Tournament XI - Finals Phase 4

The Grand Finals are here, split over Thursday and Friday as we wrap up the regular season. First up...

Cisco Arena, Tysini: Leandra (G) v. Potter (B). The Accuracy title will be determined first. Tysini's Leandra had a solid performance in game 1, but a couple of misses in overtime allowed Pronger's Potter to collect a 3-4 win for the 1-0 series lead. The Tridents' Potter didn't do so well in game 2, skidding throughout as the Hummingbirds' Leandra controlled the pace. Leandra took a 2-6 win to tie the series at 1. Leandra started with a pair on the break in game 3 and kept control after that. A late scratch put her in danger, but Potter faltered on the last ball to allow Leandra 2-3 win to gain a 2-1 series lead. Leandra didn't make many mistakes in game 4, but a scratch on the final ball was the biggest. Potter secured a 1-2 win from ball-in-hand to retie the series at 2. A close battle in game 5 saw Leandra make a shot selection decision at the end. She made hers, and Potter missed on the final ball before Leandra buried it for a 2-3 win to go up 3-2 in the series. Leandra was nearly perfect in game 6, locking up the Accuracy championship with a 1-3 win to clinch the series at 4-2 over Potter. Leandra struggled a little early in game 7, and Potter was able to turn that into a 2-3 win for consolation. Leandra is the first of eight or nine players to reach the Tournament of Champions. Potter is the 174th eliminated player and Leandra has two kills.

Sony Center, Queens: Briana (S) v. Princess (G). The next title awarded is in 15-ball. Queens' Briana had a strong showing in game 1, battling with Viewpoint Sound's Princess early. Briana prevailed on a six-ball run-out at the end for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Briana threatened with a four-ball run in game 2, but she didn't get much else after that. The Meteors' Princess took the win with a deflection off the 9 to drive the 15 to the top side, tying the series at 1. Princess had a good break in game 3, but her next shot left the 15 close to the top side. Briana was ready for it, sinking a 2-15 bank combination for the quick win and 2-1 series lead. In game 4, Briana torched the offense with a nine-ball run, showing off a ton of skill. A miss on the 13 didn't cost her, as Princess scratched on the next shot, and Briana made the final pair for the win and 3-1 series lead. Briana's relentless offense continued at a slightly lower pace in game 5. She had a couple of good turns before closing on a five-ball run-out while Princess floundered. Briana sealed the series at 4-1 with the win. Offense dropped off badly in game 6 for both players, leading to a frustrating garbage-time battle. Princess eventually picked up the win to cut Briana's series lead to 4-2. Briana ended game 7 early with a double-pot. She made the 5-15 bank combination to the top side with a deflection to collect the 6 at the bottom left. Briana beat Princess 5-2 in the series to reach the Tournament of Champions. Princess is the 175th player out this year, and Briana has two kills.

GE Stadium Events Center, Southridge: Wario (G) v. Nibbles (R). The 7-ball championship is determined here. Southridge's Wario controlled the pace in game 1 and earned a win with a three-ball run-out to defeat Web City's Nibbles. Wario holds a 1-0 series lead. The Defenders' Wario had a solid start to game 2, but he couldn't finish it off. The Spiders' Nibbles buried the final pair this time, taking the win to tie the series at 1. Wario made an incredibly awful decision in a bad position, which resulted in the 7 illegally dropping in the top left. This gifted the win and 2-1 series lead to Nibbles after a fast game 3. Wario got back on track with offense in game 4, but his late miss on the 7 proved costly. Nibbles wasted no time in burying the 7 to the top side for the win, going up 3-1 in the series. Wario had a four-ball run early in game 5, but two scratches ruined his chances to salvage the series. Nibbles made the 7 from ball-in-hand to earn the win and secure the series at 4-1. Nibbles didn't ease up in game 6, making a three-ball run-out after Wario missed on the 1. Nibbles ended with a 3-7 combination to the bottom right to stretch his lead to 5-1. Nibbles finished off game 7 with a short run as well, completing a 6-1 series win over Wario for the title. Nibbles took his fourth kill to make Wario the 176th player out.

Home Depot Forum, Web City: Jack (P) v. Ms. Kitty (G). A captains' battle ends Thursday in 12-ball with MVP candidates in action. Pacific's Ms. Kitty took the lead early in game 1, and Web City's Jack failed to play enough defense to stop her. Ms. Kitty made a pair at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty got into some positional trouble early in game 2, and the Spiders' Jack took advantage of that to get ahead. Ms. Kitty pushed back late but missed her last ball at the top left, and Jack sank one to the bottom side for the win to tie the series at 1. Ms. Kitty again had some trouble with positioning, but Jack was also in a tough spot in game 3. At the end, Jack did just a little better to earn the win with the 1 falling in the bottom side, and that gave him a 2-1 series lead. Jack scratched early in game 4, and that gave Ms. Kitty free reign on a four-ball run that was almost longer. She played patient and later made her final pair for the win, retying the series at 2. Ms. Kitty scratched on the game 5 break but still got first choice of suits, taking solids. Jack then rallied on stripes, but Ms. Kitty's physical play bumped him off just enough to buy her the time to win on a three-ball run-out. Ms. Kitty is ahead again at 3-2 in the series. Ms. Kitty couldn't turn a pair on the game 6 break into sustained offense even after Jack sank one of her balls for her. Jack instead got on track after that and took the win, tying the series once more at 3 games apiece in this worthy battle. Game 7 was a fitting end, as Jack made two on the break and scratched. Ms. Kitty quickly fell behind anyway, but she came within an inch of the win as her bank on the 5 stayed up at the bottom right pocket's edge. Jack then made his last ball for the 4-3 win to claim the 12-ball title in thrilling fashion.

Volkswagen BeetleDome, Viewpoint Sound: Cobalt (B) v. Tigerette (S). The Friday slate starts with one of the most prestigious events, 8-ball. Viewpoint Sound's Cobalt had the better start in game 1, but Boston's Tigerette worked through a pair of scratches to pick up the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Meteors' Cobalt again failed to capitalize on shaky shooting from the Swifts' Tigerette in game 2. Tigerette stabilized fast to her credit, winning on a three-ball run-out to go ahead 2-0 in the series. Tigerette struck on the break and played clean in game 3, but Cobalt was just better at the end for a four-ball run-out. That was Cobalt's first win, cutting Tigerette's series lead to 2-1. Cobalt again started well in game 4, but he faltered on the 8. Tigerette made five balls over her last two turns for the win, restoring her series lead at 3-1. A choppy performance in game 5 suited Tigerette just fine, as she collected enough offense to hold off Cobalt for the win. Tigerette sealed the series at 4-1. Tgierette tacked on one more in game 6, working a six-ball run after an early scratch and then making a pair on the next turn for the win and 5-1 series lead over Cobalt. Tigerette started fairly well in game 7, but she eased up at the end. Cobalt was strong enough to earn the win, while Tigerette took the series 5-2 for the 8-ball title. Cobalt is the 177th eliminated player this year, and Tigerette has five kills.

Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison: Snuggle (S) v. Ruby (R). The 10-ball title is next up. Harrison's Snuggle was a little out of sorts in game 1, allowing Todavía's Ruby to collect some offense and earned a 1-0 series lead on a three-ball run-out. The Stills' Ruby struck early in game 2, making a 3-10 combination after the Specters' Snuggle had a miss on the 3. Ruby's efficient style has her ahead 2-0 in the series. Snuggle had his best chance to get on the board late in game 3, only for a miss on the 10 to derail his effort. Ruby tapped the 10 to the bottom right for the win, going up 3-0 in the series. Ruby continued to find success, making a few lucky plays in game 4. Snuggle ceded possession late and Ruby took care of things with a 9-10 combination to the bottom left to clinch the series at 4-0. Ruby continued to roll in game 5, charging late with a three-ball run-out after another energetic but misdirected showing from Snuggle. Ruby stretched her series lead to 5-0. Snuggle finally got on the board with a four-ball run-out to claim the win over Ruby in game 6. Ruby's series lead dropped to 5-1. Snuggle also won game 7, putting in a strong offense despite being unable to change the series result. Ruby advanced to the Tournament of Champions on a 5-2 series win, taking her second kill to make Snuggle the 178th player out.

Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific: Ms. Kitty (S) v. Kelsea (R). The 13-ball championship is between West Division rivals. Pacific's Ms. Kitty looked better early in game 1, but an illegal contact foul allowed Capital City's Kelsea to make a four-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Sharpshooters' Kelsea claimed solids and scratched on the game 2 break. The Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty had things set for a late push, but she took one out of position, and Kelsea battled back for the win to go up 2-0 in the series. Ms. Kitty again worked her way into a lead in game 3, but her defensive tactics later on didn't work out. Kelsea was patient and eventually struck for the win to stretch her series lead to 3-0. Kelsea continued to display remarkable patience in game 4. Ms. Kitty was doing everything she could to get positioning, but the frenzied style allowed Kelsea to play calm and scoop up the win to secure the series at 4-0. Kelsea didn't think game 5 would work out in her favor after a scratch, but Ms. Kitty's finishing skills remained lackluster. Kelsea was able to take a three-ball run-out to go up 5-0 in the series. Kelsea stormed ahead in game 6 with a five-ball run off the break. Ms. Kitty replied on a four-ball run, but Kelsea made the final pair for the win and 6-0 series lead. Ms. Kitty managed to avoid the sweep in game 7, dominating the offense this time to earn her lone win of the series. Kelsea won 6-1 and earned a place in the Tournament of Champions, as well as her third kill to make Ms. Kitty the 179th eliminated player.

Chevrolet Center, Everton: Goldy (R) v. Celestia (G). Arguably the most talented matchup is in Rotation. A tense battle early on saw two of the league's great methodical players test each other out. Oceanside's Celestia eventually pulled away in the end on a four-ball run-out for the 8-6 win over Everton's Goldy. Celestia leads the series 1-0. The Waves' Celestia showed a little more power early in game 2. The Eagles' Goldy kept it close until the end, where Celestia locked down an 8-5 win to go up 2-0 in the series. Celestia jumped out to a lead in game 3, and Goldy didn't offer much resistance this time. Celestia walked away with an 8-1 win to earn a 3-0 series lead. Goldy kept herself in the fight in game 4, burying a three-ball run-out to finish off an 8-3 win in game 4. Celestia remains ahead 3-1 in the series. Celestia looked ready to close it out in game 5, but Goldy made a six-ball run-out for a miracle 8-7 win despite a number of scratches. Celestia still has a 3-2 series lead. Goldy caught up in the series with a dominant 8-2 win over Celestia in game 6. With momentum, Goldy has tied the series at 3 games each. Goldy completed the reverse sweep in game 7 with a hot start and strong finish in an 8-4 win over Celestia. Goldy took the series 4-3 and will play in the Tournament of Champions. Celestia is the 180th player out, and Goldy has four kills.

Intel Center, Diamond: Shadow (G) v. Spirit (B). A father and daughter duo end the regular season in the 9-ball championship series. Diamond's Shadow had a few trick plays fall short in game 1, but Lighton's Spirit couldn't capitalize. Shadow won on a three-ball run-out for the 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Shadow carried momentum early in game 2, but let it go later. The Prestige's Spirit picked up the win with a four-ball run-out to tie the series at 1. Spirit crushed the game 3 break, getting the 9 to go swiftly into the bottom left for an instant win and 2-1 series lead over Shadow. Spirit switched sides for her game 4 break, and that put a damper on her offense. Shadow had some good plays in the game, most notably at the end when he made the 9 to the top right after Spirit couldn't get it at the top side. Shadow has tied the series at 2. Spirit got herself into trouble with a scratch in game 5. Shadow showed no mercy, making the 2-9 combination to the bottom left from ball-in-hand. Shadow is ahead 3-2 in the series. Shadow slammed the door in game 6, making the 9 to the bottom left on the break to seal the series at 4-2 over Spirit. Shadow won game 7 on the break as well, surging to a 5-2 series win that booked him a spot in the Tournament of Champions. Shadow ended with six kills while Spirit was the 181st and last player to be eliminated during the regular season. 

That's it for the main part of the Tournament. Currently, the plan is to do the Tournament of Champions on Sunday, followed by the Clan Cup on Monday and the City Cup throughout the rest of next week, however these plans are always subject to change. Bowls would then take place the first week of November while administrative duties for the between-seasons period will be mixed in as necessary.