Two rounds are done, three are left to play. We begin the seven-game series in the Quarterfinals with...
Smokey v. Fluffina. The blue cue starts the round in 8-ball. Maplewood's Fluffina was significantly more effective on offense in game 1, easily outpacing Diamond's Smokey for the win. Fluffina leads the series 1-0. The Lumberjacks' Fluffina was a little slower in game 2, but that wasn't her ultimate problem. The Gems' Smokey made improvement and stayed close until he could win on a three-ball run-out that tied the series at 1. Both players opened game 3 with a four-ball run, but it was Fluffina's stick foul on her second turn that allowed Smokey to pick up a three-ball run-out. Smokey's win put him ahead 2-1 in the series. Fluffina roared back with force on a six-ball run in game 4. This put her far ahead, and Smokey didn't catch up before Fluffina banked the 8 to the top left for the win. Fluffina retied the series at 2. Fluffina didn't have as much success in game 5, where Smokey challenged for better positioning and won on the final pair. Smokey regained the series lead at 3-2. Things were close again in game 6, but this time it was Fluffina who burst forward at the end with a four-ball run-out to beat Smokey. The series is tied once more at 3. Smokey found his groove just in time in game 7, collecting a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out to get the 4-3 series win over Fluffina. Smokey is the first player to reach the semifinals.
Spirit v. Frosty. Moving along to 12-ball, the silver cue gets a turn. Viewpoint Sound's Frosty tried to play catch-up in game 1, but yielded a wild-card ball. Lighton's Spirit was able to capitalize and earn the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit had a good start to game 2, but a late scratch ruined her ability to keep up. The Meteors' Frosty escaped with a win this time and tied the series at 1. Spirit shot right back in game 3 with a pair of three-ball runs to quickly earn the win for a 2-1 series lead over Frosty, who had a four-ball run of her own. Spirit cruised in game 4, needing just three turns to navigate through the stripes suit as Frosty struggled with positioning. Spirit's win this time extended her series lead to 3-1. Spirit received a wild-card ball in game 5, but Frosty was able to overcome that with a run and good positioning. Frosty's late surge kept her going as she trails 3-2 in the series. Spirit fought off the danger with a comeback effort in game 6, blocking Frosty from making her last ball before sinking a pair herself for the win. Spirit clinched the series at 4-2 with the smart play. Spirit made two of each on the game 7 break, giving Frosty a lot of flexibility. Instead, Frosty stumbled at the end, and Spirit was able to sneak in for the win and 5-2 series win. Spirit is set to play in the semifinals.
Leonardo v. Zach. The purple cue gets in on the action with Accuracy. A highly competitive game 1 saw Pronger's Zach lose pace at the end, allowing Diamond's Leonardo to grab the 0-1 win. Game 2 was of a similar style, but the Gems' Leonardo was the one who fell off at the end. The Tridents' Zach was able to hold on and grab a 0-2 win to tie the series at 1. Another close battle in game 3 was too much for Leonardo to handle, as he slipped behind late and let Zach snag a 1-2 win to go ahead 2-1 in the series. Both players slipped slightly again in game 4, but it wasn't enough for Leonardo to flip the result, as Zach gained a 2-3 win this time to extend his series lead to 3-1. Leonardo wasn't quite done yet, getting Zach to scratch late in game 5 to force overtime. Leonardo then made both of his shots to beat Zach 2-3 in the extra rack, while Zach's series lead shrunk to 3-2. Zach returned to the perfect life in game 6, beating Leonardo by a 0-1 margin. Zach also sealed the series at 4-2 with this win. Zach showed little mercy in game 7, fading late on a tricky last ball but still winning 3-4 over Leonardo. Zach's series win stood at 5-2 as he moved into the semifinals.
Waluigi v. Violetta. The green cue's only outing today is in 9-ball. Queens' Violetta couldn't quite stay in form in game 1, allowing Web City's Waluigi to pick off the 9 at the end for the win. Waluigi is up 1-0 in the series. The Spiders' Waluigi didn't get much of a chance in game 2, as the Flames' Violetta put up a rickety but successful five-ball run-out. Violetta's win tied the series at 1. Violetta stepped back again in game 3, but nearly got the win with an exciting finish. Waluigi made a three-ball run-out and came a fraction of a rotation of the cue ball away from the loss. Waluigi now leads the series again at 2-1. Waluigi scratched after a three-ball run in game 4, leading to Violetta taking a cheeky attempt at the 3-9 combination. She missed the top side, and Waluigi got the win on a three-ball run-out to move ahead 3-1 in the series. Violetta took a surprising win in game 5 after Waluigi couldn't extend a three-ball run. Violetta kicked the 4-9 combination with a deflection off the 5 to get into the bottom side, pulling back to just a 3-2 series deficit. Violetta put up a good fight in game 6, but Waluigi put an end to it with a three-ball run-out, well made to secure the series at 4-2. Waluigi added another win in game 7 with a 2-9 combination to the top left to put Violetta far down. Waluigi is headed to the semifinals.
Diddley v. Panda. The red cue gets a turn in Rotation. Maplewood's Diddley started well in game 1, but a six-ball run helped Southern's Panda get the lead. Panda finished with an 8-4 win and 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Panda didn't slow down in game 2, capitalizing on scratches by the Lumberjacks' Diddley instead. Panda ended up winning 8-3, moving up to a 2-0 series lead. Panda engaged in a back-and-forth battle in game 3, but couldn't slow down Diddley at the end. Diddley picked off the final pair of shots to get the 8-7 win, cutting the series to 2-1. Diddley couldn't quite hang on at the end of a choppy game 4, as Panda struck a remarkable double-pot of the 12 to the top right and the 15 to the bottom side. Panda's 8-6 win put him up 3-1 in the series. Panda didn't back down in game 5 at all, punishing with multiple makes on his turns as Diddley floundered. Panda shut the door with an 8-2 win to seal the series at 4-1. Panda kept things close in game 6 as Diddley made a good effort this time, but the latter was short again. Panda won on a three-ball run-out for the 8-5 win to stretch his series lead to 5-1. Diddley salvaged a result from game 7, picking up an 8-2 win as Panda looked significantly unmotivated to compete. Panda won the series 5-2 and will play in the semifinals.
Dusty v. Shadow. Two of the biggest stars of the league battle in 9-ball with the blue cue. Golden's Dusty had an excellent six-ball run to open game 1, but Web City's Shadow replied on a three-ball run-out to take the win and 1-0 series lead. The Pilots' Dusty cashed in on her dominant offense in game 2, making a six-ball run and adding the 9 on the next turn as the Spiders' Shadow stumbled late. Dusty tied the series at 1. Dusty was solid on her opening turn, but she didn't get a second chance in game 3. Shadow won this time with a 2-9 combination to the top left, regaining the series lead at 2-1. Dusty returned to her possession-heavy form in game 4, getting the win over Shadow with a five-ball run-out. Dusty's big finish retied the series at 2. Dusty opened game 5 with a four-ball run, but that was all she could manage. A few turns later, Shadow won on a three-ball run-out, pulling ahead 3-2 in the series. Consecutive wins finally became a thing in game 6, as Dusty's four-ball run in the middle was overpowered by Shadow making five balls over two turns to secure the series at 4-2. Shadow showed no fear in game 7, adding another win to his count with a three-ball run-out for the 5-2 series win over Dusty. Shadow is set to meet Waluigi in the semifinals.
Dusky v. Bear. The day ends with the silver cue playing Accuracy. Archtown's Dusky was almost perfect in game 1, dominating in a 1-3 win over Whitewater's Bear to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Bear introduced chaos into game 2, with a double-pot and a scratch before dropping into a late tie. The Arrows' Dusky took two balls on the overtime break and won 2-3 when Bear missed the next shot. Dusky is up 2-0 in the series. Bear was perfect deep into game 3, and much longer than he needed to be as he took an easy 2-6 win over Dusky to get on the board in the 2-1 series. Dusky did much better to get back in form in game 4, but she couldn't make her early lead hold up. Bear bounced back and nabbed a 1-2 win to tie the series at 2. Bear kept things close for most of game 5, only falling off the pace at the end as Dusky regained the series lead at 3-2 with a 1-3 win. Bear faded hard in game 6, never really challenging for the lead as Dusky marched to a 1-4 win to clinch the series at 4-2. Game 7 was a little sloppier on both sides, but Dusky still won 3-4 to finish off a 5-2 series win over Bear. Dusky will play in the semifinals.
We'll begin at a later time tomorrow but should still play a full schedule.
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