We're already in the middle of the Bracket Finals, and we've got a solid slate ahead today. The red cue won't participate in today's action. First up...
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Blaze v. Diddley. The purple cue opens the day in 7-ball. An even game 1 saw Maplewood's Diddley take a tough miss at the end, allowing Infinity's Blaze to win on a tap-in to the bottom left. Blaze leads the series 1-0. The Torpedoes' Blaze had a solid performance in game 2, but the Lumberjacks' Diddley gave nothing away this time. Diddley made a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 1. Diddley fumbled away possession late in game 3 after missing on the 6 from ball-in-hand. Blaze made the final pair of shots to earn the win for a 2-1 series lead. Blaze made a three-ball run off the break in game 4, but he missed on his last two shots, and the Lumberjacks' Diddley cleaned up for a three-ball run-out to earn the win and retie the series at 2. A slow start to game 5 allowed Blaze to win on a deflection off the 1 that drove the 7 to the top left for a 3-2 series win over Diddley. Blaze went 15-6 on the bracket to reach the Finals. Blaze is up to two kills this year, while Diddley is the 132nd eliminated player and the Lumberjacks are the seventh team out.
AT&T Hall, Oceanside: Celestia v. Shelley. Two of the top players this season battle in Rotation with the green cue. An intense and even battle at the start of game 1 saw Oceanside's Celestia break free for a three-ball run-out at the end to earn an 8-5 win over Infinity's Shelley. Celestia holds a 1-0 series lead. The Waves' Celestia trailed for a large portion of game 2, but the Torpedoes' Shelley fell apart near the end. Shelley missed multiple chances late, and Celestia won 8-6 to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Celestia left no doubt at the start of game 3, unleashing a five-ball run to gain the lead. Shelley made three straight in response, but Celestia closed out a confident 8-3 win to clinch the series at 3-0. Celestia had to battle back in game 4, but Shelley again wasted an early lead with shaky play at the end. Celestia was able to sink the last pair for an 8-6 win to stretch her lead to 4-0 in the series. Celestia couldn't pull off another comeback in game 5, as Shelley held on late this time to earn an 8-4 win. Celestia's 4-1 series win puts her in the Finals with 17-4 record from the bracket, which should be enough to guarantee a medal.
Amazon Field Exhibition Hall, Golden: Strut v. Snuggle. Club-mates clash in 10-ball with the silver cue. A close battle in tight spaces in game 1 saw Golden's Strut pinch the 3-10 combination to the bottom left for the win and 1-0 series lead over Harrison's Snuggle. The Pilots' Strut made a seven-ball run off the break in game 2, while the Specters' Snuggle cleaned up at the end with a three-ball run-out after both players had misses. The series is tied at 1. Strut had a solid three-ball run in the middle of game 3, but Snuggle made pairs on both sides, ending the latter with a 5-10 combination sniped to the bottom left to go ahead 2-1 in the series. In game 4, Snuggle had a strong start, but he lacked the proper finishing skill. Strut was able to grab the 10 at the bottom left to get the win, tying the series at 2. Snuggle was able to end game 5 early as well, burying a 6-10 combination to the bottom side after Strut failed to take control of the offense. Snuggle took the series 3-2 and finished 16-5 on the bracket as he heads to the Finals. Strut us the 133rd player out this year, with Snuggle taking his fourth kill. The Pilots are also the eighth team out.
Subway Arena, Stonebridge: Hershey v. Mario. The purple cue cycles in again for 9-ball. Queens' Mario was a little loose with his shooting in game 1, allowing Stonebridge's Hershey to collect the win with a pair of shots at the end. Hershey leads the series 1-0. The Wolves' Hershey had everything set up right in game 2, but he missed on the 7. The Flames' Mario responded with a three-ball run-out to earn the win, tying the series at 1. Hershey had the better offense in game 3, making a four-ball run and adding the 9 at the bottom left in the end when Mario couldn't corral it. Hershey leads the series at 2-1. Mario redeemed himself with a 1-9 combination to the bottom left in game 4, winning on his only shot to retie the series at 2 against Hershey. Mario did just enough at the end of game 5 to make a three-ball run-out, defeating Hershey 3-2 in the series. Mario went 13-8 on the bracket, a minimum run to reach the Finals.
Nissan Hall, Infinity: Smudge v. Jack. A captains' battle in Rotation sees the purple cue exit for the day. Infinity's Smudge started well in game 1, but she was even better with a five-ball run-out to earn an 8-2 win over Web City's Jack. Smudge holds a 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack had a better start in game 2, but he couldn't make it last. The finish turned into a slugfest with little actual offense until Smudge made a pair to win 8-6 off Jack's scratch. Smudge leads the series 2-0. Smudge couldn't pull off a comeback in game 3, as Jack held the lead from the start this time. Jack finished on a three-ball run-out to earn the 8-4 win, cutting Smudge's series lead back to 2-1. Smudge didn't get back on track in game 4, as Jack struck first and kept rolling after that. Jack won 8-2 this time, tying the series at 2 games apiece. Jack pulled off the reverse sweep in game 5, pushing his way to an 8-6 comeback win for the 3-2 series win as Smudge ran out of steam too early. Jack went 14-7 on the bracket en route to the Finals. Jack is back on the league lead in kills with five, while Smudge is the 134th eliminated player this year.
Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Sweetheart v. Briana. The silver cue is back for this 15-ball set between South Division rivals. Boston's Sweetheart looked to be in trouble at the end of a late three-ball run, but Queens' Briana missed on the 15 and Sweetheart got the win anyway for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Briana again looked to be in a good position near the end with a three-ball run, but she missed on the 14. The Swifts' Sweetheart buried the final pair for the win this time, pushing her series lead to 2-0. Briana kept herself in the series in game 3, playing patiently until she buried a five-ball run-out at the end to stun Sweetheart. Briana remains behind 2-1 in the series. Sweetheart put on quite a show with a six-ball run, and she added a pair on the next turn, but missed on the 15. Briana poached the win at the top left, tying the series at 2. Briana completed her comeback in game 5, finishing off the reverse sweep in a close battle with Sweetheart. Briana's 3-2 series win put her at 16-5 on the bracket as she earned a place in the Finals. Briana's first kill made Sweetheart the 135th player to exit the Tournament.
Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic v. Yekaterina. The blue cue's lone series today is the last Rotation of the round. Southern's Dominic started very slow in game 1, but he recovered on a three-ball run-out to earn the 8-5 win over Victoria's Yekaterina. Dominic has a 1-0 series lead. The Monarchs' Dominic had a much better conversion rate in game 2, while the Spurs' Yekaterina failed to regain her early form. Dominic ran away with an 8-1 win this time, stretching his series lead to 2-0. Yekaterina turned things around with a five-ball run in the middle of game 3. Dominic tried to catch back up, but came up short as Yekaterina made a pair for an 8-5 win to get on the board in the 2-1 series. Yekaterina couldn't maintain the lead in game 4, and Dominic slowly rallied for a comeback win by an 8-5 score that secured the series in his favor at 3-1. Yekaterina was relentless in the middle of game 5, grabbing an 8-3 win as consolation while Dominic took the series 3-2. Dominic went 15-6 on the bracket to reach the Finals. Dominic earned his first kill and made Yekaterina the 136th player out this year.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Maison v. Blizzard. Back in the South Division, the silver cue exits with 9-ball. Zenith's Blizzard put together a mature game 1 performance, using her experience to build a four-ball run-out after a scratch by Eastside's Maison. Blizzard leads the series 1-0. The Sharks' Maison looked a little more composed in game 2, but a lucky deflection on the 5-9 combination helped the Skywatchers' Blizzard get the win at the top left. Blizzard will take the good fortune for a 2-0 series lead. Maison made a pair of three-ball runs, but he flubbed a look on the 8 late in game 3. This allowed Blizzard to make the final pair from ball-in-hand for the win, sealing the series at 3-0. Maison finally got on the board with a deflection off the 2 to sink the 9 at the bottom left after Blizzard struggled with control. Blizzard remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Maison collected another win in game 5, as Blizzard took her foot off the gas with the series already under control. Blizzard's 3-2 series win put her at 15-6 on the bracket as she heads into the Finals. Blizzard notched her second kill, and Maison is the 137th player out of the Tournament.
Volkswagen BeetleDome, Viewpoint Sound: Josie v. Luigi. The green cue is ready for 10-ball. Both players struggled to get a rhythm in game 1, and they both missed the 10 with light shots to the top right. Viewpoint Sound's Josie did her job with a tap-in for the win and 1-0 series lead over Commerce's Luigi. The Tradewinds' Luigi still struggled with finishing in game 2, and the Meteors' Josie covered that with a pair at the end to go up 2-0 in the series. Luigi again struggled in the late game, dropping game 3 after sending the 10 wide of the top left. Josie mopped it up for the win and sealed the series at 3-0. In game 4, it was Josie who left a ball standing late, and Luigi got his first win of the series by tapping the 10 into the top left. Josie remains ahead 3-1. Josie again faltered late in game 5, allowing Luigi to pick up one more win for the road. Josie's 3-2 series win gave her a minimum 13-8 record on the bracket as she reached the Finals. Josie has two kills, and Luigi is the 138th player to exit the Tournament while the Tradewinds are the ninth team ousted.
We'll be on the regular schedule again tomorrow.
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