We're a week away from the end of the TYAT. Today's action is the start of the Semifinals, which will feature nine-game, one-event series for the first time in a UPCL event in many years. Leading off...
Kiwi v. Goldy: The silver cue gets the starting nod in 15-ball. Everton's Goldy got strong quickly in game 1, following up her six-ball run with a four-ball run-out to defeat Modernistic's Kiwi. Goldy leads the series 1-0. The Eagles' Goldy wasn't as smooth in game 2, although she did make five of the last six balls. The Union's Kiwi was there to snipe the 15 at the top left for the win, tying the series at 1. Goldy found a groove with a five-ball run in game 3, but Kiwi immediately answered on a five-ball run-out to grab the win. Kiwi is ahead 2-1 in the series now. Goldy had no lack of confidence in game 4, controlling most of the offense as she got the early win on a 3-13-15 combination deflected off the 5 and into the bottom left. This erased Kiwi's lead as the series is tied at 2. The choppiest game yet was game 5. Neither player dominated the offense with a run, but it was Goldy who picked off the final pair after Kiwi stumbled. Goldy pulled ahead 3-2 in the series. Kiwi needed a big run to finish off game 6 and she fell short, missing on the 12. Goldy then buried a three-ball run-out in response, cashing in again to push her lead to 4-2. Kiwi fought off the danger in game 7, as Goldy had a few threatening moves. Kiwi then slammed the door on a four-ball run-out to pull back to a 4-3 series deficit. Kiwi came close to victory in game 8, pushing a lot of late offense but ultimately missing on the 15. Goldy put it away at the top right for the win to seal the series at 5-3. Kiwi salvaged a result in game 9 by pushing the offense strongly even in the end. Goldy eased up and Kiwi made a three-ball run-out. Goldy's 5-4 series win puts her in the 15-ball finals.
Smokey v. Twinkie III. Recent teammates battle in 8-ball with the purple cue. A somewhat sloppy finish to game 1 saw Whitewater's Twinkie III snag the win over Diamond's Smokey. Twinkie III holds a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Twinkie III had a good start, but needed the Gems' Smokey to fall off the pace at the end. This occurred, as Smokey lost his momentum and Twinkie III poked the 8 to the bottom left for the win and 2-0 series lead. Twinkie III continued to control the early offense, but she slipped near the end of game 3 with a miss on the 8. Smokey fired back on a four-ball run-out to get on the board as he now trails only 2-1. Game 4 saw Twinkie III again jump out to a lead on solids, but her late offense was sparse. Smokey packed it in with a seven-ball run-out this time, including a crafty jump shot that helped him tie the series at 2. Smokey continued to improve, taking the lead on offense earlier in game 5. Twinkie III failed to make a response, and Smokey got the win on a three-ball run-out for the 3-2 series lead. Smokey scratched on the break in game 6, but that didn't stop him from making it a competitive game. Twinkie III nearly had a push at the end, but she rattled the 3 out, and Smokey made a pair for the win and 4-2 series lead. Twinkie III had a decent start to game 7, but faltered near the end as Smokey added pressure. Smokey closed it out with a win, clinching the series at 5-2. Twinkie III tried to make her way through game 8 on jump shots and a late run, but she fell short before Smokey buried the 8 to the bottom right to stretch his lead to 6-2. Smokey attacked with a five-ball run early in game 7, then followed up with another run at the end to beat Twinkie III. Smokey won the series 7-2 and will face the winner of the next set in the 8-ball finals.
Ruby v. Princess. The premier meeting of the day is in 8-ball with the green cue. Tysini's Princess had a back-and-forth game 1 with Todavía's Ruby, which saw Ruby come quite close to the win. Princess then made the final pair for the 1-0 series lead instead. The Stills' Ruby had most of the early offense in game 2, but couldn't make it stand as the Hummingbirds' Princess came all the way back on a seven-ball run-out. Princess put herself ahead 2-0 in the series. On her second turn of game 3, Princess made a six-ball run. Ruby answered with a seven-ball run, but missed the 8, and Princess won with a pair to go up 3-0. Princess didn't find any real offense in game 4, falling behind early to Ruby and never catching up. Ruby's win got her on the board, but she's behind 3-1 in the series. Ruby could have had game 5 easily, but scratches for both players slowed down the finish. Princess bounced back better with a three-ball run-out for the win and 4-1 series lead. Game 6 was another close battle, which saw Ruby prevail with a three-ball run after Princess suffered a scratch she couldn't recover from. Ruby's pulled back to a 4-2 deficit. Ruby thought her turn should have continued after a phantom contact knocked one of her balls in. Princess got down to the 8 quickly but couldn't convert until the end, when Ruby missed it at the bottom right. Princess secured the series at 5-2 after game 7. Ruby played on thin margins in game 8, getting the last four balls down over two turns as Princess sputtered too slowly to the finish. Ruby's win cut Princess' series lead to 5-3. Ruby got one more jab in with a win in game 9, but it was Princess who advanced on a 5-4 series win. Princess will meet the Diamond Gems' Smokey in the 8-ball finals.
Shiny v. Kitty. In 13-ball, the red cue gets its turn. Lighton's Shiny had a small lead initially in game 1, and Midland's Kitty couldn't challenge her late. Shiny took a tight win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Shiny started hot in game 2 but had to weather a late push from the Predators' Kitty, which ended with a scratch. Shiny then made a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-0 series lead. Shiny was good to start game 3, but an overfill and bad positioning torpedoed her. Kitty bounced back with a three-ball run-out for the win, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Kitty made a couple of stripes on the game 4 break and barely slowed down later. Shiny had some plays to make, but couldn't get positioning as Kitty won on a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 2. Kitty had an explosive break, and her first shot after that put the players on level terms. Shiny rode through on stripes and didn't have too much trouble in earning this win for a 3-2 series lead. Shiny faltered in positioning late in game 6, unable to find clear looks on her last two balls while Kitty worked her offense much faster. Kitty's push to the win retied the series at 3. Kitty was the one caught out of position in game 7, as Shiny was much more clever on stripes this time. Shiny won with a three-ball run-out and reclaimed the series lead at 4-3. Shiny appeared to have the edge throughout game 8, but she missed on the 8 near the end. Kitty responded with a perfect three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series once more at 4 games each. Kitty overfilled on the game 9 break, and that would cost her positioning. Shiny had no such trouble and eventually chipped her way to the win and 5-4 series win. Shiny will play in the 13-ball finals.
Goatee v. Nightfur. The designated visitor gets to split her doubleheader over two days as she plays 12-ball with the blue cue here. Westside's Goatee bullied her way to better positioning in game 1, and Royal's Nightfur couldn't counter it in the end. Goatee kicked the 13 to the top side for the win and 1-0 series lead. Both players had good positioning in game 2 and chose not to interfere with each other too much. This aided the Rockers' Goatee, who was able to outpace the Crowns' Nightfur at the end to extend her series lead to 2-0. Nightfur was solid to start game 3, but a five-ball run by Goatee pulled her far enough ahead to easily earn the win. Goatee's series lead is up to 3-0. Goatee didn't get much going in her favor in game 4, and Nightfur took over on offense with a four-ball run-out. Goatee's series lead is down to 3-1. Nightfur had everything lined up but couldn't close out in game 5, and Goatee instead picked up the slack. Nightfur's late foul allowed Goatee to make her final pair for a 4-1 series lead. Goatee couldn't bring it home in game 6, as too many errors weighed her down early. Nightfur wasn't clean with the win, but good enough to win to get back to a 4-2 deficit. Nightfur yielded a wild-card ball in game 7, but her offense was dominant after that, while Goatee couldn't get off the launchpad. Nightfur pulled closer but remains behind 4-3. Nightfur was strong again in game 8, and that allowed her to compete closely with Goatee. In the end, Nightfur had just enough offense for another win, tying the series at 4. Nightfur kept the offense up and got Goatee to take herself out of position late in game 9. Nightfur then made a pair for the win, completing the comeback in a 5-4 series win. Nightfur will play in the 12-ball finals.
The Semifinals should return to a normal starting time tomorrow.
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