2021 Tournament of Champions

Live from Nissan Hall in Infinity, the nine event champions have gathered to contest the Tournament of Champions. All eight series today are seven games. First up is the Play-In stage...

Ruby (10-ball) v. Leandra (Accuracy). The two lowest-ranked champions will play in 10-ball with the purple cue after Ruby won the coin flip. Tysini's Leandra looked good early on, but she struggled at the end and Todavía's Ruby won game 1 on her second try on the 10. Ruby leads the series 1-0. The Stills' Ruby wasn't as sharp in game 2, and the Hummingbirds' Leandra took advantage of that with a four-ball run-out for the win. The series is now tied at 1. Ruby didn't find much success on offense in game 3 either, as Leandra had the better of play in a choppy game. Leandra cashed it in for a win at the end to go up 2-1 in the series. Leandra continued to pace the offense in game 4, but she skidded at the end this time. Ruby was able to snag the 10 on her second try for the win, retying the series at 2. Ruby took a bold swing on the 8-10 combination late in game 5, but she scratched without sinking a ball on the play. The shot remained lined up for Leandra, who sank it at the bottom left for the win and 3-2 series lead. Leandra grew frustrated with her mistakes in game 6, and none was bigger than her miss on the 10 to end a three-ball run. Ruby tapped the 10 down at the bottom left, tying the series once more at 3-3. Ruby had some force in game 7, driving the ball well on offense but missing a late 9-10 combination attempt. Leandra made the combination to the top left for the win and 4-3 series win that lines her up to face the Web City Spiders' Nibbles in the first round. 

Shadow (9-ball) v. Jack (12-ball). The second series of the day is played with the blue cue in 12-ball between two of the Web City Spiders' three captains in franchise history. Diamond's Shadow represented well for his new team, taking an early lead and making it stick in game 1 to take a 1-0 series lead over Web City's current captain Jack. The Gems' Shadow continued to set the tone at the start in game 2, although the Spiders' Jack was strong to answer it. Shadow then made his final pair without trouble for the win and 2-0 series lead. Shadow scratched early in game 3, and it ruined his performance. Jack fired back on a five-ball run and only needed a couple of turns to get his last ball in the top left for the win, cutting Shadow's series lead to 2-1. Jack had a hot start in game 4, but his positioning didn't work out at the end. Shadow fired back with a surge of offense to grab the win, going ahead 3-1 in the series. Shadow didn't get anything going early in game 5, and Jack was able to choose solids. Jack made it work late in the game after a small battle for space at the bottom side to deposit his winning shot. Shadow remains ahead 3-2 in the series. Jack scratched after making two solids and a stripe on the game 6 break. He chose to play solids, and it worked out as he rallied on a five-ball run-out to stun Shadow soon after. The series is tied at 3. In game 7, Jack had an unfortunate scratch early on. Shadow didn't have great positioning for much of the battle, but he squeezed out a win for the 4-3 series win to reach the Tournament of Champions semifinals. 

Goldy (Rotation) v. Tigerette (8-ball). The next quarterfinal is in Goldy's preferred Rotation event using the silver cue. Everton's Goldy made quick work of game 1, burying a few short runs to grab an 8-2 win over Boston's Tigerette. Goldy leads the series 1-0. The Swifts' Tigerette had the lead early in game 2, but she didn't do much to set the tone. The Eagles' Goldy recovered later and collected an 8-5 win to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Tigerette had another decent start in game 3, only for Goldy to trounce her with a five-ball run. Goldy added a three-ball run-out at the end for an 8-3 win and 3-0 series lead that has her on the edge of advancing. Goldy delivered a devastating knockout blow in game 4, making a five-ball run off the break and a three-ball run-out that ended as a double-pot at the top left for the 8-0 win and 4-0 series clincher over Tigerette. Goldy eased up a bit in game 5, although Tigerette's step forward on offense also had a lot to do with her 8-3 win to get on the board. Goldy remains ahead 4-1 in the series. Tigerette charged again on offense in game 6, collecting an 8-1 win this time as Goldy failed to get anything moving. Goldy leads the series at 4-2. Tigerette romped to an 8-0 win in game 7 as well, but Goldy will head to the semifinals with a 4-3 series win not reflective of her early dominance. 

Kelsea (13-ball) v. Briana (15-ball). This series is played with the red cue in 15-ball after Briana won the coin toss. Neither player took much control in game 1. At the end, Queens' Briana couldn't bring it to the finish, and Capital City's Kelsea won with a late pair for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Kelsea upped the pace a little in game 2, but she still lacked control in the late stages. The Flames' Briana did better in that regard this time, winning with the final pair to tie the series at 1. Kelsea couldn't pick up any late momentum in game 3, and Briana won this one on a three-ball run-out to pull ahead 2-1 in the series. Mistakes on both sides made for a sloppy game 4 performance. At the end, Briana had a chance to take a commanding series lead, but she scratched as she made the 15, gifting the win to Kelsea to tie the series at 2. Play turned shaky on both sides midway through game 5. Briana never really recovered after losing her touch, and Kelsea was able to finish it off for a 3-2 series lead. Kelsea made three balls on the game 6 break and then stalled out until Briana sank the 3-15 combination to the bottom side for the win. The series is tied once more at 3 games each. Briana had some lucky bounces in the middle of game 7, but she used up all her fortune there. Two late errors gave Kelsea enough free possession to pick her way to the win on a three-ball run-out for the 4-3 series win. Kelsea is off to face Goldy in the semifinals. 

Nibbles (7-ball) v. Leandra (Accuracy). The last quarterfinals series is in Accuracy as Leandra won the coin flip this time. Web City's Nibbles got off to a good start and kept it rolling throughout game 1 for the 2-3 win over Tysini's Leandra. Nibbles has a 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Leandra bounced back with a perfect performance in game 2, winning 0-3 to tie the series at 1 against the Spiders' Nibbles. Leandra had a decent start to game 3, but she fell apart in the middle with little warning. Nibbles lost his traction a bit as well, but recovered with a double-pot at the end to lock in a 2-4 win for the 2-1 series lead. Leandra had a chance to maintain the lead in a sloppy game 4, but she let it slip away late. Nibbles was there to take a 4-5 win, going up 3-1 in the series despite a poor performance. Nibbles stepped up again in game 5, playing perfectly in a 0-2 win to finish off Leandra. Nibbles clinched the series at 4-1 to earn the last spot in the semifinals. Nibbles faded a little bit in game 6 with the series already in his favor, and Leandra took the time to prove herself more with a 0-2 win of her own. Nibbles' series lead is down to 4-2. Leandra played herself out of game 7, missing on the last ball to break a tie in the meaningless game. Nibbles took the 0-1 win and won the series 5-2, earning the right to face Shadow in the next round. 

Kelsea (13-ball) v. Goldy (Rotation). The purple cue cycles in for the first semifinals set, which will be in 13-ball. Capital City's Kelsea didn't mess around in game 1, making three balls on the break but scratching one back onto the table. Everton's Goldy had no positioning, and Kelsea easily grabbed the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Kelsea had to put in a little more work in game 2 after scratching on the break again. The Eagles' Goldy kept it close, but a missed contact at the end allowed Kelsea to grab another win for the 2-0 series lead. Goldy made a four-ball run on her first turn in game 3, but Kelsea fired right back on a seven-ball run-out to avenge her empty break. Kelsea's series lead is up to 3-0. Kelsea had a good push in the middle of game 4, but Goldy's defense held her off just long enough. Goldy then made a four-ball run-out for the win to get on the board, cutting Kelsea's series lead to 3-1. Goldy got down to her last ball in a tight game 5, but Kelsea kicked the 8 to the top left at the end to secure the win and the series at 4-1. Goldy had some offense early in game 6, but a scratch and additional struggles after that allowed Kelsea to emerge with the win for a 5-1 series lead. Goldy took another lead in game 7, but Kelsea didn't hold back with a late five-ball run-out for the win and 6-1 series win. Kelsea will compete for the Champions' Cup against the winner of the next series. 

Nibbles (7-ball) v. Shadow (9-ball). Shadow wins the coin toss in the second semifinal, so 9-ball will be played with the blue cue as he faces another member of his old team. Web City's Nibbles went empty on the game 1 break, and Diamond's Shadow cut a 2-9 combination to the bottom left two shots later for the win. Shadow leads the series 1-0. The Spiders' Nibbles looked better in game 2 with a three-ball run, but he followed with a miss on the 6. The Gems' Shadow fired back on a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-0 series lead. Shadow made a rare mistake in game 3, leaving the 9 standing at the top left. Nibbles struck it down for the win, getting on the board but still trailing 2-1 in the series. Nibbles and Shadow both had their struggles early in game 4, leading to a slower pace. Shadow then fired off at the end to get the 9 at the top right for a 3-1 series lead. Shadow came up a little short in game 5, missing on the 7 to allow Nibbles to make the final pair. This cut Shadow's series lead down to 3-2. In game 6, Nibbles had a chance to keep himself in it, but he missed contact attempting a cut on the 9. Shadow took the ball-in-hand play to the top side for the win, sealing the series at 4-2. Shadow didn't exert too much effort in game 7 with a championship series immediately following. Nibbles was able to make the 9 at the bottom left for the win, and Shadow settled for a 4-3 series win to reach the Tournament of Champions finals. 

Kelsea (13-ball) v. Shadow (9-ball). The Tournament of Champions ends here with the silver cue. The final series will be contested in 9-ball as Shadow won another coin flip. Capital City's Kelsea put in a good fight in game 1, but just lost out to Diamond's Shadow in a close finish. Shadow holds a 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Shadow didn't push very well in game 2, and the Sharpshooters' Kelsea stunned him with a deflection off the 6 to drive the 9 to the bottom right for the win. The series is tied at 1. Kelsea was threatening with a four-ball run in game 3, but Shadow capitalized on her late miss with a three-ball run-out. Shadow regained the series lead at 2-1. Shadow looked solid in game 4, but Kelsea turned things around right at the end to snag a three-ball run-out for the win. The series remains competitive in a 2-2 tie. In game 5, neither player was able to assert themselves. Kelsea came ever-so-close to a win when she rattled the 9 out of the top left, and Shadow sniped it to the bottom right to get ahead 3-2 in the series. In game 6, Shadow scratched as the 9 nearly went down on the break. Kelsea attacked a bit, and Shadow missed another attempt on the 9 before ultimately winning on a five-ball run-out capped by an 8-9 combination to secure the series at 4-2. Shadow again took it easy in game 7, which Kelsea won on a three-ball run-out as consolation. Shadow took the series 4-3 and earned his first Champions' Cup title, the 10th player to do so. 

That's all for the individual season, and congratulations to Shadow, who called his winning shot with the following quote. "This one! Right here! One shot, trophy time... Yes! Yes! Yes!" Tomorrow, we'll play the Clan Cup, likely in its entirety, although it could be reduced to just the first round.