the series. Gradley finally sealed the deal in game 6, although Precious again kept things close before falling short on her last stripe. Gradley clinched the series at 4-2. Precious was strong in game 7, taking one for the road as she was fast enough to beat Gradley. In the end, a 4-3 series win sends Gradley to the host position in the Tournament of Champions Finals versus the Royal Crowns Jake.
Gradley (8-ball) v. Jake (9-ball): It all comes down to seven games of 9-ball, as Jake won his first coin flip in four tries. Gradley's preferred red cue will be used. Royal's Jake looked good to start game 1 with a four-ball run, but Boston's Gradley shut it down on a three-ball run-out for the win. Gradley leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Jake had a chance to finish off game 2 at the bottom right but hit it too softly. The Swifts' Gradley stepped in and made it to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Gradley had a steady offense again in game 3, but Jake was able to grab a three-ball run-out capped by a 6-9 combination to the top left for the win. Gradley's series lead dips to 2-1. Game 4 saw a decline in overall shot quality on both sides. Neither player was sharp, but Gradley looked a little better until Jake potted the 9 at the end. This tied the series at 2. The slower pace of play continued to favor Jake, who capitalized with a pair of shots after Gradley had illegal contact late in game 5. Jake's win this time put him ahead 3-2 in the series. Gradley couldn't keep control after starting strong in game 6. Jake took over near the end and executed a four-ball run-out for the win to seal the Tournament of Champions Finals at 4-2. Gradley made sure to spoil Jake's victory lap, banking the 9 to the top right to snag one more win. Jake is Tournament X's Champion of Champions after this 4-3 series win.
That's it for individual play in this Tournament, but the Clan Cup playoffs for clubs goes tomorrow in Tysini.
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