Tournament XI - Finals Phase 2

We're back for another full-day session of Finals play. The winners of these series will be guaranteed medals in their events. First up...

HP Field Events Center, Midland: Rainmane (S) v. Nibbles (R). The day begins easy with a 7-ball series. Midland's Rainmane made a pair on the break in game 1, then added a three-ball run-out that ended with a 3-7 kick combination to the bottom left for her win and 1-0 series lead over Web City's Nibbles. The Predators' Rainmane was kept quiet in game 2, and the Spiders' Nibbles stepped up on offense to earn the win. This tied the series at 1. Nibbles wasted no time in game 3, grabbing the win on the break as the 7 circulated into the bottom side. Nibbles now holds a 2-1 series lead over Rainmane. In game 4, Rainmane remained sidelined as Nibbles ran the table, ending on a bank of the 7 to the bottom side. Nibbles stretched his series lead to 3-1. Rainmane got involved on offense again in game 5, but she faltered too much at the end. Nibbles was able to make the 7 at the bottom left for the win to clinch the series at 4-1. Rainmane made a three-ball run in game 6, but Nibbles fired right back with a double-pot of the 6 and 7 to the top left for another win that gave him a 5-1 series lead. Rainmane finally got one back in game 7 with a pair at the end after a foul by Nibbles, who took the series 5-2. Nibbles will continue his Finals run into the third phase, facing the Infinity Torpedoes' Blaze. Nibbles has two kills and Rainmane is the 158th played eliminated.

Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston: Tigerette (S) v. Smokey (R). The next series is in 8-ball. Boston's Tigerette had to weather an attack from Pacific's Smokey early in game 1 before taking control. Tigerette took her time late but still got the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Smokey got down to his last ball in game 2, but he couldn't get past it. The Swifts' Tigerette fired back on a four-ball run-out for the win to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Tigerette made a solid on the game 3 break, but her cluster-buster after that sank a stripe and the 8 to gift the win quickly to Smokey. Tigerette remains ahead 2-1 in the series. Smokey made a five-ball run off the break in game 4, but Tigerette held firm defensively and then attacked with a huge run-out to end with a win. Tigerette is up to a 3-1 series lead. Tigerette was again trailing late in game 5, but she pulled off a strategic scratch and got Smokey to miss contact on the 8. Tigerette then made a three-ball run-out to get the win, securing the series at 4-1. Tigerette didn't add on in game 6, coming up a little short on offense at the end. Smokey was able to make a late pair to cut the deficit to 4-2. Smokey went on a six-ball run-out to grab the win in game 7 as well, while Tigerette took it easy as she was already guaranteed to move on. Tigerette will visit Victoria Spurs captain Spice in the next phase. Smokey is the 159th player out this year, and Tigerette has three kills to her name.

Volkswagen BeetleDome, Viewpoint Sound: Hoot (P) v. Potter (B). Onward we go to Accuracy. Viewpoint Sound's Hoot had a couple of lucky bounces that saved him in game 1, while Pronger's Potter came up short. Hoot won 3-4 and took a 1-0 series lead. Game 2 saw both players make improvements. The Tridents' Potter managed to stay perfect in this one, earning a 0-1 win over the Meteors' Hoot to tie the series at 1. Potter managed to force overtime in game 3, but he missed on his second shot of overtime to give Hoot a 2-3 win this time. Hoot regained the series lead at 2-1. Hoot was decent in game 4, but an early scratch ended up being the difference this time. Potter was able to take a 2-3 win at the end, tying the series again at 2 games each. Hoot's defensive positioning in game 5 did just enough to get Potter to miss at the end. Hoot then converted the 12 to the bottom right for a 1-2 win to go ahead 3-2 in the series. Potter returned to perfection in game 6, working a 0-4 win over a shaky effort from Hoot. The series is tied yet again at 3. Potter stayed perfect in game 7, pulling off a 0-3 win this time to beat Hoot 4-3 in the series. Potter is set to visit the Infinity Torpedoes' Shelley in the next phase. Hoot is the 160th eliminated player, and Potter has four kills.

Microsoft Center, Del Sur: Dominic (B) v. Lily (S). The first of the visitor's two series today is in Rotation. Southern's Dominic had to play catch-up a couple of times in game 1, but Eastside's Lily pulled away for good at the end to take an 8-6 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Sharks' Lily had to fight a little harder in game 2, but she was able to come from behind on the Monarchs' Dominic for another 8-6 win. Lily is ahead 2-0 in the series. Dominic couldn't get anything going as Lily jumped out to a huge lead in game 3. At the end, Lily closed on an 8-1 victory to stretch her series lead to 3-0. Lily took a step back on offense in game 4, and Dominic was able to capitalize on it to earn an 8-4 win. Lily remains ahead in the series 3-1. Dominic found a little confidence from his previous win and continued the strong play in game 5 for an 8-3 win over the Lily this time. Lily's series lead is down to 3-2. Dominic kept rolling in game 6, piling on with an 8-2 win this time as Lily's offense didn't spark back to life. The series is now tied at 3. Dominic had a lead early in game 7 against Lily, who eventually channeled her frustration into offense to earn an 8-5 win. Lily took the series 4-3 and will head to the third phase versus Oceanside Waves captain Celestia. Dominic is the 161st player to exit the Tournament, and Lily now has

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit (B) v. Lily (R). The visitor completes her road doubleheader in 9-ball. Lighton's Spirit rattled off a seven-ball run-out in game 1 to pick up the win as Eastside's Lily could only watch. Spirit leads the series 1-0. The Prestige's Spirit pushed again late in game 2 with a four-ball run, but she faltered on the 9. The Sharks' Lily put it away at the top side for the win, tying the series at 1. Lily made a three-ball run over the middle of game 3, but it ended up going to waste when Spirit answered with a three-ball run-out. Spirit's win restored the series lead for her at 2-1. In game 4, Spirit showed some subtle power in her four-ball run-out, commanding the cue ball well again to go up 3-1 over Lily, who has struggled to get possession. Lily had a few more chances in game 5, but Spirit was there to bury the last pair of shots for the win to seal the series at 4-1. Spirit wasn't able to close out a shaky game 6, and Lily stepped in to make the final pair this time. Spirit's series lead was trimmed to 4-2. Lily saved some time in game 7, making the 9 on the break to make things look closer. Spirit advanced to the next phase on a 4-3 series win, and she will visit Zenith Skywatchers captain Blizzard.

Volkswagen BeetleDome, Viewpoint Sound: Princess (G) v. Chris (P). Back north, the 15-ball series is on. Viewpoint Sound's Princess had surges of offense at the start and the end of game 1, and she added the 15 on the last turn to get the 1-0 series lead over Capital City's Chris. The Meteors' Princess saw a dramatic drop-off in shot quality in game 2. The Sharpshooters' Chris struggled a bit too, but he made the last five balls over two turns to get the win, tying the series at 1. Princess' offense improved in game 3, as she controlled the middle well. A chippy finish saw the 15 just escape Chris, and Princess knocked it down at the bottom side to restore her series lead at 2-1. A slow start to game 3 gave Princess the inspiration to just take a swipe towards the 15. She got it down at the bottom left on a deflection from the 3, giving her a 3-1 series lead over Chris. Princess unleashed an eight-ball run to begin game 5, but she couldn't take the 10-15 combination on her next turn. Chris made the last seven balls over three turns for the win, cutting the series deficit to 3-2. The pace returned to normal in a slow game 6, which saw Princess completely lose control with multiple misses on the 15. Chris eventually tapped it into the bottom left for the win, tying the series at 3. Chris started well in game 7, but he couldn't make it stick at the end with both players running on fumes. Princess corralled the 15 and earned the win for a 4-3 series win. Princess will visit Victoria Spurs veteran Strawberry in the third phase. Chris is the 162nd player out this year, and Princess is up to four kills.

GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Roxy (P) v. Sally (B). The 13-ball series is contested between club-mates. Southridge's Roxy had the better play early on, but couldn't get the 12 to go in the top side. Archtown's Sally answered on a three-ball run and made the 8 a turn later for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Roxy had a lead for much of game 2, but late-game positioning didn't go well for either player. The Arrows' Sally went backward with a scratch to key a four-ball run-out on the next turn, which put her ahead 2-0 in the series. Tensions rose in game 3 as positioning continued to be a problem. Sally had too many scratches, and Roxy was able to grab the win late to cut the deficit to 2-1 overall. Roxy smashed a four-ball run off the break in game 4, and she rode that momentum to the finish to tie the series at 2 as Sally got shut out. Roxy rallied early in game 5 as well, burying a five-ball run to get close. Sally put up a fight to pull even late, but Roxy finished it off just in time to pull ahead 3-2 in the series. Roxy didn't have as strong a start in game 6, but it was enough for an early lead. Sally couldn't untangle her positioning late, and Roxy took another win to secure the series at 4-2. Roxy scratched three times and struggled with positioning in game 7, but she still got the win as Sally stumbled. Roxy's 5-2 series win sets her up to visit Capital City Sharpshooters rookie Kelsea in the third phase. Sally is the 163rd eliminated player, giving Roxy two kills on the year.

Pepsi Arena, Lighton: Spirit (B) v. Josie (G). The host's second series today is in 10-ball. A late foul by Viewpoint Sound's Josie cost her game 1, as Lighton's Spirit made the final pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. In game 2, the Meteors' Josie didn't get much to go right early on. At the end, it continued when she missed the 10 at the top side, allowing the Prestige's Spirit to take a cheap tap-in for the win, going up 2-0 in the series. Spirit had her turn to falter late in game 3, missing contact on a cut on the 10. Josie took the 10 to the top left from ball-in-hand for the win, cutting Spirit's series lead to 2-1. Josie had some chances early in game 4, but it didn't translate to much consistency. Spirit popped in a three-ball run-out for the win to restore her series lead to 3-1. Spirit started with an early four-ball run that ended with a scratch. Josie shot back quickly on a six-ball run-out to get the win, pulling back to a 3-2 series deficit. Josie had a good amount of offense in game 6, but her attempt on the 10 didn't connect right. Spirit sank it to the bottom left for the win, clinching the series at 4-2. Spirit wasn't able to finish off a close battle in game 7, as Josie cleaned up at the end for one more win. Spirit's 4-3 series win assures she'll visit Todavía Stills star Ruby in a West Division battle in the third phase. Josie is the 164th player out, and Spirit now has two kills.

Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty (G) v. Misty (R). Today's finale features 12-ball between longtime veterans of their teams. Pacific's Ms. Kitty made three stripes on the break, but only two legally. Westside's Misty attacked for a couple of turns after that, but Ms. Kitty won game 1 on a four-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Misty attacked with a bit more force in game 2, and the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty couldn't make a defensive approach stick. The series is tied at 1. Misty had another strong start in game 3, but she made the mistake of setting up Ms. Kitty for a three-ball run-out at the end. Ms. Kitty converted, and the win put her ahead 2-1 in the series. Ms. Kitty made one of each on the break in game 4, and she chose to play solids. This worked great, as Misty's positioning held her back and Ms. Kitty ran away with the win to go up 3-1. Ms. Kitty set the tone with three solids and a stripe on the game 5 break. Misty pounced on a four-ball run later on, but Ms. Kitty was there to sink her final pair of shots for the win, sealing the series at 4-1. Ms. Kitty attacked well in game 6, but Misty kept pace with her this time and snagged the win on a late pair of shots. Ms. Kitty's series lead is down to 4-2. In game 7, Ms. Kitty put in a solid effort only for Misty to swipe it away with a late surge. Ms. Kitty settled for a 4-3 series win, and she'll head to the third phase versus Eastside Sharks captain Taylor M. Misty is the 165th eliminated player, giving Ms. Kitty seven kills on the year.

That's all for today. The final two phases of the Finals will be split over two days each as we preserve quality of play and adjust to scheduling constraints.