After an unscheduled day off, we're back with a fairly difficult slate of series. We begin with...
Sugar v. Kitty. Two of Reality's best from last year clash in 13-ball with the purple cue. Midland's Kitty navigated the rack well in game 1, poking her way to the win after Tysini's Sugar couldn't get a clear look on her final pair. Kitty leads the series 1-0. The Predators' Kitty took way more control in game 2 with a five-ball run early. Two turns later, she made a pair to beat the Hummingbirds' Sugar for a 2-0 series lead. Kitty tried to go through Sugar's defense in game 3, but that resulted in her giving away a freebie. Sugar then made a three-ball run-out for the win to get on the board in the 2-1 series. Kitty had another ill-timed giveaway of a freebie late in game 4, which was Sugar's last ball. Sugar stepped up from there to pot the 8 at the bottom side to tie the series at 2. Kitty got back on track in game 5, controlling the early pace on solids. Sugar went for a slow comeback but fell short as Kitty made the 8 in the top right to secure her victory and a 3-2 series lead. Sugar refused to go down in game 6, aligning herself well for a four-ball run-out after Kitty couldn't work an effective counterattack. Kitty took care of business in game 7, picking a good time to scratch to induce a missed contact by Sugar. Kitty then potted a pair for the win and 4-3 series win that sends her to the semifinals.
Niki v. Jake. Another 13-ball series uses the green cue. Commerce's Niki had all the offense early in game 1, but went for a bad kick on the 8 at the end. She hit the 1 instead, illegally potting the 8 to gift Royal's Jake a 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Tradewinds' Niki had less offense but still managed to give away the win, as she sank the 8 illegally again. The Crowns' Jake is now up 2-0 in the series. Jake gave away a freebie early in game 3, but that only helped Niki a little. She couldn't sink her last ball before Jake rallied for a five-ball run-out and the win that put him ahead 3-0. Niki's attempt at a comeback march started in game 4 with a five-ball run. She later added the finishing touches needed to beat Jake, cutting his series lead to 3-1. Niki came out hot with a four-ball run in game 5. Jake tried to bounce back, but his defense failed, and Niki grabbed another win to pull within a 3-2 margin. In game 6, Niki made one of each on the break and chose to ride with solids. It was the right choice as she cruised to another win over Jake to pull even at 3 games each. Niki gave too much away for free in game 7, and Jake used that to his advantage to earn the win with a cut on the 8 at the bottom left. Jake won the series 4-3 and will play in the semifinals.
Nightfur v. Roxy. The red cue is ready to play in 12-ball. The only ball credited to Freedom's Roxy in game 1 was a wild-card, while Royal's Nightfur otherwise dominated her to the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Nightfur again yielded a wild-card ball in game 2, although the Cascades' Roxy put up a better fight this time. It wasn't enough, as Nightfur won on a four-ball run-out to go up 2-0 in the series. Nightfur didn't have the same smooth play in game 3, and Roxy was able to capitalize on one of her mistakes to make a three-ball run-out. Roxy's win trimmed Nightfur's series lead to 2-1. Roxy took stripes off the break and looked good for much of game 4, but couldn't finish it at the top side. Nightfur rallied back and got the win to push her series lead to 3-1. Nightfur remained in control in game 5, while Roxy needed to do a lot to get positioning. Roxy missed her first kick attempt, and Nightfur finished at the bottom side to seal the series at 4-1. Nightfur had some good plays in game 6 and received an early wild-card ball, but couldn't beat Roxy's defense at the end. Roxy nabbed a win here to get back to a 4-2 deficit. Roxy yielded two wild-card balls to Nightfur in game 7, making it an easy win for the TYAT star. Nightfur took this series 5-2 and punches her ticket to the semifinals.
Nightfur v. Leandra. The designated host goes back-to-back, this time in 15-ball with the blue cue. Tysini's Leandra made a five-ball run in the middle of game 1, but sputtered at the end. Royal's Nightfur cleaned up the final pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra stepped up in game 2 after the Crowns' Nightfur scratched. Leandra won on a four-ball run-out, finishing with a deflection off the 13 to make the 15 in the top left, which tied the series at 1. In game 3, Nightfur took a swipe at the 5-15 combination to the top right but rattled it out. Leandra checked the same play from a shorter distance and converted for the win to go ahead 2-1 in the series. Leandra couldn't keep the pace from before, struggling in game 4. This got worse as the game went on, and Nightfur poked a 12-15 combination to the top right for the win. Nightfur has retied the series at 2. Nightfur got aggressive in game 5 and it paid off when her deflection off the 5 slammed the 15 into the bottom right after Leandra failed previously on a trick play. Nightfur retook the series lead at 3-2. Leandra looked ready to respond with a four-ball run early in game 6, but she couldn't back it up. Nightfur slammed the door at the end with a three-ball run-out to clinch the series at 4-2. Nightfur struggled initially in game 7, then had one good turn before Leandra charged to victory on a six-ball run-out. Nightfur settled for a 4-3 series win to advance another bid to the semifinals.
Shiny v. Snowball. The time has come for Accuracy with the silver cue. Web City's Shiny struggled early in game 1, but managed to play enough late defense to get Swordpoint's Snowball to miss her last four shots. Shiny won 3-4 and took a 1-0 series lead. Both players improved in game 2, but a miss from the Blades' Snowball was the only mistake on either side. The Spiders' Shiny picked up the win by a 0-1 score to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Snowball had another late fade in game 3, unable to hold onto her early lead this time. Shiny kept doing everything right with positioning to get this 2-4 win, which puts her up 3-0 in the series. Shiny lost her pace in game 4, slipping up hard at the end as Snowball locked on for a 2-4 win this time. Shiny's series lead is still at 3-1. Shiny didn't stay down long, getting Snowball to squander a tied score early in game 5. Shiny then took over all the way for a 1-4 win, securing the series at 4-1 in the process. Snowball decided not to leave the series quietly, grabbing a 2-4 win in game 6 to trim Shiny's series lead back to 4-2. Shiny wasn't able to keep a clean effort in game 7, allowing Snowball to win the finale 0-2. Shiny settled for a 4-3 series win that sends her to face the Archtown Arrows' Dusky in the semifinals.
Chimpy v. Shannon. Another Accuracy series features the purple cue. Both players stayed perfect deep into game 1, but Southern's Shannon faltered more in the end. Westside's Chimpy went ahead 1-0 in the series on a 1-2 win. The Monarchs' Shannon wasn't able to make anything special happen in game 2, as the Rockers' Chimpy was perfect in a 0-3 win to go up 2-0 in the series. Chimpy had little trouble keeping his offense up in a 1-4 win over Shannon in game 3. Chimpy's series lead is now at 3-0. Chimpy fell off the pace badly in game 4. It was a close battle that ultimately went to Shannon by a 3-4 score, which helped her cut the deficit to 3-1. Shannon kept herself going with a 1-2 win in game 5, which saw Chimpy keep things close throughout until a late miss set him behind. Chimpy's series lead is down to 3-2. Chimpy fought off the momentum against him in game 6, playing nearly perfect in his 1-3 win over Shannon to seal the series at 4-2. Chimpy was perfect again in game 7, capping his 5-2 series win with a 0-4 win over Shannon this time. Chimpy lines up to face the Pronger Tridents' Zach in the semifinals.
Sweetheart v. Acorn. Prime club-mates finish the day in Rotation with the green cue. Boston's Sweethear came out roaring on a five-ball run. Lighton's Acorn fought back a bit, but Sweetheart closed her 8-3 win on a three-ball run-out to take a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn had little offense in game 2, as the Swifts' Sweetheart made a pair on the break and only needed a couple more turns to claim an 8-1 win. Sweetheart's series lead is at 2-0. Sweetheart slowed down at the start of game 3, and Acorn immediately took advantage to establish a lead. Acorn's later four-ball run helped, and he won 8-5 to get on the board in the 2-1 series. Acorn kept up the offense in game 5, building his lead early this time. Sweetheart had virtually no response, and Acorn took the 8-1 win to tie the series at 2. Acorn struggled in game 5, especially in the middle. His troubles allowed Sweetheart to work through her own before taking a four-ball run-out for the 8-3 win. Sweetheart regained the series lead at 3-2. Sweetheart finished game 6 on a hot streak, making a large run to beat Acorn 8-1 in the game and 4-2 in the series. Sweetheart took it right down to the end in game 7, but she got the 8-7 win to take a 5-2 series win over Acorn. Sweetheart will appear in the semifinals.
We'll go again tomorrow and the next two days to finish off the Quarterfinals.
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