We're set to begin a new year of Qualifying, as the league has expanded to 38 teams and 190 players. This year, qualifying will take on a different structure, as players will receive a mandated day off following each appearance for as long as that remains viable. We're set to play for 34 days to sort out where everyone will rank heading into the season. Due to the new format, the first two days of qualifying will be exclusively 7-ball. We begin with...
Snowball making her Westside Rockers debut with the green cue. Snowball got the year off to a perfect start with 0 shots and zero errors as she sank the 7 to the bottom left on the break. Going second today, the Capital City Sharpshooters' Sprinkles uses the silver cue. Sprinkles didn't have the same success, but she kept it clean with no errors in 10 shots to start her campaign. A double-debut is in order when Apex Wonders rookie Maren brings the purple cue to the table to open her career. Maren struggled through the turn, picking up one late error for missed contact before closing with 14 shots. The green cue returns as the Lighton Prestige's Shiny steps up with hopes of continuing her success from the TYAT. Shiny was solid but unremarkable in 10 shots with no errors. Closing out the batch, the Royal Crowns' Brownie uses the purple cue. Brownie checked in well, making up for an empty break with an early double-pot to end with 8 shots and no errors.
The purple cue remains active to open group two, with the Midland Predators' Chicky Phil on for his season debut. Chicky Phil was unimpressive, lacking precision as he took 12 shots with no errors. The Pronger Tridents' Prism is next, bringing the blue cue to the table for the first time this year. Prism needed a couple swipes at the 2-7 combination, but she made it in the top left for a score of 3 shots and no errors. The red cue is the last to activate, as Stephanie begins her Swordpoint Blades career. Stephanie couldn't have done a better job to impress her new team, sinking the 5 and the 7 on the break for 0 shots and zero errors. Diamond Gems sophomore Autumn is ninth to shoot today, taking up the purple cue. Autumn faltered after a good start, taking two errors among her 15 shots as the purple cue continues to struggle early on. The group ends with Everton Eagles captain Goldy shooting with the silver cue. Goldy had a pair on the break and nearly got the 7 to drop as well, but settled for 9 shots and no errors after a slow finish.
Leading off group three, Rudolph makes his Eastside Sharks debut with the green cue. A pair on the break helped, but Rudolph was strong with control to end in 8 shots with no errors. Pearl Surfers co-captain Watermelon draws in with the purple cue for her season debut. Watermelon broke the purple curse with a heavy break that saw the 7 glance off the cue ball and into the bottom left for 0 shots and zero errors. Another Surfer follows up as Bright takes the red cue to the table. Bright was uncompromising, taking two errors for scratches and still finishing in 9 shots. The Central Warriors' Dustin keeps the red cue active for his season debut. Dustin put the 7 near the bottom left on the break and then converted a 5-7 combination to end in 5 shots and no errors in a strong start. The 15th game of the day goes to Boston Swifts newcomer Sydney S., who has the purple cue in hand. Sydney S. had an error for a scratch, but was otherwise solid in 10 shots to make her team debut.
After the lunch break, the Apex Wonders rookie Blair plays his career debut with the purple cue. Blair showed a quiet confidence in his debut, finishing in 8 shots and no errors. Another career debut sees the Capital City Sharpshooters' Kelsea using the red cue. Kelsea was highly shaky in her positional work, leading to three errors in 14 shots. Central Warriors veteran Graham gets the 18th game of the day, playing with the blue cue. Graham struggled with control early on, but got bold with cuts at the end that salvaged a scored of 13 shots and no errors. The Web City Spiders' Waluigi gets the next game, using the silver cue. Waluigi didn't improve the league's recent form, requiring 12 shots and no errors to finish. Ending the set, Cubby makes his Archtown Arrows debut with the purple cue. Cubby made the most of his appearance, ending in 9 shots and no errors after banking the 7 to the bottom right.
Group five gets going with the Queens Flames' Mario using the red cue. Mario took an error when he failed on a kick shot, but that was his lone mistake in 11 shots. Swordpoint Blades captain Dreamy takes her first shots in the role with the blue cue. Long range shots and positioning problems led to two errors and 14 shots for Dreamy's season debut. Stonebridge Wolves sophomore Jane plays the 23rd game of the day, picking up the red cue. Jane was sharp, taking one error but still closing the turn in 9 shots. Her close friend, Maplewood Lumberjacks sophomore Marissa, is next with the purple cue as she debuts her team's new uniforms. Marissa made a pair on the break, including the 7, but a scratch on the same play forced her to clear the table. She did so with just one error in 7 shots. Bringing us to the halfway point today, the Swordpoint Blades' Stealth also debuts this year with the purple cue. Stealth was great with a pair on the break and a 1-7 kick combination that became a clean double-pot. He ended with 1 shot and no errors.
The sixth bunch begins with Modernistic Union captain Ms. Puppy using the blue cue. Ms. Puppy had a good break and kept herself steady for 9 shots and one error to start the year strong. The 27th player called today is Golden Pilots veteran Strut, who plays with the silver cue. Strut had a bit of trouble with cue ball motion, taking two errors for scratches before closing the game in 11 shots. The silver cue remains in play when the Todavía Stills' Pedey comes to the table. Pedey was very loose in his shot quality, needing 11 shots with three errors to finish the game. Atlantic Pirates sophomore Buddy takes the next game, using the red cue. A pair of scratches slowed Buddy down, but he managed to salvage a score of 11 shots. The red cue stays on hand to finish the group with Daisy making her Oceanside Waves debut. The cue ball continued to surge around the table, costing Daisy two errors in 10 shots.
The seventh group is fronted by Victoria Spurs star Yekaterina, who has the silver cue in hand. Yekaterina found a groove with a pair on the break and a clean effort after that for 5 shots and no errors. Pearl Surfers co-captain Neopolitan is next up, using the green cue to start her season. Neopolitan had a promising start, but a skid on the 3 led to one error and ultimately 13 shots. The Diamond Gems' Leonardo brings the silver cue back into action. Leonardo pulled off a great escape, working the top left very well to close his appearance in 8 shots without an error. Todavía Stills star Ruby will keep the silver cue active for the 34th game of the day. Ruby left some shots on the table that she should have made, but still ended with 9 shots and no errors in the game. Rounding out this group, Atlantic Pirates captain Delila goes to shoot with the purple cue. Delila's break rocketed the 7 to the top right for a score of 0 shots and zero errors.
Another Pirate starts the eighth set, as Dusky uses the blue cue. Dusky had a promising start to her appearance, but an error and a slow finish set her down at 14 shots. The 37th game today features Tysini Hummingbirds captain Leandra using the red cue. Leandra took care of business pretty well with 9 shots and no errors to her name. Next up, the Viewpoint Sound Meteors' Dani gets her season underway with the blue cue. Dani put in a respectable effort, steady in her finish with 9 shots and no errors. Everton Eagles star Cleo follows up, getting her qualifying run underway with the silver cue. Cleo, a qualifying stud, surprised even herself when the 7 dropped in the bottom side on the break for 0 shots and zero errors. Slinks wraps up the group with her Tysini Hummingbirds debut, also using the silver cue. Slinks got the jitters early in her appearance, but finished well at 9 shots and no errors.
Going 41st today, Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi picks up the blue cue. Kiwi got lucky after some sloppy shooting, as her poke off the 4 sent it to the top right and the 7 to the top left to end the game in 10 shots with no errors. The blue cue will go again as Mams is set to make her Swordpoint Blades debut. Mams showed some power early on, but a late scratch was her lone error that pushed her score to 10 shots. The Capital City Sharpshooters' second rookie debuts today with Ellie playing with the purple cue. Ellie didn't make much of her shooting angles in this game, needing 15 shots and an error to get to the finish. The blue cue is back as Infinity Torpedoes captain Smudge steps up to the table. Smudge could have finished a shot earlier, but played it safe to close at 8 shots and no errors. The blue cue will complete the group with Stonebridge Wolves newcomer Dewey debuting with his new team. Dewey took a sloppy scratch for his lone error but still finished with 10 shots.
The final group commences with the Commerce Tradewinds' Solaris using the silver cue. Solaris narrowly avoided errors in a surprisingly good game that ended in 8 shots. Westside Rockers captain will bring the green cue back into action. Misty had a promising start before a stick foul accounted for her lone error. Misty then ended in 13 shots after a bad finish. The 48th player to go today is Whitewater Shores rookie Rachel, who uses the red cue. Rachel made a pair on her break shot, but bad positioning ruined the effort. She closed with 10 shots and an error. Pronger Tridents veteran Avril gets the next turn, using the silver cue for her season debut. Avril suffered a scratch early in her turn, but closed it out in 9 shots with confidence. The day concludes with Royal Crowns rookie Kacey shooting with the blue cue. Kacey pulled off a tricky finish after a slow start, making the 3-7 combination to the bottom right for a 5-shot, zero-error performance.
This is just the opening day of a month-long qualifying run. Stay tuned for tomorrow's action.
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