Ten-Year Anniversary Tournament - Finals Day 1

We've arrived at the Finals round of TYAT play. We'll play three series a day over the next three days to determine each event champion. These series will be a whopping 11 games long each. First up...

Smokey v. Princess. The red cue gets the start today in 8-ball. Neither player had much control in game 1, but Diamond's Smokey eventually buried a four-ball run-out to beat Tysini's Princess for the 1-0 series lead. The Gems' Smokey was much better to start game 2 with a six-ball run. The Hummingbirds' Princess made a five-ball run later, but Smokey won with the 8 in the top left to go up 2-0. Princess found herself in trouble in game 3, following up a four-ball run with a critical miss on the 7. Smokey had made a four-ball run and easily tapped the 8 into the top right on the next turn to stretch his series lead to 3-0. Smokey made a five-ball run off the break in game 4, but Princess appeared to better him with a six-ball run. Smokey then posted a three-ball run-out for the win, moving ahead 4-0 in the series. Princess finally got on the board in game 5, slowing down the pace of the offense into her comfort zone while Smokey struggled overall. Princess got the win, but Smokey remains ahead 4-1. Princess opened game 6 with a five-ball run, but a scratch and cautious play ruined her effort. Smokey bounced back at the end on a six-ball run-out for the win to restore his series lead at 5-1. Princess took her first steps on the comeback trail in game 7, rattling off an impressive seven-ball run-out after a slow start. Smokey's series lead now stands at 5-2. Smokey wasted no time in establishing himself in game 8 with a four-ball run, and he followed it up with a four-ball run-out for the win on the next turn. Smokey sealed the series at 6-2 over Princess. Game 9 saw Princess dictate the pace for the most part, keeping things fairly slow. At the end, both players had a burst of offense, and Smokey corralled the 8 at the top left for the win and 7-2 series lead. Smokey continued just fine in game 10, as Princess had an early run but couldn't sink the 8 on her one chance. Smokey made a four-ball run-out for this win, pushing his advantage to 8-2. Princess tried to be cool with a shot in game 11, but she collected the 8 prematurely to the bottom left to gift Smokey one more win. Smokey took a 9-2 series win to claim the title as TYAT 8-ball Champion.

Nightfur v. Shadow. The highlight series today comes in 9-ball with the blue cue. Web City's Shadow appeared good with a four-ball run early in game 1, but Royal's Nightfur replied with a five-ball run-out for the win. Nightfur leads the series 1-0. The Crowns' Nightfur muddied the start of game 2 a bit, but the Spiders' Shadow found clarity on a five-ball run-out for the win. This tied the series at 1. There was a choppy cadence to the play in game 3, but it didn't bother Shadow, who sank the 9 at the top left after Nightfur failed to convert. Shadow pulled ahead 2-1 in the series. Shadow plucked a three-ball run-out at the end of game 4 after a sloppy sequence where he and Nightfur both scratched. Shadow's win pushed him ahead 3-1. Nightfur lost control in game 5, missing the 5 painfully wide of the top right after Shadow took a risky gamble of a shot. Shadow then followed up with a three-ball run-out to gain the win and 4-1 series lead. Nightfur had a good burst in the middle of game 6, but she missed on the 6. Shadow stepped in with another three-ball run-out for the win to push his advantage to 5-1. Nightfur won game 7 without taking a shot, as Shadow made the 9 to the bottom left on the break but scratched in the top right. Shadow remains ahead 5-2. Nightfur had good plays early in game 8, but missed contact on the 5 was all it took for her to fall apart. Shadow used the ball-in-hand to ignite a five-ball run-out for the win to clinch the series at 6-2. Nightfur made a three-ball run early in game 9, but had to settle for contact on the 3. That lined up a 3-9 combination for Shadow at the bottom left, and his conversion stretched his series lead to 7-2. Shadow had another surge of offense to end game 10, making a four-ball run-out with precision to beat Nightfur and take an 8-2 lead. Shadow had plenty of offense in game 11, but Nightfur picked off the 9 at the bottom right to salvage one more result. Shadow turned his silver medal from 2014 into a TYAT 9-ball Championship by an 8-3 margin.

Goldy v. Shiny. We end with a battle of mother and daughter in 15-ball using the silver cue. Everton's Goldy had more offense early in game 1 and managed to bring it home on a 9-15 combination to the top left after Lighton's Shiny stalled out on offense. Goldy leads the series 1-0. Both players made mistakes after four-ball runs in game 2, but it was a late scratch that doomed the Eagles' Goldy. The Prestige's Shiny used the ball-in-hand to make the last pair for the win to tie the series at 1. Goldy and Shiny combined for a messy start to game 3, featuring multiple fouls on both sides. Goldy eventually shook loose and won on a five-ball run-out to regain the series lead at 2-1. Shiny looked unstoppable at the end of game 4, finishing with a massive seven-ball run-out for the win over Goldy to retie the series at 2. Shiny found the early finish in game 5, slamming a shot into the 4 that picked up the 15 at the bottom left for the win. Shiny leads Goldy for the first time by a 3-2 margin. Goldy fired back in game 6 with an even better finish. Goldy sent the 1-15 combination to the top left and collected the 8 at the bottom left on the double-pot that allowed her to retie the series at 3 versus Shiny. Fouls sucked the life out of the offense in game 7, until Goldy worked a late four-ball run. Goldy missed a bank on the 15, and Shiny tapped it down at the bottom right to go ahead 4-3 in the series. Goldy found a five-ball run in the middle of game 8, but couldn't add a supporting run after it. Shiny eventually made the final pair for the win to go up 5-3 in the series. Shiny couldn't stop her good play in game 9, making three balls on the break. She added a five-ball run, and while Goldy had a chance to get the win, she couldn't line up a trick play. Shiny instead deflected off the 10 to make the 15 in the top left to secure the series at 6-3. Much like the series, game 10 started off fairly even on offense. Shiny then took over with a couple of runs around the midpoint before sinking the final pair for the win and 7-3 series lead over Goldy. Shiny didn't have her best in game 11, but she was able to cut the 15 into the top side for the 8-3 series win. Shiny, the 2010 silver medalist, now has the TYAT 15-ball Championship to her name. 

There's just two more days of action in TYAT Finals, which will continue tomorrow.

Ten-Year Anniversary Tournament - Semifinals Day 4

The last day of the Semifinals is here, with just three series to play. Leading off...

Chimpy v. Zach. The silver cue starts the day in Accuracy. Westside's Chimpy started excellently in game 1, playing a perfect 0-3 win over Pronger's Zach for the 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Chimpy made only one mistake in game 2, scratching on the break. The Tridents' Zach had a couple of early misses and faded late in a 1-3 loss as Chimpy moved ahead 2-0 in the series. Chimpy made a ball on the break in game 3, but his offense faltered late. Zach wasn't sharp, but he was good enough for a 2-3 win to cut the series to 2-1. Game 4 brought the heat on both sides, as Zach stayed perfect and Chimpy nearly did the same. Zach grabbed a 0-1 win and tied the series at 2. Game 5 was as tight as any so far, with Zach cutting in a ball to force overtime at the end. Zach missed on his third shot in the extra rack, allowing Chimpy to take a 1-2 win while regaining the series lead at 3-2. Zach completely fell out of form in game 6, as Chimpy failed to seal things up early. Zach's downward spiral led to Chimpy winning 2-7 to move to a 4-2 series lead. Zach had a slow start in game 7, and that wound up costing him a chance later as he never pulled even in the game. Chimpy fought off the danger for a 2-3 win to clinch the series at 5-2. Zach had a lead for most of game 8, but couldn't bring it home in the end. Chimpy gained the lead late and locked in a 2-3 win to go up 6-2 in the series. Chimpy had no mercy in game 9, doing some unspeakably difficult shots well to beat Zach 1-2 for a 7-2 series win. Chimpy cruises into the Accuracy finals versus the Archtown Arrows' Dusky.

Nightfur v. Victoria. Today's middle series is 9-ball with the purple cue. Pearl's Victoria wasted too many chances for offense in game 1, allowing Royal's Nightfur to get a win with less than her best. Nightfur leads the series 1-0. Game 2 saw the Crowns' Nightfur scratch on the break. The Surfers' Victoria faltered from ball-in-hand, and Nightfur made a 2-9 combination to the top left for the win and 2-0 series lead. Still with some cracks in her play, Victoria picked off a 5-9 combination to the top left to win game 3 after Nightfur was shaky on offense. Victoria's win cut the series to 2-1. Victoria made a pair on the break in game 4, but Nightfur replied with a four-ball run-out capped by a deflection off the 5 to make the 9 at the top left. Nightfur pushed her series lead to 3-1. Nightfur made a ball on the break, but her bounce off the 4 to tap in the 9 at the bottom left overwhelmed Victoria, who missed a similar play on the 3 earlier in game 5. Nightfur's up to a 4-1 series lead now. Nightfur worked a four-ball run in game 6, but couldn't bring it home. Victoria then executed a 5-9 combination at the bottom left for an early win to cut the deficit to 4-2. Both players made a pair early in game 7, but Victoria scratched on her last shot of the turn. Nightfur took over and made a five-ball run-out for the win, sealing the series at 5-2. Nightfur eased up on offense a bit in game 8, causing things to go slower. Victoria sped it up at the end on a four-ball run-out for the win to trim the series to 5-3. Victoria couldn't get a handle on the offense in game 9, and Nightfur took it with a four-ball run-out to finish with a 6-3 series win. Nightfur will meet Shadow in the 9-ball finals.

Dreamy v. Leonette. The action wraps up with 7-ball and the green cue. A bit of a slow start in game 1 led to Pacific's Leonette hammering in a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead over Swordpoint's Dreamy. The Volcanoes' Leonette started game 2 with a four-ball run and finished on a three-ball run-out after the Blades' Dreamy missed her only shot. Leonette's dominant surge gave her a 2-0 series lead. Leonette had a four-ball run in game 3 after a shaky start, but her miss on the 7 allowed Dreamy to cut it to the bottom side. Leonette's series lead shrunk to 2-1. Leonette had a scratch after she made the 6 in game 4, a costly play overall. Dreamy took the 7 at the top right from ball-in-hand, and that helped her tie the series at 2. Leonette had a chance to make a run in game 5, but missed on the 4. Dreamy then ignited a four-ball run-out, her win giving her the series lead for the first time at 3-2. Leonette didn't look that good early in game 6, but she made the last five balls over two turns as Dreamy lost her grip on the offense. Leonette's return to form in the win tied the series at 3. Dreamy had a three-ball run late in game 7, but it looked like it got away from her on the 6. Leonette then missed the 7, and Dreamy sent it to the top side for the win to regain the series lead at 4-3. Leonette flubbed a ball-in-hand play in game 8, and that would be it for her run, as Dreamy made a four-ball run-out capped by a 4-7 kick combination to the bottom side. Dreamy secured the series at 5-3. Dreamy won on another four-ball run-out in game 9, the final shot clipping off the 6 and caroming into the 7 to sink it at the bottom side. Dreamy won the series 6-3 and is set to face the Victoria Spurs' Spice in the 7-ball finals. 

We're three days away from the end of the TYAT, as well as the 2020 UPCL calendar year of playing events. Right now, the 2021 UPCL Draft is scheduled for Thursday, December 10, immediately following the conclusion of the TYAT. Qualifiers for 2021 are likely to begin in January.

Ten-Year Anniversary Tournament - Semifinals Day 3

We're back with the last full day of the Semifinals. Leading off...

Briana v. Spirit. The silver cue starts the day with 12-ball. Queens' Briana made an impact on a four-ball run in the middle of game 1. Lighton's Spirit couldn't form a response, and Briana took the win for a 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Briana gave up two wild-card balls in game 2, but her offense was aggressive enough to overcome it after the Prestige's Spirit missed on her last ball. Briana won at the bottom right to go up 2-0. Briana picked up stripes to start game 3 and had a smooth turn of offense again, winning with a three-ball run-out. Spirit received a chance to tie with a wild-card ball, but couldn't make a shot. Briana leads the series 3-0. Briana made a pair of solids on the break in game 4, but Spirit answered on a four-ball run. Spirit would scratch later, then recover on a three-ball run-out for the win to cut the series to 3-1. Spirit started well in game 5, but couldn't quite make her last ball before the end. Briana kept close and challenged with a short run before taking her last shot at the top right for the win. Briana holds a 4-1 series lead. Briana had a three-ball run cut short by an illegal contact call, and Spirit used that as a springboard to make three balls over her last two turns. Spirit collected the win and trimmed the series back to 4-2. Spirit was weighed down with overfills in game 7, which partially bailed out Briana's untimely scratch in the middle. At the end, Briana's positioning was better as she made a pair for the win to clinch the series at 5-2. Briana gave away a wild-card ball in game 8, and Spirit's play was too strong to be denied. Spirit took the shots she saw and got the win, cutting Briana's series lead down to 5-3. Briana received a wild-card ball in game 9, but she had to give it back after a scratch, and Spirit moved along after that to earn the win. Briana took the series 5-4 to set a date with the Royal Crowns' Nightfur in the 12-ball finals.

Citrus v. Jake. In 13-ball, the purple cue will hold court. Lighton's Citrus made one of each on the game 1 break, and chose to play stripes. It could have gone either way, but Royal's Jake missed contact on the 8 and Citrus won with a pair for the 1-0 series lead. Game 2 was a mess for both players, although the Crowns' Jake can blame his scratches for his problems. Jake also committed a stick foul that allowed the Prestige's Citrus to make the final pair for a 2-0 series lead. Citrus had a decent start in game 3, but it was Jake stepping up on a six-ball run-out that turned the tides. Citrus' series lead is down to 2-1. Game 4 brought the pace, as Jake began with a three-ball run. Citrus answered with a four-ball run, but Jake made a four-ball run-out for the win to tie the series at 2. Jake kept a high pace in game 5, winning in only three turns with the help of a pair of three-ball runs and a total lack of offense from Citrus. Jake has pulled ahead 3-2 in the series. Jake kept up his attack to start game 6, but his positioning on stripes faltered as Citrus kept things close this time. Citrus then took over in the middle and made the 8 at the top left a turn later for the win to retie the series at 3. Citrus stayed strong on solids in game 7, and she was savvy enough to leave Jake with poor positioning at the end. Citrus made the final pair from ball-in-hand after Jake fouled out of frustration. Citrus retook the series lead at 4-3. Jake had two scratches on his final stripe, denying him a chance to legally sink the 8. Citrus took advantage of that and rallied late to get the win, sealing the series at 5-3. Jake got one back in game 9, chipping his way to victory in a slow battle. Citrus still advanced on a 5-4 series win to take on Lighton Prestige teammate Shiny in the 13-ball finals.

Panda v. Ms. Kitty. Coastal rivals tangle with the green cue in Rotation. Southern's Panda had much more of the offense in game 1 and worked his way to an 8-2 win over Pacific's Ms. Kitty without much trouble. Panda leads the series 1-0. The Monarchs' Panda couldn't get a grip on his offense in game 2, while the Volcanoes' Ms. Kitty kept things relatively clean. Ms. Kitty marched to an 8-4 win to tie the series at 1. Ms. Kitty had a massive four-ball run to start game 3, and that would be her margin of victory as well. Panda covered the initial damage, but Ms. Kitty won 8-4 to go up 2-1 in the series. A much closer start in game 4 gave way as Ms. Kitty grabbed the lead. Panda pushed back with a four-ball run, but that ended in a scratch, and Ms. Kitty took an 8-6 win for the 3-1 series lead. Panda had a four-ball run early in game 5, and he went unchallenged in an 8-2 win to shrink Ms. Kitty's series lead to 3-2. Panda began game 6 with a massive run to take a huge lead, but Ms. Kitty worked a six-ball run before a scratch cut her off. Panda made the 14 from ball-in-hand for the 8-6 win, tying the series at 3 games apiece. Panda needed only three turns to win game 7, highlighted by a four-ball run in the middle and pairs on the first and third turns. Panda beat Ms. Kitty 8-1 to pull ahead 4-3 in the series. Panda didn't have the same pace in game 8, but he wasn't really challenged by a downtrodden Ms. Kitty. Panda walked away with an 8-3 win, securing the series in his favor at 5-3. Ms. Kitty had nothing left for game 9, and Panda was slow but steady in an 8-1 win to complete a 6-3 series win. Panda heads to the Rotation finals versus the Harrison Specters' Slinks.

Shadow v. Waluigi. The red cue is here for 9-ball between two players representing the same team. In game 1, Waluigi won with a pair after Shadow wasn't able to sustain his early pace. Waluigi leads the series 1-0. Shadow had a four-ball run late in game 2, but couldn't make it stick as he missed contact on the 9. Waluigi took the last shot from ball-in-hand, his win giving him a 2-0 series lead. Waluigi nearly made the 1-9 combination to the top left in game 3, but Shadow was able to work a deflection play instead, and he narrowly missed scratching to hold onto the win. Waluigi's series lead is down to 2-1. Shadow looked much more in form in game 4, breaking out with a four-ball run-out after Waluigi couldn't take control on offense. Shadow's late surge helped him tie the series at 2. A return to shaky form arose in game 5, as neither Shadow nor Waluigi was totally comfortable. At the end, Shadow picked off the 9 to the top right to pull ahead 3-2 in the series. Shadow immediately extended his lead in game 6, making the 8 and the 9 to the top left on the break to shock Waluigi. Shadow's lead is now 4-2. A quick back-and-forth in game 7 saw Shadow make an early pair and a late pair, propelling him past Waluigi one more time. Shadow clinched the series at 5-2 with this fast win. It wasn't the most elegant effort, but Shadow found a triple-pot that he followed with a scratch, and then a three-ball run-out on his next turn when Waluigi wasted the ball-in-hand play. Shadow's series lead is up to 6-2. Shadow didn't have the best offense in game 9, but he capitalized on jittery play from Waluigi in the end. Shadow made the 9 to the top left for the win, completing a 7-2 series win to get into the 9-ball finals.

Dewey v. Lionel. The blue cue ends the day with 10-ball. North Modernistic's Lionel had a three-ball run-out in game 1, taking a close win over Oceanside's Dewey for the 1-0 series lead. The Nighthawks' Lionel had a failed jump shot late in a choppy game 2, and that gave the Waves' Dewey possession. Dewey ended that turn with a bank of the 10 to the bottom left for the win to tie the series at 1. Dewey had a bit of an edge on offense in game 3, but his three-ball run ended with a scratch. Lionel took over and made the last pair of balls for the win, restoring his series lead at 2-1. Dewey nearly won on a 6-10 combination in game 4, but it rattled out of the top left after he had slammed a bank of the 5 to the bottom side. Lionel stepped up and sank a 6-8-10 combination at the top left for the win and 3-1 series lead. Lionel didn't corral much offense in game 5, as Dewey made a four-ball run-out with a double-pot of the 3 to the bottom left and the 10 to the top side. Dewey's miracle finish cut the deficit back to 3-2. Dewey nearly won game 6 quickly with a 2-10 bank combination, but that left the 10 at the top left. Lionel never got a clear look for an early finish, while Dewey came around and made a 4-10 combination for the win to retie the series at 3. Dewey kept rolling in game 7, pummeling a few shots in a tense battle with Lionel. At the end, Lionel rattled the 10 out of the top right and Dewey tapped it down for the win and 4-3 series lead. Dewey had a little offense in game 8, but neither player really claimed control. It was a bank of the 10 to the bottom side for Lionel that decided the game, retying the series at 4. Dewey put everything he could into game 9, but he missed the 10 at the end. Lionel sank it to the top right for the win, and Lionel walked off with a 5-4 series win to earn the right to oppose the Lighton Prestige's Spirit in the 10-ball finals. 

We'll end the Semifinals tomorrow before playing the Finals from Monday to Wednesday.

Ten-Year Anniversary Tournament - Semifinals Day 2

The second day of the Semifinals is here, beginning with...

Nightfur v. Shiny. The two favorites for TYAT MVP clash in 15-ball with the silver cue. Lighton's Shiny capitalized on the 15 being close to the top left by making a 5-7-15 combination there after Royal's Nightfur committed an error. Shiny leads the series 1-0. The Prestige's Shiny maintained a majority of the offense in game 2, although she still needed the Crowns' Nightfur to miss the 15 at the end. Nightfur whiffed at the top right, and Shiny tapped it down for the 2-0 series lead. Nightfur had a chance to win game 3 after Shiny missed the 14 to end a run. Nightfur made it, but left the 15 short at the top side, and Shiny tapped it down to extend her series lead to 3-0. Fortune favored Shiny after a bad break in game 4, as Nightfur only chipped in modestly on offense. Shiny then threw a shot at the 9 which sent the 15 caroming to the bottom right for the win and 4-0 series lead. Shiny was merciless in game 5, as Nightfur made a late four-ball run but couldn't sink either of the last two balls. Shiny made sure her early four-ball run wasn't wasted as she got the win to clinch the series at 5-0. Nightfur finally got on the board in game 6 with a three-ball run-out to beat Shiny after a rather shaky effort on both sides. Shiny's series lead remains firm at 5-1. Nightfur got a little more redemption in game 7, making the 15 on her second attempt as Shiny has clearly gone into a reserved mode of play. Nightfur had a six-ball run in game 8, but couldn't get the 10 to fall at the top left. Shiny made it and a 13-15 combination at the bottom left to get the win, pushing her series lead up to 6-2. Shiny picked off the 15 at the end of a competitive game 9 as well, ending the series with a 7-2 win over Nightfur. Shiny will face her mother, Everton Eagles captain Goldy, in the 15-ball finals.

Princess v. Spirit. Elite talents meet in 10-ball with the purple cue. Both players showed respect for each other, especially as Tysini's Princess overcooked a shot on the 9 late in game 1. Lighton's Spirit then made the final pair for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Hummingbirds' Princess worked a four-ball run in game 2 as well, but missed the 6 at the bottom left. The Prestige's Spirit replied with a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-0 series lead. Princess made a three-ball run in game 3 but had a conundrum on the 7, which she sent wide of the bottom right. Spirit made it, then banked the 8 to the top right and cut the 10 to the top left for the win, extending her lead to 3-0. Princess stopped the bleeding in game 4 with a quick finish. Spirit was out of sorts on her shots, and Princess put the 3 in the top side before a well-timed 4-10 combination to the bottom left got her a win. Spirit's lead is down to 3-1. Spirit shot right back in game 5 with a 3-10 combination to the top left, the early finish pushing her to a 4-1 series lead after Princess sputtered early. Princess had a little offense in game 6, but couldn't do anything about how it ended. Spirit roared forward with a six-ball run-out for the win, which helped her secure the series at 5-1. Spirit stayed dominant in game 7, mashing a five-ball run early on. Princess made the 6, but scratched on the same play, and Spirit answered with a three-ball run-out to go ahead 6-1. Princess made a five-ball run in game 8, but again tried to do too much on the 7. Spirit took over from here and won with a four-ball run-out, stretching her advantage to 7-1. Spirit had full control by the end of game 9, smashing a six-ball run-out to finish off her 8-1 series win over Princess. Spirit has punched her ticket to the 10-ball finals.

Sweetheart v. Slinks. In Rotation, the green cue gets its turn today. Boston's Sweetheart made a five-ball run off a ball-in-hand play in game 1, but it wasn't enough. Harrison's Slinks replied with a pair and some defense, then made a four-ball run-out for the 8-7 win and 1-0 series lead. The Specters' Slinks made a four-ball run early in game 2, then had to take her time before grabbing the 8-5 win over the Swifts' Sweetheart. Slinks' steady bursts of offense have her ahead 2-0 in the series. Slinks had some good plays early in game 3, but Sweetheart burst to life over two turns to gain the lead. Sweetheart won 8-4 with a two-rail bank of the 11 to the top side, helping her cut Slinks' series lead to 2-1. Sweetheart had a huge lead in game 5, but Slinks took over with a late four-ball run. Sweetheart got one back, but a failed jump allowed Slinks to poke the 13 to the bottom left for the 8-6 win and 3-1 series lead. Sweetheart again did reasonably well early on, only for Slinks to track her down with a five-ball run-out to close out game 5 with an 8-6 win. Slinks stretched her advantage to 4-1. Sweetheart had to scrap for offense late in game 6, as Slinks protected her lead effectively. Sweetheart pulled even, but Slinks won 8-7 in the end, sealing the series in her favor at 5-1. Sweetheart salvaged a result in game 7, outpacing Slinks near the end to pick up an 8-5 victory. Slinks remains ahead 5-2 in the series. Sweetheart smashed a five-ball run from the break in game 8, then made a three-ball run-out on her next turn for the quick 8-0 win. Slinks' series lead shrunk to 5-3. Sweetheart unleashed another massive play with a seven-ball run in game 9. It took her some time, but she beat Slinks 8-4 this time. Slinks still won the series 5-4, narrowly reaching the Rotation finals.

Shiny v. Dusky. The designated host gets a second series today, playing Accuracy with the red cue. Archtown's Dusky was in fine shape early in game 1, but faded near the end, and Web City's Shiny was merciless in picking up a 1-4 win. Shiny leads the series 1-0. The Spiders' Shiny quickly got into trouble after scratching on the break in game 2. The Arrows' Dusky faded late but held on for a 3-5 win to tie the series at 1. Shiny rounded back into form with an exclamation point, staying perfect in game 3 for the 0-2 win over Dusky. Shiny regained the series lead at 2-1. Shiny was alright in game 4, but couldn't avoid overtime, where she scratched on the break. Dusky took her lone shot easily to win 2-3, retying the series at 2. Shiny lost the last-shot advantage in game 5 after an early double-pot, and that would be costly with another empty overtime break. Dusky buried a shot and picked up a 1-2 win this time, going ahead 3-2 in the series. Dusky faltered in game 6, missing twice early on. Shiny had a scratch in the middle, but maintained the margin for a 1-2 win to retie the series again at 3. Overtime continued to haunt Shiny in game 7, as her break this time came close but failed to yield a ball. Dusky picked off her single shot for the 1-2 win, retaking the series lead at 4-3 on another close victory. Dusky made three balls on the break in game 8, but faltered multiple times down the stretch. Shiny had no such failures, going perfect again in a 0-3 win that tied the series at 4. Shiny came within a shot of victory twice in game 9, missing once to force overtime and again in the extra rack. Dusky stepped up on her second shot of overtime for the 3-4 win and 5-4 series win. Dusky will play in the Accuracy finals.

Spice v. Dusty. Reality club-mates battle in 7-ball with the blue cue to end the day. A slow start to game 1 gave way as Victoria's Spice buried a five-ball run-out for the win and 1-0 series lead over Golden's Dusty. The Spurs' Spice enjoyed her break in game 2, sending the 7 to the top side for an instant win and 2-0 series lead. Spice went empty on the break in game 3, but made a six-ball run on her second turn. The Pilots' Dusty interjected with a bank of the 7 to the bottom right for the win, cutting the series to 2-1. Dusty kept her offense up in game 4, making four balls over two turns, but that wasn't enough. Spice banked the 7 to the top left for the win and boosted her series lead to 3-1. Spice made three balls on the break in game 5, but couldn't get anything after that. Dusty won with a pair this time, pulling back to a 3-2 deficit in the series. Dusty applied pressure with her offense in game 6, but it was Spice fouling as she sank the 7 in the bottom right that tipped the game. Dusty got the free win to tie the series at 3 games each. A pivotal game 7 saw offense stagnate with many balls stuck along rails. Dusty had a short run but couldn't finish it off, as Spice won at the bottom left. Spice leads the series again at 4-3. Spice didn't want to play quietly in game 8, striking early and skidding her hand off the edge of a pocket. Shaking it off, Spice capitalized on Dusty's miss on the 5, with Spice burying a three-ball run-out for the win on the next turn. Spice clinched the series at 5-3. Dusty was determined in game 9, and that turned into a four-ball run-out for the win as she double-potted the 3 and the 7 to the side pockets. Spice won the series 5-4 to earn her place in the 7-ball finals. 

One more full day of Semifinals will go tomorrow before the round ends Sunday with approximately half as much play.

Ten-Year Anniversary Tournament - Semifinals Day 1

We're a week away from the end of the TYAT. Today's action is the start of the Semifinals, which will feature nine-game, one-event series for the first time in a UPCL event in many years. Leading off...

Kiwi v. Goldy: The silver cue gets the starting nod in 15-ball. Everton's Goldy got strong quickly in game 1, following up her six-ball run with a four-ball run-out to defeat Modernistic's Kiwi. Goldy leads the series 1-0. The Eagles' Goldy wasn't as smooth in game 2, although she did make five of the last six balls. The Union's Kiwi was there to snipe the 15 at the top left for the win, tying the series at 1. Goldy found a groove with a five-ball run in game 3, but Kiwi immediately answered on a five-ball run-out to grab the win. Kiwi is ahead 2-1 in the series now. Goldy had no lack of confidence in game 4, controlling most of the offense as she got the early win on a 3-13-15 combination deflected off the 5 and into the bottom left. This erased Kiwi's lead as the series is tied at 2. The choppiest game yet was game 5. Neither player dominated the offense with a run, but it was Goldy who picked off the final pair after Kiwi stumbled. Goldy pulled ahead 3-2 in the series. Kiwi needed a big run to finish off game 6 and she fell short, missing on the 12. Goldy then buried a three-ball run-out in response, cashing in again to push her lead to 4-2. Kiwi fought off the danger in game 7, as Goldy had a few threatening moves. Kiwi then slammed the door on a four-ball run-out to pull back to a 4-3 series deficit. Kiwi came close to victory in game 8, pushing a lot of late offense but ultimately missing on the 15. Goldy put it away at the top right for the win to seal the series at 5-3. Kiwi salvaged a result in game 9 by pushing the offense strongly even in the end. Goldy eased up and Kiwi made a three-ball run-out. Goldy's 5-4 series win puts her in the 15-ball finals.

Smokey v. Twinkie III. Recent teammates battle in 8-ball with the purple cue. A somewhat sloppy finish to game 1 saw Whitewater's Twinkie III snag the win over Diamond's Smokey. Twinkie III holds a 1-0 series lead. The Shores' Twinkie III had a good start, but needed the Gems' Smokey to fall off the pace at the end. This occurred, as Smokey lost his momentum and Twinkie III poked the 8 to the bottom left for the win and 2-0 series lead. Twinkie III continued to control the early offense, but she slipped near the end of game 3 with a miss on the 8. Smokey fired back on a four-ball run-out to get on the board as he now trails only 2-1. Game 4 saw Twinkie III again jump out to a lead on solids, but her late offense was sparse. Smokey packed it in with a seven-ball run-out this time, including a crafty jump shot that helped him tie the series at 2. Smokey continued to improve, taking the lead on offense earlier in game 5. Twinkie III failed to make a response, and Smokey got the win on a three-ball run-out for the 3-2 series lead. Smokey scratched on the break in game 6, but that didn't stop him from making it a competitive game. Twinkie III nearly had a push at the end, but she rattled the 3 out, and Smokey made a pair for the win and 4-2 series lead. Twinkie III had a decent start to game 7, but faltered near the end as Smokey added pressure. Smokey closed it out with a win, clinching the series at 5-2. Twinkie III tried to make her way through game 8 on jump shots and a late run, but she fell short before Smokey buried the 8 to the bottom right to stretch his lead to 6-2. Smokey attacked with a five-ball run early in game 7, then followed up with another run at the end to beat Twinkie III. Smokey won the series 7-2 and will face the winner of the next set in the 8-ball finals.

Ruby v. Princess. The premier meeting of the day is in 8-ball with the green cue. Tysini's Princess had a back-and-forth game 1 with Todavía's Ruby, which saw Ruby come quite close to the win. Princess then made the final pair for the 1-0 series lead instead. The Stills' Ruby had most of the early offense in game 2, but couldn't make it stand as the Hummingbirds' Princess came all the way back on a seven-ball run-out. Princess put herself ahead 2-0 in the series. On her second turn of game 3, Princess made a six-ball run. Ruby answered with a seven-ball run, but missed the 8, and Princess won with a pair to go up 3-0. Princess didn't find any real offense in game 4, falling behind early to Ruby and never catching up. Ruby's win got her on the board, but she's behind 3-1 in the series. Ruby could have had game 5 easily, but scratches for both players slowed down the finish. Princess bounced back better with a three-ball run-out for the win and 4-1 series lead. Game 6 was another close battle, which saw Ruby prevail with a three-ball run after Princess suffered a scratch she couldn't recover from. Ruby's pulled back to a 4-2 deficit. Ruby thought her turn should have continued after a phantom contact knocked one of her balls in. Princess got down to the 8 quickly but couldn't convert until the end, when Ruby missed it at the bottom right. Princess secured the series at 5-2 after game 7. Ruby played on thin margins in game 8, getting the last four balls down over two turns as Princess sputtered too slowly to the finish. Ruby's win cut Princess' series lead to 5-3. Ruby got one more jab in with a win in game 9, but it was Princess who advanced on a 5-4 series win. Princess will meet the Diamond Gems' Smokey in the 8-ball finals.

Shiny v. Kitty. In 13-ball, the red cue gets its turn. Lighton's Shiny had a small lead initially in game 1, and Midland's Kitty couldn't challenge her late. Shiny took a tight win for a 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Shiny started hot in game 2 but had to weather a late push from the Predators' Kitty, which ended with a scratch. Shiny then made a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-0 series lead. Shiny was good to start game 3, but an overfill and bad positioning torpedoed her. Kitty bounced back with a three-ball run-out for the win, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Kitty made a couple of stripes on the game 4 break and barely slowed down later. Shiny had some plays to make, but couldn't get positioning as Kitty won on a three-ball run-out to tie the series at 2. Kitty had an explosive break, and her first shot after that put the players on level terms. Shiny rode through on stripes and didn't have too much trouble in earning this win for a 3-2 series lead. Shiny faltered in positioning late in game 6, unable to find clear looks on her last two balls while Kitty worked her offense much faster. Kitty's push to the win retied the series at 3. Kitty was the one caught out of position in game 7, as Shiny was much more clever on stripes this time. Shiny won with a three-ball run-out and reclaimed the series lead at 4-3. Shiny appeared to have the edge throughout game 8, but she missed on the 8 near the end. Kitty responded with a perfect three-ball run-out for the win, tying the series once more at 4 games each. Kitty overfilled on the game 9 break, and that would cost her positioning. Shiny had no such trouble and eventually chipped her way to the win and 5-4 series win. Shiny will play in the 13-ball finals.

Goatee v. Nightfur. The designated visitor gets to split her doubleheader over two days as she plays 12-ball with the blue cue here. Westside's Goatee bullied her way to better positioning in game 1, and Royal's Nightfur couldn't counter it in the end. Goatee kicked the 13 to the top side for the win and 1-0 series lead. Both players had good positioning in game 2 and chose not to interfere with each other too much. This aided the Rockers' Goatee, who was able to outpace the Crowns' Nightfur at the end to extend her series lead to 2-0. Nightfur was solid to start game 3, but a five-ball run by Goatee pulled her far enough ahead to easily earn the win. Goatee's series lead is up to 3-0. Goatee didn't get much going in her favor in game 4, and Nightfur took over on offense with a four-ball run-out. Goatee's series lead is down to 3-1. Nightfur had everything lined up but couldn't close out in game 5, and Goatee instead picked up the slack. Nightfur's late foul allowed Goatee to make her final pair for a 4-1 series lead. Goatee couldn't bring it home in game 6, as too many errors weighed her down early. Nightfur wasn't clean with the win, but good enough to win to get back to a 4-2 deficit. Nightfur yielded a wild-card ball in game 7, but her offense was dominant after that, while Goatee couldn't get off the launchpad. Nightfur pulled closer but remains behind 4-3. Nightfur was strong again in game 8, and that allowed her to compete closely with Goatee. In the end, Nightfur had just enough offense for another win, tying the series at 4. Nightfur kept the offense up and got Goatee to take herself out of position late in game 9. Nightfur then made a pair for the win, completing the comeback in a 5-4 series win. Nightfur will play in the 12-ball finals. 

The Semifinals should return to a normal starting time tomorrow.

Ten-Year Anniversary Tournament - Quarterfinals Day 5

The last day of the Quarterfinals round is here, featuring eight series instead of seven. We lead off with...

Ruby v. Briana. The green cue will open the day in 8-ball. Todavía's Ruby kept things simple in game 1 and outpaced Queens' Briana pretty easily. Ruby made a four-ball run-out at the end for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Flames' Briana had a scratch after a four-ball run in game 2, but she still had time to beat the Stills' Ruby, who couldn't quite kick the 8 to the top right. Briana's win tied the series at 1. Ruby got back on track quickly in game 3, and she put the 8 into a crowd of Briana's balls to slow the opponent. Ruby then got away later on a four-ball run-out for the win to restore her series lead at 2-1. Briana struck first on solids in game 4, but Ruby went reckless on a six-ball run that also saw her pot two for Briana. In the end, Ruby had an easy pair for the win to extend her series lead to 3-1. Ruby again made a six-ball run in game 5, but this time Briana fired back with a six-ball run-out on the next turn. Briana's response kept her in the series, trailing 3-2. Ruby took her time to get going on offense in game 6, but she found a three-ball run-out after a scratch cut short her previous attack. Briana failed to keep pace, and Ruby's win clinched the series for her at 4-2. Briana didn't get much going in game 7, and she illegally sank the 8 to gift another win to Ruby, who took the series 5-2. Ruby is set to face the Tysini Hummingbirds' Princess in the semifinals.

Missy v. Victoria. In 9-ball, the red cue gets an appearance. Pearl's Victoria made a stand after Capital City's Missy made a three-ball run early. Victoria got the win with a bank of the 9 to the bottom right for the 1-0 series lead. The Surfers' Victoria lost traction in game 2, and the Sharpshooters' Missy improved. Missy would get this win with a play on the 6 that caromed to take the 9 at the bottom right to tie the series at 1. Missy had the better attack in game 3, but couldn't bring it home in the end. Victoria instead made the final pair with ease, earning the win to retake the series lead at 2-1. Missy made a push with a three-ball run in game 4, but missed on the 7. Victoria then potted a three-ball run-out capped with a bank on the 9 to the bottom side to go ahead 3-1. Missy made a three-ball run in game 5, but again couldn't find a path to the 9. Victoria took care of it with a pair at the end to seal the series at 4-1. Missy stopped her skid in game 6, as Victoria missed contact on the 2. Missy used the ball-in-hand for a 2-9 combination to the bottom left to cut the series to 4-2. Victoria made the last five balls over two turns in a relatively dominant win in game 7. Victoria beat Missy 5-2 in the series to get to the semifinals versus the Royal Crowns' Nightfur.

Princess v. Nightfur. Tough legends compete in 10-ball with the blue cue. Royal's Nightfur had the better play for most of game 1, but Tysini's Princess struck the final pair to recover from two scratches earlier. Princess leads the series 1-0. The relative lack of pace in the series so far hasn't stopped the Hummingbirds' Princess, who picked up another win in game 2 as the Crowns' Nightfur failed to string shots together. Princess is up 2-0. Nightfur finally loosened up in game 3, rallying to a five-ball run-out capped by an 8-10 combination at the top right after Princess couldn't take control. Princess remains ahead 2-1 in the series. Regression struck for Nightfur in game 4, as she couldn't keep her offense up. Princess cleaned up the 10 to the bottom left in the end, stretching her series lead to 3-1. Nightfur bounced back late in game 5, ripping a six-ball run-out to stun Princess again. Nightfur's deficit now rests at 3-2. Nightfur loaded up another burst on a four-ball run, but missed the 7-10 combination attempt. Princess rattled off a three-ball run-out for the win to secure the series at 4-2 after game 6. Princess kept the offense strong in game 7, and won on a four-ball run-out to complete a 5-2 series win over Nightfur. Princess will head to the semifinals.

Taylor S. v. Briana. The silver cue's lone outing today is in 12-ball. Queens' Briana came close to the win in game 1, but Commerce's Taylor S. was a step ahead and found victory for a 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Taylor S. didn't have the cleanest finish in game 2, but she still did better than the Flames' Briana, who had multiple errors that held her back. Taylor S. holds a 2-0 series lead. Both players had four-ball runs in game 3, but it was Briana who missed on her last ball to end hers. Taylor S. then put her last shot in the top left for the win, extending her advantage to 3-0. Taylor S. came close to the win in game 4, but fouled twice after a three-ball run. Briana took over in the end to make her final pair for the win, staying alive in a series she trails 3-1. Taylor S. got sidelined by a pair of scratches in game 5, allowing Briana a little more time to make a choppy push for the win. Briana converted at the top left for the win, getting back to a 3-2 deficit. Taylor S. led for almost all of game 6, but couldn't find her positioning to close it out. Briana countered with a four-ball run-out, kicking the 5 to the top side for the win that tied the series at 3. Briana pulled off the remarkable comeback in a tense game 7, just beating Taylor S. to the finish. Briana's 4-3 reverse-sweep puts her in the semifinals versus the Lighton Prestige's Spirit.

Gabe v. Spice. The purple cue's round ends with 7-ball. Maplewood's Gabe set the tone in game 1 by putting the 7 in the top side on the break for a 1-0 series lead over Victoria's Spice. Game 2 was a much slower battle. The Spurs' Spice scratched late, but the Lumberjacks' Gabe rattled the 7 out of the top left, and Spice cleaned it up to get the win. The series is tied at 1. Game 3 was defined by a brutal missed contact by Gabe, who slipped right by the 5. Spice used the ball-in-hand play to make a three-ball run-out for the win and 2-1 series lead. A high-energy game 4 saw Gabe get a pair, but Spice bounced back just in time at the end to nab another win, pulling out to a 3-1 series lead. Spice had a plan in mind to navigate game 5, but couldn't quite execute it right. Gabe responded with a clean three-ball run-out for the win to trim the series to 3-2. Gabe got onto level terms in game 6, tying the series at 3 as he sank the 7 to the top side and the 3 to the bottom left on the break to erase the rest of Spice's lead. Gabe had a four-ball run in game 7, but he couldn't finish it off, missing the 7 at the bottom side. Spice tapped it in and took the series 4-3, earning her place in the semifinals.

Shiny v. Watermelon. The green cue is back in action for 13-ball. Lighton's Shiny had just a little more pace on her play, beating Pearl's Watermelon to the 8 at the top left in a close finish. Shiny leads the series 1-0. The Surfers' Watermelon couldn't quite assemble her positioning right in game 2, allowing the Prestige's Shiny to find her way to a win in the end. Shiny's series lead is now 2-0. Shiny looked to have something going late in game 3, only for one of her approach shots to tag the 8 prematurely into the top left. This gifted Watermelon a win to make it a 2-1 series. Watermelon couldn't sort out her positioning at all in game 4, allowing Shiny an easy path to victory. Shiny restored her series lead at 3-1. Watermelon put up a strong fight to close out game 5, but didn't have enough offense to keep up with Shiny, who picked off the 8 at the bottom left for the win. Shiny clinched the series at 4-1. Shiny couldn't quite finish off game 6, allowing Watermelon to make her final pair of shots for a win. Shiny remains ahead 4-2. Shiny stepped up in game 7, bringing about a quick finish with a five-ball run-out. Shiny beat Watermelon 5-2 in the series and will next face the Midland Predators' Kitty in the semifinals.

Easter v. Spirit. Longtime stars battle in 10-ball with the red cue. Todavía's Easter enjoyed her offense early in game 1, but a bad kick on the 3 opened things up for Lighton's Spirit to sink the 3-10 combination at the top left. Spirit's poaching netted her a 1-0 series lead. The Stills' Easter ripped a five-ball run in the middle of game 2, but her miss on the 8 allowed the Prestige's Spirit to make the last pair. Spirit's up to a 2-0 series lead. Easter came very close to the win in game 3 with five of the last seven balls belonging to her. Spirit poached again with a strike on the 10 at the bottom right to extend her series lead to 3-0. Spirit wasn't able to get a chance to strike late in game 4, as Easter toughed through a tweaked wrist to pick up a four-ball run-out. Spirit's series lead shrunk to 3-1. Spirit was able to corral enough offense in game 5 to get the win, closing out the series at 4-1 as Easter struggled through. Easter had everything she needed to win game 6, but left the 10 short at the bottom right. Spirit tapped it down and pushed on to a 5-1 lead. Easter got a rare disqualification in game 7 for violent conduct after swiping her cue at the cue ball to breakup a scratch that subsequently disrupted the table layout. Spirit took the series 6-1 and will play the Tysini Hummingbirds' Princess in the semifinals.

Dusty v. Sage. The round ends with the blue cue in hand for 7-ball. Victoria's Sage picked up a five-ball run-out quickly in game 1 to grab the win and 1-0 series lead over Golden's Dusty. The Spurs' Sage enjoyed her game 2 offense a bit less, as it was choppy and unsuccessful. The Pilots' Dusty swiped the final pair here, tying the series at 1 with her win. A slow start in game 3 turned around after Sage committed an error. Dusty then rattled off a six-ball run-out for the win, going ahead 2-1 in the series. Dusty couldn't piece together a run in game 4, while Sage also had some struggles early on. Sage corrected things by making the final pair without trouble, retying the series at 2 games each. Dusty kept herself in game 5 by not scratching on her first miss on the 5, but momentum shifted slowly to Sage, who eventually made the final pair for the win and 3-2 series lead. Sage tried and failed on a 3-7 combination to the bottom left in game 6, and Dusty cleaned up the same play for the win, tying the series once more at 3. Dusty posted a four-ball run in game 7, but it was Sage's scratch on the 6 that allowed Dusty to take the 7 for free. Dusty won the series 4-3 and will play versus the Spurs' Spice in the semifinals. 

Tomorrow, we'll start up the Semifinals, featuring nine-game series over the next four days.

Ten-Year Anniversary Tournament - Quarterfinals Day 4

We've got another standard day of action here. Leading off...

Chimpy v. Kiwi. The first series of the day uses the silver cue in 15-ball. Westside's Chimpy had a five-ball run halted by an error early in game 1. Modernistic's Kiwi kept pace, but missed the 15 late, and Chimpy put it away at the top right for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Rockers' Chimpy had another nice batch of shots in game 2, but couldn't gain traction late. The Union's Kiwi made the last five balls over two turns for the win to tie the series at 1. Kiwi didn't let Chimpy get a shot in game 3. Kiwi got a ball on the break and then slammed a 1-15 combination deflected off the 7 to fall in the top right as part of a double-pot that put her ahead 2-1 in the series. Chimpy bounced back with no trouble in game 4, as Kiwi took her fair share of offense but struggled with errors. Chimpy then made a four-ball run-out for the win to retie the series at 2. Hitting the ball hard simply stopped working in game 5, leading to a longer battle. Chimpy prevailed narrowly at the end, as Kiwi failed to adjust her playing style. Chimpy is ahead 3-2 in the series. Chimpy had a good portion of the offense in game 6, but his miss on the 12 was catastrophic to his chances. Kiwi responded on a three-ball run-out for the win, pulling even at 3 games each. Kiwi kept her campaign alive in game 7, as Chimpy fouled in the middle of the rack. Kiwi then rattled off a seven-ball run-out capped by a double-kissed 13-15 combination to the bottom left. Kiwi won the series 4-3 and will play in the semifinals.

Noelle v. Leonette. We've got 7-ball in today's second set, with the purple cue active. There was nothing pretty about game 1, as both players missed many shots and each had a fail on the 7. Pacific's Leonette made it on her second try for the 1-0 series lead over Central's Noelle. The Volcanoes' Leonette stumbled a bit in game 2, as the Warriors' Noelle made a three-ball run and added the final pair for the win. Noelle tied the series at 1. Game 3 saw Noelle take an error for illegal contact, which Leonette quickly turned into a 3-7 combination at the top left. Leonette regained the series lead at 2-1. Leonette opened game 4 on a five-ball run, then buried the 7 on a bank to the bottom right that Noelle herself missed on the previous shot. Leonette is up to a 3-1 series lead. Leonette lost her control in game 5, allowing Noelle to fill the void on offense a bit. Noelle wasn't fast, but she got the win to cut the series back to 3-2. Noelle's game 6 break yielded an immediate win as the 7 fell in the bottom right. This tied the series at 3 and gave Noelle way more momentum than Leonette. Noelle thought she took the series on the game 7 break, but after a double-pot that included the 7, the cue fell in the top side to cause an instant loss. Leonette was gifted the win for a 4-3 series win and trip to the semifinals.

Goldy v. Lionel. Back in 15-ball, the green cue gets a turn. Commerce's Lionel put up a good fight in game 1, but two late errors allowed Everton's Goldy to get a rather cheap win for her 1-0 series lead. The Tradewinds' Lionel was better in game 2 with a late four-ball run, but he missed his chance on the 15. The Eagles' Goldy made it on her second try to get the win, going ahead 2-0 in the series. Lionel had a four-ball run late in game 3, but missed the 15 again at the end. Goldy converted to the bottom right, supporting her early five-ball run well as she staked a 3-0 series lead. Goldy ended game 4 early after making the 1 and the 2. She then slammed the 3 into the 15, which deflected off the 4 and into the top left, while the 9 and the 13 fell for a triple-pot at the bottom left. Goldy sealed the series at 4-0 with the trick play. Lionel's best chance at a win came in game 5, but he overpowered his tap-in and the cue followed for a scratch that gifted the choppy result to Goldy. This put Goldy up 5-0 in the series. With the competition drained from the series, neither player had a great run. Goldy got the game 6 win in the end with a three-ball run-out, pushing her lead over Lionel to 6-0. Both players had three-ball runs in game 7, then Goldy followed up with a remarkable cut of the 7 off the 15 to sink the former at the top left. The 13 also went in the top left, and the 15 fell in the bottom side on a triple-pot that secured a 7-0 series sweep over Lionel. Goldy will face the Modernistic Union's Kiwi in the semifinals.

Twinkie II v. Dreamy. Another 7-ball series features the red cue. Harrison's Twinkie II made a ball on the game 1 break, but Swordpoint's Dreamy answered with a six-ball run-out for the win. Dreamy leads the series 1-0. The Blades' Dreamy nearly had the win in game 2, but scratched as the 7 fell on the break, gifting the win to the Specters' Twinkie II to tie the series at 1. Twinkie II didn't get anything from her break in game 3, and that helped Dreamy, who converted a 1-7 combination to the top left on her only shot. Dreamy's heady play restored her series lead at 2-1. Game 4 oddly went the distance, with Dreamy a little less sharp, but Twinkie II also unable to capitalize. Dreamy picked up the 7 at the bottom left for the win and 3-1 series lead. A slow start to game 5 gave way when Twinkie II roared to life on a massive run for the win. Twinkie II trimmed Dreamy's series lead to 3-2. Twinkie II had a lot of ideas but not enough conversions in game 6, as Dreamy secured the series at 4-2 on a five-ball run-out for the win. Twinkie II got one more back with a strike on the 7 after Dreamy's early offense wasn't enough in game 7. Dreamy still won the series 4-3 and will face club-mate and Pacific Volcanoes veteran Leonette in the semifinals.

Acorn v. Goatee. Prime club-mates tangle in 12-ball with the blue cue. Lighton's Acorn quickly gave away a wild-card ball in game 1, but Westside's Goatee returned the favor late. Both players were on their last ball when Acorn struck at the bottom side for the win and 1-0 series lead. The Prestige's Acorn looked to be in more trouble in game 2, but his perfect defense at the bottom right stopped the Rockers' Goatee at the end. Acorn then made a pair for the win and 2-0 series lead. In game 3, Goatee found good positioning and a defensive mark at the top side to stall Acorn out. Goatee then struck her last three balls over two turns for the win to get on the board in the 2-1 series. Both players exchanged wild-card balls in game 4, but Acorn put his back on the table with a scratch. Goatee operated well after that, making a pair for the win to tie the series at 2. Goatee again gave away a wild-card ball in game 5, and Acorn made her pay for it this time. Acorn rallied with a brilliant five-ball run-out to get the win, regaining the series lead at 3-2. Goatee didn't want to go down in game 6, battling with a four-ball run to stay in it. Both players were on their last ball at the end, but Goatee baited Acorn into missed contact before she converted at the top right for the win. The series is tied again at 3. Goatee had to hold on to stay in game 7, as Acorn played defense and came close to a win. At the end, Goatee got one chance and converted to the bottom side to take the 4-3 series win that sends her to a meeting with Nightfur in the semifinals.

Citrus v. Melissa. In 13-ball, the silver cue returns to play. Terrace City's Melissa took stripes early in game 1, but Lighton's Citrus did better on solids and eventually took the win with a sloppy finish. Citrus leads the series 1-0. The Prestige's Citrus took solids on the game 2 break and followed up late on a four-ball run. The Knights' Melissa had all the pieces for success but couldn't execute a run before Citrus tapped the 8 to the top left. Citrus is ahead 2-0. Citrus overfilled on the game 3 break, leading to Melissa making a four-ball run to spark her offense. Citrus lacked positioning, and Melissa cruised to the win, cutting Citrus' series lead to 2-1. Melissa nearly sank the 8 on the game 4 break, but also got a solid into the top left before the 8 blocked it. This turned into perfect defense, ruining Citrus' chance of a win. Melissa played smart to get the victory, tying the series at 2. Citrus got back on track early in game 5, dominating with solids. Melissa was too slow to catch up on positioning, and Citrus kicked the 8 to the bottom left on the winning shot. Citrus restored her series lead at 3-2. Citrus looked set to advance when she got onto the 8 in game 6, but she couldn't quite tuck it in. Melissa fired back with a three-ball run-out for the win, retying the series at 3. Melissa struck first on the break, but her play on solids left plenty to be desired. Citrus overcame a scratch to get the game 7 win for a 4-3 series win. Citrus will face the Royal Crowns' Jake in the semifinals.

Lionel v. Avril. The designated host gets a second series today, closing with 10-ball and the purple cue. North Modernistic's Lionel made a ball on the game 1 break and parlayed it into a six-ball run-out. He finished with the 4-7 combination to the top left with a deflection to clean up the 10 at the bottom left for the 1-0 series lead over Pronger's Avril in a masterclass performance. The Nighthawks' Lionel wasn't as successful in game 2, but the Tridents' Avril made sure he didn't wait around long. Avril's winning turn featured a double-pot and a 3-10 combination to the bottom left to tie the series at 1. Avril capitalized on an illegally potted ball by Lionel in game 3. Avril made a pair and a five-ball run on her next two turns to get the win, dominating again to go ahead 2-1 in the series. The offense dipped in game 4, but Avril still came away with the win on a four-ball run-out once she found her shot. She leads Lionel 3-1 in the series. Avril started with a six-ball run in game 5, but her play after that fell off a cliff. Lionel did just enough to grab a win, pulling back to a 3-2 deficit in the series. Lionel kept his intensity up in game 6, competing well. In the end, he nabbed a three-ball run-out to beat Avril, which in turn tied the series at 3. Avril had the early offense in game 7, but couldn't sustain it at the end when Lionel made the final pair for the win and 4-3 series win. Lionel salvaged one bid to the semifinals, where he'll meet the Oceanside Waves' Dewey. 

Tomorrow, we play eight series in a special extended session of TYAT action.