Another day is set to begin, and this one could be a bit of a grind. First up...
Porsche Events Center, Zenith: Blizzard v. Hoppy. The red cue starts the day with an Accuracy series. Zenith's Blizzard was able to maintain a lead throughout game 1, earning a 3-4 win over Archtown's Hoppy for the 1-0 series lead. The Skywatchers' Blizzard nearly got the win in game 2, but she scratched on the last ball to tie the game. In overtime, Blizzard missed her only shot after the Arrows' Hoppy had made a ball on the break, and Hoppy won 3-4 to tie the series at 1. In game 3, both players had an awful middle portion. The game was tied going into overtime, where Hoppy had an explosive but empty break and Blizzard made her lone shot for a 5-6 win to take a 2-1 series win. Blizzard will host the Westside Rockers' Goatee in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Sierra v. Precious. A big matchup in Accuracy uses the green cue. Pronger's Precious nearly kept pace in game 1, but Todavía's Sierra maintained a strong line. The close battle ended with Sierra taking a 1-2 win for the 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Tridents' Precious sank a double-pot and narrowly evaded trouble in the later parts of another close contest. The Stills' Sierra had a late miss, and that was all Precious needed for the 0-1 win to tie the series at 1. Both players dropped off the intensity in game 3, and Precious narrowly escaped with a 3-4 win after Sierra fell apart late. Precious won the series 2-1 and will be a visitor again in the second round.
GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Bianca v. Midnight. New captains this season battle in 8-ball with the silver cue. A reckless style from Southridge's Bianca saw her thrive with solids early on before making too many stripes to aid Apex's Midnight. At the end, Midnight grabbed the win with a pair of shots for a 1-0 series lead. The Wonders' Midnight took stripes on the break in game 2, but it was the Defenders' Bianca blindly shooting into a cluster that led to her sinking the 8 prematurely. This gifted the win and the series at 2-0 to Midnight. Bianca finally settled in and controlled game 3 for her lone win, leaving Midnight to advance on a 2-1 series win. Midnight will host Queens Flames captain Crystal in the second round.
HP Field Events Center, Midland: Chicky Phil v. Carly. The green cue is back in action for Accuracy. Midland's Chicky Phil had a slow start in game 1, and he never recovered from it. Westside's Carly held her ground in a 1-2 win to earn the 1-0 series lead. The Predators' Chicky Phil was a little cleaner in game 2, but the Rockers' Carly was sharp enough at the end to force overtime. There, Chicky Phil's break was empty and Carly struck for the 2-3 win to clinch the series at 2-0. In game 3, Carly fell behind early and never had a chance to catch up. Chicky Phil won 2-3 after a late fade, while Carly took the series 2-1 to earn the right to host the Whitewater Shores' Marsell in the second round.
Kraft Forum, Royal: Sunshine v. Frosty. The green cue checks out after Rotation. Royal's Sunshine was caught playing slow early in game 1, as Freedom's Frosty took a big lead and waited him out. Frosty won 8-3 and took a 1-0 series lead with ease. The Cascades' Frosty had a harder time establishing offense in game 2, but she still outpaced the Crowns' Sunshine fairly easily. Frosty worked her way to an 8-4 win to clinch the series at 2-0. Frosty held a lead for much of game 3, but Sunshine wouldn't go away this time. Sunshine battled to an 8-7 win, but Frosty won the series 2-1 to put her in a road meeting versus Terrace City Knights captain Kiwi in the second round.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Rocky v. Andrew. Another Rotation series uses the red cue. A close battle early on saw Oceanside's Rocky pick his way to an 8-3 win with better offense than Freedom's Andrew at the end. Rocky owns a 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Andrew put in a more balanced effort on offense in game 2, holding off an inconsistent showing from the Waves' Rocky. At the end, Andrew closed out an 8-5 win to tie the series at 1. Andrew held a lead late in game 3, but he couldn't bring it across the finish line. Rocky was persistent with a pair of two-ball turns to get the 8-7 win and 2-1 series win. Rocky will play host to his Waves teammate Patches in the second round.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Ingrid. The silver cue takes a turn in 12-ball. Boston's Sweetheart enjoyed a ton of early offense, but she skipped over the side pockets. Southridge's Ingrid had plenty of positioning and used a five-ball run to take the lead before she earned the win for a 1-0 series lead. The two players battled hard in game 2, and it came down to the top side. The Swifts' Sweetheart eventually missed contact on her last ball, making it an easy finish for the Defenders' Ingrid to pick up the win and secure the series at 2-0. Ingrid had a good start in game 3, but she got blocked away from the bottom side. Sweetheart got her lone win on a four-ball run-out from ball-in-hand. Ingrid took the series win at 2-1 and will continue on the road in the second round.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Pounce. Another 12-ball series brings the purple cue aboard. Stonebridge's Hershey started with good offense in game 1, then blocked the top right at the end until Southern's Pounce knocked in Hershey's last ball for him. That gave Hershey a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Hershey exploded with a four-ball run off the break in game 2. This time, the Monarchs' Pounce flipped the script with frustrating defense at the top right, and when Hershey removed it, Pounce charged on a three-ball run-out. This tied the series at 1. Pounce had a big start in game 3 with a four-ball run, but Hershey kept pace well and won on a three-ball run-out. Hershey took the series 2-1 and will host the Queens Flames captain Crystal in the second round.
Apple Center, Todavía: Ruby v. Stinky. More 12-ball brings the blue cue into the action. Todavía's Ruby had fast offense early in game 1, but her late positioning let her down. Freedom's Stinky applied pressure and made a pair of shots at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Stinky had a four-ball run to get onto his last ball in game 2, and he looked to be in good shape until the Stills' Ruby answered on a four-ball run-out. The sudden comeback win allowed Ruby to tie the series at 1. Ruby got down to good positioning, but Stinky's scratching ruined her angles. Stinky eventually made a pair at the end to get the win and 2-1 series win, which will see him return to this venue to take on the Stills' Pedey in the second round. Ruby will still carry four bids into the second round.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Lorde v. Rudolph. The purple cue checks in again for 9-ball. While not totally precise, Southern's Lorde was unrelenting on offense in game 1. It was too much for Eastside's Rudolph to handle, and Lorde won on the final pair of shots for the 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Lorde had a much slower start in game 2, but the Sharks' Rudolph didn't do anything to take control. Lorde then pocketed a four-ball run-out for the win to seal the series at 2-0. Lorde was a little more commanding in game 3, and Rudolph crumbled late before Lorde made a three-ball run-out to complete the 3-0 series sweep. Lorde will host Apex Wonders veteran Cowzart in the second round. Rudolph has three advancing bids.
Samsung Arena, Whitewater: Shaggy v. Yekaterina. The blue cue returns for Rotation. Whitewater's Shaggy had the better start in game 1, but her offense faded just as Victoria's Yekaterina picked up the pace. Yekaterina was able to close out an 8-5 win for the 1-0 series lead. A competitive start led to a slow middle before the Spurs' Yekaterina again pulled away from the Shores' Shaggy. Yekaterina took an 8-4 win this time, securing the series at 2-0. Yekaterina began with a five-ball run in game 3, but Shaggy responded two turns later on a seven-ball run-out for the 8-5 win. Yekaterina settled for a 2-1 series win to get into the visiting slot versus Pacific Volcanoes veteran Leonette in the second round.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Smokey. The purple cue is done for the day after Rotation. Infinity's Smudge made a ball on the break, but it was all offense for Pacific's Smokey after that. Smokey had a huge surge and then added onto it until he had an 8-1 win for the 1-0 series lead. Powerful shots defined game 2 a bit more, which led to a slower offense. The Torpedoes' Smudge eventually got loose and took the lead, then nursed it home to an 8-4 win despite a comeback attempt from the Volcanoes' Smokey. In game 3, both players exchanged shots evenly through the first half. Smudge finally got some separation with a three-ball run, and she closed it out as an 8-6 win over Smokey. Smudge will advance to the second round in a hosting position.
Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Puff II v. Andrew. The visitor's second series of the day is in 9-ball with the blue cue. Harrison's Puff II wasn't able to establish her offense very well in game 1. Freedom's Andrew was a little shaky early on too, but he recovered later for the final pair to get the win and 1-0 series lead. The Cascades' Andrew enjoyed an impressive six-ball run in game 2, but he scratched as he made the 8. This left a free shot for the Specters' Puff II to pick up the win, and she did it, tying the series at 1. Puff II stunned everyone with her break shot in game 3, getting the 9 to drop at the bottom left for the win and 2-1 series win over Andrew. Puff II will host Infinity Torpedoes star Fuchsia in the second round.
Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central: Noelle v. Watermelon. The silver cue exits after an 8-ball series. Central's Noelle played for positioning after a fairly even start in game 1 versus Pearl's Watermelon. Noelle's tactics were smart, and she was able to earn the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Warriors' Noelle had a good start in game 2, allowing her to focus a bit on defense later on. The Surfers' Watermelon made a comeback push, but it ended with her prematurely sinking the 8 to gift the series at 2-0 to Noelle. Watermelon again had to play from behind in game 3, and she came up just short again as Noelle closed out in time for a 3-0 series sweep. Noelle moves on to the second round.
Cisco Arena, Tysini: Sugar v. Puff I. Club-mates close the day in 13-ball with the red cue as the host begins a split-day doubleheader. Tysini's Sugar got off to a good start, but couldn't bury the 9 at the bottom side. Modernistic's Puff I played tough defense and then turned on a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Union's Puff I exploded with frustration after multiple scratches in game 2, and she followed that by sinking the 8 illegally to gift the Hummingbirds' Sugar with a win. This tied the series at 1. Puff I wasn't able to simmer down in game 3, and Sugar was able to make a comeback push for the win and 2-1 series win. Sugar will visit the Swordpoint Blades captain Dreamy in the second round.
An unusual day saw the red and blue cues struggle while the green and silver seemed stronger. Tomorrow, we hit the three-quarters mark of the First Round.
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