On one of our bigger Finals schedules, we'll play all nine series on Friday in the first phase. The cue used is that of the host in each series. Leading off...
BMW RockDome, Westside: Snowball (P) v. Josie (G). The first series up is in 10-ball. Westside's Snowball didn't get off to a great start in game 1, as Viewpoint Sound's Josie ripped a five-ball run early and struck late with the 10 at the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Snowball narrowly missed a 1-10 combination to the bottom left in game 2. The Meteors' Josie shot back later with a 3-10 combination there, double-kissing it in to get the 2-0 series lead with a win. Snowball again had some looks in game 3, but Josie extended her series lead to 3-0 with a deflection off the 7 to drive the 10 to the top side. Snowball butchered her attempt for a finish in game 4, missing contact on the 8 when she had a chance to run. Josie was a little sloppy, but she got the win to secure the series at 4-0. Josie had a late three-ball run in game 5, but she missed on the 9 and Snowball answered with a pair to get her first win. Josie remains ahead 4-1 in the series. Snowball put together an impressive rally in game 6 with a seven-ball run-out after Josie made the first three balls. Josie's series lead is down to 4-2. Snowball scratched early in game 7, and that provided Josie a chance to end the game early on a 2-10 combination to the bottom side. Josie locked up a 5-2 series win to set up a meeting with the Lighton Prestige's Spirit in the second phase. Snowball is the 150th player out, and Josie is up to three kills.
Starbucks Arena, Archtown: Sally (B) v. Kayla (G). Next up is 13-ball. Archtown's Sally made a solid on the break and easily dominated game 1 over Royal's Kayla. Sally got some late help and won on a three-ball run-out to take a 1-0 series lead. The Crowns' Kayla put together a better offense in game 2, but she fell short at the end with a miss on the 8. The Arrows' Sally finished off the effort with a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-0 series lead. Sally went for a big surge at the end of game 3, but it didn't pay off. She put the 3 out of position for the top side and Kayla was steady to get the win. Sally's series lead was trimmed to 2-1. Kayla kept the comeback going in game 4, as Sally came up short on a late three-ball run. Kayla fired back with a three-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 2. Sally recovered pretty well in game 5, picking up a win with a three-ball run-out after Kayla couldn't sink the 8. Sally regained the series lead at 3-2. Kayla thought she'd have enough defense to play a counterattack in game 6, but Sally squeezed the 8 right by the 1 to sink it at the bottom left for the win. This secured the series at 4-2 for Sally. Sally kept the pace up in game 7, adding another win to her tally for a 5-2 series win. She'll visit club-mate and Southridge Defenders newcomer Roxy in the second phase. Sally earned her fourth kill of the year to make Kayla the 151st eliminated player. This was also Sally's 100th unique opponent.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Lily (S) v. Jack (P). The third series is in Rotation. Eastside's Lily exchanged shots with Web City's Jack early in game 1. After that, it was all Lily as she made a four-ball run and a three-ball run-out for the 8-1 win and 1-0 series lead. The Spiders' Jack put up a better fight in game 2, but the Sharks' Lily held him off at the end with another three-ball run-out. Lily took the win 8-5, going up 2-0 in the series. Jack actually held a lead for much of game 3, but he couldn't bring it home at the end. Lily made shots on a couple of late turns to steal an 8-7 win that put her ahead 3-0 in the series. Lily stormed ahead from the start of game 4 on a five-ball run. Jack got some of it back quickly, but Lily was able to burst away again for an 8-4 win to clinch the series at 4-0. Game 5 was more of the same, as Lily emerged with a lead from the middle and guided it into an 8-4 win over Jack to stretch her series lead to 5-0. Lily piled on again in game 6, grabbing the initial lead and then fighting off Jack with a three-ball run-out at the end. The result with an 8-2 win for Lily to go up 6-0 overall. Lily completed the incredibly rare seven-game sweep with another 8-2 win over Jack. The 7-0 result vaults Lily into the next phase versus Southern Monarchs veteran Dominic.
Capital City SuperCenter, Capital City: Chris (P) v. Panda (R). We move along to 15-ball next, which makes it a little easier from here on. Capital City's Chris had a fair amount of offense in game 1, but Everton's Panda was the one to make the 15 on his second try for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Eagles' Panda looked a bit more comfortable in game 2, but it didn't pay off this time. The Sharpshooters' Chris capitalized late as Panda got shaky on offense, tying the series at 1. Both players were relentless on offense in game 3, but Panda fell off the pace with a couple of late errors. These allowed Chris to collect another win for the 2-1 series lead. Offense slowed back down in game 4, with Chris struggling especially early on. Panda once again came up short at the end, and Chris cut the 15 to the top left for the win and 3-1 series lead. Chris couldn't get on track late in game 5, skidding into the finish while Panda snagged the 15 at the top right for the win. Chris still has a 3-2 series lead. Chris continued to pump in offense with a four-ball run during game 6, but his attempted kick on the 10 instead illegally potted the 15. This gifted the win to Panda, tying the series at 3 games each. With the series on the line, Chris gained momentum late in game 7 and made it stick for a 4-3 series win over Panda. Chris will face Viewpoint Sound Meteors star Princess in the next phase. Chris earned his third kill while Panda is the 152nd played out.
Gillette Center, Swordpoint: Mams (G) v. Smokey (R). West Division rivals battle in 8-ball. Swordpoint's Mams weathered a strong offense from Pacific's Smokey early in game 1. At the end, Mams surged back to take the win on a five-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Blades' Mams tried to make a similar comeback surge in game 2, but she came up short with a scratch. The Volcanoes' Smokey only had to tap the 8 down to the bottom side for the win, tying the series at 1. Mams let another late error derail her offense in game 3, as she never caught up again with Smokey, who took the win and pulled ahead 2-1 in the series. Smokey tried to keep the momentum in game 4, but his late offense wasn't as sharp as it had been. Mams was steady this time to earn the win, retying the series at 2. Mams' offense was too slow at the start of game 5, allowing Smokey to stake out a huge lead. Mams' comeback push was ended by a scratch, and Smokey made a pair for the win to regain the series lead at 3-2. Mams again had to go for the come-from-behind strategy in game 6, making a five-ball run but taking the loss as her last solid wouldn't go down. Smokey finished it off and secured the series at 4-2 with this win. Smokey was able to hold on in a challenging game 7, taking one more win over Mams for the 5-2 series win. Smokey will visit the Boston Swifts' Tigerette in the second phase. Smokey finally got his first kill of the year with Mams the 153rd to exit the Tournament.
Home Depot Forum, Web City: Nibbles (R) v. Crystal (B). The 7-ball series is up next between two burgeoning rivals. Web City's Nibbles had a three-ball run early and then had to battle the rest of the way for the win and 1-0 series lead over Queens' Crystal. The Spiders' Nibbles wasted no time in doubling his advantage, getting the 7 down on the break in game 2 for the 2-0 series lead. The Flames' Crystal battled back a bit in game 3, but she wasn't successful at the end. Nibbles stepped in and made the 7 to the bottom left to go ahead 3-0 in the series. Nibbles came close to taking game 4 on the break, but the 7 shot wide of the bottom side and he didn't get another good look at it. Crystal was able to pick up the win, staying alive but trailing 3-1 in the series. Crystal had multiple chances on the 7 in a slow game 5, but she couldn't get it down on any of her attempts. Nibbles eventually put it away at the top left for the win, sealing the series at 4-1. Crystal continued to see plenty of turns on offense, only to punt most of them away. Nibbles closed out game 6 and grabbed another win for the 5-1 series lead. Nibbles wasn't able to finish off game 7, as Crystal worked a four-ball run-out for the win. Nibbles advanced on a 5-2 series win, setting him up to visit the Midland Predators' Rainmane in the next phase. Nibbles grabbed his first kill of the year, making Crystal the 154th player out.
BMW RockDome, Westside: Misty (R) v. Violetta (B). A marquee series in 12-ball is up. Westside's Misty had a productive game 1, and she was able to fend off a late surge by Queens' Violetta to earn the win. Misty leads the series 1-0. The Rockers' Misty buried two stripes in the same pocket on the game 2 break, giving the Flames' Violetta a free possession. Violetta didn't do much, and Misty soon picked up the win on a four-ball run-out to go up 2-0 in the series. The closest battle yet was in game 3, with Misty taking another early lead. Violetta got within a pair, but Misty's better positioning yielded another win for her to go ahead 3-0. Misty didn't have a path to the finish in game 4, and Violetta looked to be taking her time until a sudden three-ball run-out gave her the win. Misty's series lead is down to 3-1. Misty had everything lined up for a big comeback run, but she couldn't quite put it together in time. Violetta held on long enough to sink a pair for the win to pull within 3-2 in the series. Violetta evened the series in game 6, an ultra-defensive battle as Misty tried to hold off her opponent. Misty went for a defense removal play, and Violetta soon made a three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series at 3-3. Misty got better positioning late in game 7 and cashed it in with no hesitation, taking a thrilling 4-3 series win over Violetta. Misty is set to visit Pacific Volcanoes captain Ms. Kitty in the second phase. Misty is up to two kills, and Violetta is the 155th player to exit the Tournament.
Ford Forum, Pronger: Potter (B) v. Hershey (R). The Accuracy series pits East Division rivals against each other. Pronger's Potter had an awful start to game 1, and he missed again late to guarantee a win for Stonebridge's Hershey. The score was 2-3, and Hershey took a 1-0 series lead. The Wolves' Hershey wasn't as good in game 2, but the Tridents' Potter hit a skid late and couldn't recover. Hershey took the 3-5 win this time to go up 2-0 in the series. Potter showed a little more resolve in game 3 to control his shooting. Hershey looked good until the end, when a two-miss sequence cost him the result in Potter's 2-3 win. Hershey remains ahead 2-1 in the series. Hershey had to go all-in on the last ball in a tied game 4, and he scratched on the play. Potter made the last ball for a 2-3 win to tie the series at 2. Hershey retook control of things in game 5, a stellar performance that ended with him winning 1-3 for the 3-2 series lead over Potter. Hershey had nothing in game 6, missing frequently while Potter stayed perfect for a lopsided 0-5 win. This tied the series again at 3. Game 7 went into overtime, a fitting conclusion. Hershey led the way for much of the extra session, but a late miss and Potter's subsequent conversion gave the host a 3-4 win and 4-3 series win. Potter is set to take on Viewpoint Sound Meteors captain Hoot in the second phase. Hershey is the 156th player out of the Tournament, and Potter's up to three kills.
FedEx Arena, Eastside: Lily (R) v. Mario (P). The host's second series ends the day in 9-ball. Eastside's Lily had a decent start, but Queens' Mario stepped up late on a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Mario went empty on the break in game 2, and the Sharks' Lily deflected a shot off the 1 to drive the 9 to the bottom left on her second turn. Lily's skill play tied the series at 1. Mario took control of the offense again in game 3, burying a four-ball run before a narrow miss on the 8. Lily stepped in and made the final pair for the win to take a 2-1 series lead. Lily won game 4 quickly as well, getting late deflections on the break to sink the 1, and then on the carom after she hit the 2. That shot saw the cue glance off the 5 and punch the 9 to the bottom left for Lily's 3-1 series lead over Mario. In game 5, Lily's offense dropped off, and there was no magic at the end for her. Mario closed out with a four-ball run-out to get one back, cutting the series deficit to 3-2. Lily had a couple of scratches in the middle of game 6, but Mario's scratch after he made the 8 cost him the series. Lily made the 9 on a ball-in-hand play to secure the series at 4-2. Mario salvaged a result from game 7 with a kick on the 6 to drive the 9 into the bottom right. Lily settled for a 4-3 series win to reach the second phase, where she'll visit the Lighton Prestige's Spirit. Mario is the 157th player out of the Tournament, and Lily is up to four kills.
The first phase of the Finals is finally complete. We'll do this again tomorrow before the last two phases to determine medals will be split across two days each.
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