The quarter mark of the First Round is here at the end of today's play. First up...
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Kiwi. Captains clash in 7-ball with the blue cue. An even game 1 saw both players get their share of offense. At the end, Terrace City's Kiwi cut the 7 to the bottom left after Infinity's Smudge missed a long shot to the bottom right. Kiwi leads the series 1-0. The Knights' Kiwi left no doubt in game 2, making the 5 to the bottom left and the 7 to the bottom right on the game 2 break. This win sealed the series in her favor at 2-0. In game 3, Smudge avoided the sweep by making the 5-7 combination to the top left. Kiwi still won the series 2-1 and will head to the second round.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Waluigi v. Taylor M. The green cue gets the second series today, playing 10-ball. Web City's Waluigi had the better offense in game 1, but he was shaky at the end. Eastside's Taylor M. buried the final pair of shots for the win and 1-0 series lead. Neither player could take control in game 2, with the Sharks' Taylor M. having more struggles later on. The Spiders' Waluigi eventually made a four-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. In game 3, Waluigi started and finished well, taking a pair each time to get the better of Taylor M. for the win. Waluigi won the series 2-1 and will host Swordpoint Blades newcomer Mams in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Nightfur. Experienced veterans meet in 13-ball with the blue cue. Zenith's Nightfur had a good burst in game 1, but Maplewood's Diddley kept pace and pulled ahead near the end. Diddley then capitalized on Nightfur's illegal contact error for the win, which put the host ahead 1-0 in the series. The Lumberjacks' Diddley scratched twice in game 2, and that proved costly for him. The Skywatchers' Nightfur was slow but clean on offense, earning the win with a kick on the 8 to the bottom right to tie the series at 1. Nightfur got down to the 8 in game 3, but some sublime defense from Diddley changed the end of the game. Diddley then deflected the 4 off the to sink it at the bottom side before cutting the 8 to the same pocket for the win and 2-1 series win. Diddley will visit East Division rival and Archtown Arrows veteran Hoppy in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Summer. The green cue is back for this 9-ball series. Oceanside's Celestia had a three-ball run early in game 1, but she missed on the 4. Maplewood's Summer replied two shots later on a deflection off the 5 to drive the 9 into the top left for the win. Summer leads the series 1-0. The Waves' Celestia again made a three-ball run in game 2, but she didn't do anything to back it up later. The Lumberjacks' Summer took the win on her second look at the 9, clinching the series at 2-0. In game 3, Summer was a little off the pace at times. Celestia timed her three-ball run well this time, using it to win the game to avoid the sweep. Summer won the series 2-1 and will visit Whitewater Shores mainstay Twinkie III in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Diddley v. Briana. The red cue draws in for Rotation in the host's second series of the day. Both players had surges on offense in game 1, but Maplewood's Diddley closed out a win with a three-ball run-out. He beat Queens' Briana 8-6 for the 1-0 series lead. The Lumberjacks' Diddley had a less impressive start to game 2, but it didn't hold him back. The Flames' Briana faltered late and Diddley made a pair for another 8-6 win to secure the series at 2-0. Briana had some moments to push in game 3, but Diddley again cut her off with a three-ball run-out at the end for an 8-5 win. Diddley swept the series 3-0 to reach the second round.
Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit v. Sally. The blue cue is up in 9-ball. Archtown's Sally surged with a four-ball run late in game 1, but her cut on the 9 left it out of the bottom left. Lighton's Spirit poached the win on a tap-in for the 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Spirit made a three-ball run off the break in game 2. The Arrows' Sally was better in the middle, but her late scratch allowed Spirit to sink the final pair from ball-in-hand for the win. Spirit sealed the series at 2-0. Sally picked off a pair of shots at the end of a close game 3 to get her lone win in the series. Spirit still advanced on a 2-1 series win, and she'll host Atlantic Pirates captain Delila in the second round.
Toyota Arena, Freedom: Andrew v. Pedey. The purple cue enters the mix with this 8-ball series. Freedom's Andrew scratched on the break in game 1, and Todavía's Pedey took off with a six-ball run. Andrew kept his defense strong until he could reply with a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 lead in the series. The Cascades' Andrew was able to keep a clean break in game 2 and claim stripes. The Stills' Pedey again put in a good attack, only for Andrew to make a comeback on a four-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 2-0. Andrew had a six-ball run a bit earlier than usual in game 3. Pedey tried to rally back, but he scratched as he made the 8. Andrew swept the series 3-0 to get into the second round.
Mitsubishi Arena, Apex: Maren v. Briana. The visitor's second series today is in 13-ball with the purple cue. Apex's Maren had a strong push off the break in game 1, and she held off Queens' Briana at the end. Maren took a 1-0 series lead as she sent the 8 to the bottom side. The Flames' Briana had some promising offense in game 2, but she couldn't bring it home. The Wonders' Maren found a sudden path to victory and converted a five-ball run-out to seal the series at 2-0. In game 3, Maren wasn't able to establish her offense as quickly. Briana kept things close until she was able to pick off a late pair for the win. Maren settled for a 2-1 series win to book a hosting position in the second round.
UPS Hall, Maplewood: Vladimir v. Kayla. More 13-ball follows with the green cue. Maplewood's Vladimir had a three-ball run early in game 1 and backed it up with a four-ball run-out after Royal's Kayla briefly pulled even. Vladimir leads the series 1-0 with his quick offense. The Lumberjacks' Vladimir had a pair of crucial mistakes in game 2, one scratch and one flubbed shot on the 8 to end a four-ball run. The Crowns' Kayla capitalized at the end with a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 1. Kayla made one of each on the break in game 3, then illegally sank a solid after claiming stripes. Vladimir's only shot in the game saw him illegally pot the 8 to gift Kayla the win and 2-1 series win. Kayla will play in the second round.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Sparkles v. Jake. South Division rivals meet in 15-ball with the red cue. Golden's Sparkles had a strong game 1, finishing off a five-ball run-out for the win as Royal's Jake failed to step up late. The Crowns' Jake looked poised for a better finish in game 2, but he lost control of his shot at the end. The Pilots' Sparkles wasn't much better, but she settled down for the 15 at the top right to get the win, sealing the series at 2-0. Sparkles was able to complete the sweep in game 3 with a rather innocent 5-15 kick combination to the bottom right. She'll move on to the second round after dispatching Jake.
Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Leonette v. Midnight. The red cue exits the day in 10-ball. Pacific's Leonette had her shots in game 1, but she flubbed a finish on the 10 at the end of the choppy battle. Apex's Midnight didn't miss her chance, snagging the win for a 1-0 series lead. The quality of play didn't improve in game 2 after the Wonders' Midnight had a bad break. The Volcanoes' Leonette ultimately won another choppy game with a pair of shots at the end, tying the series at 1. Game 3 saw Leonette get a better start, but she faded early. Midnight closed out the win with a four-ball run-out, grabbing a 2-1 series win. Midnight will visit the Capital City Sharpshooters rookie Ellie in the second round.
McDonald's Hall, Atlantic: Isabella v. Fluffina. The green cue is done after this 8-ball series. Atlantic's Isabella managed one surge of offense in game 1, but Infinity's Fluffina slowed her with defense. At the end, Fluffina took her time to get the win and pulled ahead 1-0 in the series. The Torpedoes' Fluffina had a terrible game 2. Her break was bad, and a couple of turns later she sank the 8 to the bottom side unintentionally. This gifted a win to the Pirates' Isabella and tied the series at 1. Isabella returned the gift after dominating the bulk of game 3, only to sink the 8 illegally at the end. Fluffina won the series 2-1 and will visit Boston Swifts newcomer Sydney S. in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Kitty. The purple cue checks out after Rotation. Midland's Kitty had a better start in a slow game 1, but Todavía's Sierra recovered with pace later on to get the win. Sierra won by an 8-5 score to pull out to a 1-0 series lead. Positioning remained difficult in game 2, and this time it was costly for the Stills' Sierra. In the end, the Predators' Kitty found her way with a five-ball run-out for an 8-4 win to tie the series at 1. Sierra found her groove again in game 3, battling with Kitty early on before unleashing a four-ball run-out. Sierra won 8-4 and will head to the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sarah v. Briana. The silver cue's lone series today is in 15-ball. Queens' Briana looked warmed up after playing a lot today, and she was able to bait Tysini's Sarah into a late scratch. Briana then made a three-ball run-out for the game 1 win and 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Briana took a strong share of the offense early in game 2, then added a 14-15 combination for the win after the Hummingbirds' Sarah lost control late. Briana clinched the series at 2-0. Another lackluster showing on both sides saw Briana make the final pair of shots to get the win and complete a 3-0 series sweep over Sarah. Briana will play in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Isabella. The day ends with the blue cue in 15-ball between East Division foes. Atlantic's Isabella had a four-ball run after tempers flared in the middle of game 1. She missed a cut on the 15 at the top side, which Central's Noelle buried for the 1-0 series lead. The Pirates' Isabella looked alright through the first half of game 2, but the Warriors' Noelle answered with a five-ball run later. Noelle then made the 15 on a snipe to the top right on her last turn to get the win, securing the series at 2-0. Isabella had her best push yet in game 3, but she was denied again as Noelle capitalized on an error with a 9-15 combination to the top left. Noelle swept the series 3-0 to earn a hosting position in the second round.
That's all for today. We're scheduled to play Saturday, but Sunday remains a toss-up.
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