This is it for the celebration of TYAT, with the final three events to be decided in today's games. First up...
Slinks v. Panda. The blue cue gets the start today in Rotation. Southern's Panda escaped game 1 with an 8-7 win, as Harrison's Slinks had a three-ball run to tie it late but couldn't get the win. Panda owns a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Panda took the early lead in game 2, but couldn't make it stick in the end. The Specters' Slinks bounced back late and won 8-6, tying the series at 1. Slinks opened up the offense in game 3 with a plethora of scoring over the first few turns. Panda tried to fight back, but a foul allowed Slinks to finish with an 8-1 win to go ahead 2-1 in the series. Panda turned it around with strong and mobile play in game 4. He beat Slinks with a three-ball run-out capped by an option off the 8 that collected the 12 at the bottom side for an 8-1 win to retie the series at 2. Things tightened up again in game 5, and this led to Panda replicating his 8-7 win from the opener despite Slinks' failed late push. Panda has retaken the series lead at 3-2. Slinks didn't stay down long, capitalizing on a bad break from Panda in game 6. Slinks would ultimately take an 8-2 win with a six-ball run-out, her surge helping her tie the series at 3. Slinks let up a little too quickly in game 7, and she wasn't able to sink a winning shot. Panda roared back and won 8-7 with a four-ball run-out to reclaim the series lead at 4-3. Slinks again held a late lead, only to watch it fade away with misses and bad play. Panda recovered just in time for the 8-7 win again, pushing his advantage to 5-3. Slinks, desperate to get back in the series, took too many risks and ended up with no rewards in game 9 as Panda claimed an 8-3 win to seal the series at 6-3. Slinks finally bounced back with a terrific game 10 showing, making an eight-ball run-out on her first turn for an 8-0 win to trim the series back to 6-4. Panda got creative at times in game 11, finding the winning shot on a banked 9-14 combination that got a little help from the caroming cue ball for an 8-5 win. Panda took the series 7-4 and owns the TYAT Rotation title.
Spice v. Dreamy. A fiery middle series uses the silver cue for 7-ball. Swordpoint's Dreamy eventually got a hold on a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead after a contentious start to game 1 versus Victoria's Spice. The Blades' Dreamy had a good break in game 2, but the Spurs' Spice fought back with a four-ball run-out this time, tying the series at 1. Spice scratched on the break in game 3, allowing Dreamy to make a four-ball run from ball-in-hand. Dreamy missed on the 6, and Spice converted a 6-7 combination to the bottom left to claim a 2-1 series lead. Spice had a four-ball run from the break in game 4, but couldn't do anything after that. A missed contact foul led to Dreamy's three-ball run-out for the win to retie the series at 2. Dreamy dominated game 5 with a four-ball run early and a pair at the end after Spice's counterattack came up short. Dreamy pulled ahead 3-2 in the series. A slow start in game 6 turned into a quick win as Spice cut the 2-7 combination to the top left to beat Dreamy, again evening the series at 3 games each. Spice was clever in game 7, finding a three-ball run-out to up the pace after another tense start. Dreamy had no chance to reply as Spice went ahead 4-3. Spice tried and failed to make the 3-7 combination in game 8, and a scratch on the play made it worse. Dreamy used the ball-in-hand to convert the same play at the bottom right for the win, tying the series again at 4. Dreamy's early three-ball run in game 9 ended with a foul for illegal contact, and that allowed Spice to make a pair of shots, including the 5-7 combination at the top left. Spice is on the verge of the title with a 5-4 series lead. Game 10 saw Spice make a three-ball run to start, but Dreamy's three-ball run-out, capped by a 6-7 combination at the bottom left, was good for the win to tie the series once more at 5. Game 11 was as tense as the rest of the series, but with far less offense. Eventually, Dreamy made the 7 to the bottom side after Spice couldn't get it at the top left. Dreamy won the series 6-5 to be named TYAT 7-ball Champion.
Citrus v. Shiny. The competition closes for the year with Lighton Prestige teammates battling in 13-ball with the purple cue. Citrus was all out on offense to start game 1, but bad positioning and a scratch slowed her down. Shiny fought back and blended offense with defense for the win and 1-0 series lead. Shiny made a solid on the game 2 break, but elected to switch suits to stripes. This worked out well, as she got a hard-fought win as Citrus tried desperately to play defense at the end. Shiny's lead is up to 2-0. Citrus finally outclassed Shiny on offense in game 3, but Citrus' bank of the 8 to the top right ended with the cue ball also falling at the bottom side. This gifted the win to Shiny, who now holds a 3-0 series lead. Citrus held a lead again in game 4, but Shiny's persistent pressure and smart offense, combined with Citrus twice committing overfills, changed the trajectory of the game. Shiny eventually won with a pair at the end to get a 4-0 series lead. Shiny probably didn't deserve to win game 5, but Citrus' inability to make the 8 at the end meant she didn't either. Shiny fought back with a three-ball run-out to go up 5-0 in the series, giving her half a dozen chances to claim the title. Citrus took the first step on the longest comeback road in game 6, just outlasting Shiny, who had mildly good positioning but nothing to start a run with. Citrus closed with the 8 in the top right to get on the board in a 5-1 series. Shiny nearly pulled off a deep run in game 7, but a rattle at the bottom right and a scratch on the next turn sent her skidding. Citrus recovered just enough, grabbing a three-ball run-out for the win to trim the series to 5-2. Shiny ended the counterattack in game 8, as Citrus made a pair of solids on the break but struggled after that. Shiny took her time and then pounced on a three-ball run-out for the win and 6-2 series lead. Shiny had to be patient in game 9, but she was able to outpace Citrus again. Shiny sent the 8 to the bottom left for the win and stretched her lead to 7-2. Shiny popped a pair of solids on the break and had clearly better positioning throughout game 10, giving Citrus no chance to snag this result. Shiny's win pushed her to an 8-2 series lead. Shiny finished off game 11 as well, with Citrus narrowly missing her chance on the 8 at the bottom right. Shiny won the series 9-2 and claimed the 13-ball title.
With that, the 2020 campaign is done. We'll have one more post this year, which regards next year's draft, scheduled for tomorrow. After that, the next three or so weeks will be mostly preseason and administrative duties as well as rest for the players, some of whom have gone full speed for nearly 10 months straight.
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