Heart of the Game Cutthroat 2017 - Round 1 Day 10

We're aiming for five series again today, leading off with...

Steven v. Chris v. Sprinkles at McDonald's Hall, Atlantic. Chris seemed to have the best start to game 1, defending the mediums pretty well, but he lost his grip on the game late, and Sprinkles made some inroads. Steven squashed that, and Chris offed Sprinkles before Steven tapped in Chris' last two balls for his first win. Command remained elusive for all three players in game 2, although Chris was quick to gain the mediums again. Steven ended up guarding the highs, and they again worked together against Sprinkles, with Chris dealing the last blow to her game. Steven and Chris had a bit of an awkward finish, in which Chris prevailed on his second attempt to make Steven's 14 for his first win. Steven showed a bit more confidence in game 3, with a five-ball run on his first turn. Sprinkles attacked back lightly, but Chris had to play from a weak position. Steven made a three-ball run to eliminate Chris, and then took out Sprinkles on his next turn after she failed to knock him out. Steven has two wins in the series. Chris had all of the offense on the first two turns of game 4, but Steven's third turn was a five-ball run that weakened Chris dramatically. Sprinkles then took him out on a four-ball run-out, two shots before bumping Steven to grab her first win. Steven had the first burst of quality play in game 5, but he peaked too early in defending the lows. Chris had a nice counterattack, but it wouldn't hold up as Sprinkles hit a four-ball run to take out Steven before beating Chris on her next turn for her second win. Chris had a five-ball run in game 6, including a moment of collateral damage. Steven struck back later on, weakening Chris while taking out Sprinkles, but Chris defended long enough to get a scratch, reviving Sprinkles. She would use a three-ball run to take out Steven, but Chris took the win, his second, when she missed on her last shot. Chris scratched on the break to start game 7, a poor opening turn allowing Sprinkles to establish herself with the mediums and Steven to work with the lows, pummeling Chris' highs. Steven took Chris out to go head-to-head with Sprinkles, but Sprinkles played strong defense before knocking Steven from the game for her third win. Steven had the early surge in game 8, and he looked in good shape to win it all until his early scratch derailed the effort. Chris established himself with the lows, and Sprinkles guarded the mediums well, although not well enough, as Steven took her out on a late four-ball run. He couldn't quite pot Chris' last ball, and Chris took his third win when he sank the 13 in the bottom right. Steven had a seven-ball run, which decimated the medium set that eventually came under Chris' purview. Sprinkles fought back with a four-ball run, taking Chris out in the process, but Steven won on a three-ball run-out, smartly using collateral damage to line up the final shot for his third win. Steven scratched on the break of game 10, allowing Chris and Sprinkles to pick their suits and pummel his mediums. Chris defended the lows, which proved to be a good choice, as Steven made a three-ball run to take out Sprinkles' highs, but Chris avenged his league teammate with a cut on the 9 to the top left for his fourth win, giving him the inside track for the series. Chris had an eight-ball run at the start of game 11, but he made himself a bit of a target with the effort. Steven gambled when he took the highs as his suit, and it didn't pay off, as Sprinkles won with a three-ball run-out made possible with collateral damage for her fourth win. Steven equalized the series again with a big performance in game 12. He had to protect his highs after a good start that also saw Chris take the mediums. A scratch from Sprinkles evened everyone's tally at two balls on the table, after which Steven blasted a five-ball run-out, taking out Chris and then Sprinkles for his fourth win. Game 13 saw Chris emerge with an eight-ball run, leaving him prone to a counterattack from Sprinkles as Steven found himself out early. Sprinkles did make three in a row, but Chris used collateral damage to get a line on Sprinkles' last ball for his clinching fifth win. Sprinkles qualified well with 17 points, one behind the 18 from Steven in a close and balanced series.

Sally v. Hershey v. Lionel at Starbucks Arena, Archtown. Sally cranked a nine-ball run from the break to get her home fans hyped for game 1. Hershey and Lionel each had chances to bump the other from the game, but both failed, and Sally made the 1 on her second turn for her first win, forcing them to split the point. Sally calmed down a bit for game 2, only making a five-ball run at the start. Hershey has not adjusted to the quality of play well, as the rookie missed his first shot. Lionel claimed the lows to fight with Sally's highs. Hershey found himself out for a short time until Lionel scratched, but Lionel put him back on the bench on his next turn before falling to Sally's late push for her second win. Lionel worked hard in game 3 to get Sally out of the game, only to scratch and let her back in. Hershey just wanted to get a point, so he had no trouble ousting Lionel, and then battled directly with Sally. She managed to beat him this time for her third win after Hershey couldn't get a clear shot on Sally's last ball. Hershey finally ended Sally's reign of dominance in the series with a steady game 4 performance. Lionel claimed the mediums early on, while Sally took the lows, but they fought among themselves, allowing Hershey to sneak ahead. Lionel dispatched Sally but had no answer for Hershey's winning shot for his first victory. Sally got her revenge with a big game 5 win. Lionel and Hershey had done quite a bit of damage against her highs, but she stayed calm on a six-ball run to wipe out Lionel's lows. Then, head-to-head with Hershey, she managed to get the win through defense, her fourth of a dominant series. Sally scratched on her first turn, setting Hershey up for a deep run that did quite a bit of damage against Lionel. The veteran Lionel replied, but Sally wouldn't let him up, taking him out on the first two shots of a four-ball run-out that ended when she banked Hershey's 12 to the bottom left. Sally won her fifth game of the series to advance, while her two opponents are done for the preseason.

Cowzart v. Spice v. Dustin at BMW RockDome, Westside. Cowzart had a good run from the break and a four-ball run-out in the end, despite weathering hefty attacks from both Spice and Dustin. The two visitors damaged each other too much, making it easy for Cowzart to pick off Dustin and then Spice for his first win. Game 2 was already sloppy before Spice scratched on her second turn, which sent the whole thing into chaos. Cowzart ended up with the win, taking out Dustin first again before downing Spice for his second victory of the series. Cowzart continues to find ways to win despite not being dominant during the games. In game 3, Dustin had the best look early on with a four-ball run to protect the highs. Cowzart made a couple of small turns work, then unleashed a four-ball run-out, ousting Spice and Dustin on consecutive shots to win his third game in close fashion. Cowzart nearly marched to another win while defending the mediums in game 4, but Dustin put up enough of a fight in the end after his hot start to steal the win away, with Spice finishing in a distant last thanks to Cowzart's knockout. Dustin earned his first win of the series. Cowzart bounced right back in game 5, allowing Dustin a big six-ball run at the start that did more damage to Spice than to him. Cowzart claimed the mediums after Dustin took the lows, and Spice only got one unproductive turn before Dustin took her out. Cowzart then rallied with a four-ball run-out, including some collateral damage, to get his fourth win of the series. Dustin and Spice made an early push to get Cowzart out of game 6, but they backed off attacking his highs. This proved to be a mistake, as Cowzart knocked Dustin's mediums out on his second turn, and then used good defense to frustrate Spice. Cowzart needed a few more turns, but he won on a three-ball run-out, clinching the series with his fifth win. His two opponents are out of the event.

Sydney Sierota v. Melissa Benoist v. Frosty at Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison. Melissa started in a seven-ball run, wiping lows off the table completely. Frosty charged back on a four-ball run to confirm Sydney's departure, but Melissa's late scratch opened the door for Sydney to come back. Frosty made sure it didn't last long, making two shots to take out Melissa and Sydney for Frosty's first win. Frosty and Sydney didn't settle much between them quickly, but they had Melissa's lows out of the game within two turns before battling a near deadlock with each other for a couple more turns. Frosty ended up with the better of this, picking up her second win after the tussle. Frosty made a six-ball run off the break, forcing Sydney and Melissa to work together in game 3. Sydney started slow, but Melissa took the lows and defended them well, helped by her 5 being in the middle of a cluster. Frosty couldn't get rid of either of them, allowing Sydney to weaken Frosty some more. Melissa then made a three-ball run-out for her first win. Melissa started pretty well in game 4, with a short run to claim the highs as her own. Frosty shot back with a massive run of eight balls to take out Sydney quickly and then Melissa on her only turn for her third win. The run was so quick, Frosty didn't realize how close she was to winning until it happened. The two celebrities finally worked together in game 5, as Frosty's hot start with the highs didn't last against Melissa's lows and Sydney's mediums. Both of them weakened Frosty, with Sydney delivering the final blow on her four-ball run-out that ended with Melissa's fall for Sydney's first win. Sydney stepped her game up even more in game 6, book-ending the performance with a five-ball run that saw three balls drop on the break, followed by a five-ball run-out after neither Melissa nor Frosty could claim a suit on their turns. Sydney's second win saw her visitors split a point. Sydney had another strong five-ball run off the break in game 7, but the opposition mounted a more forceful reply this time. Melissa took the highs as her set, and Frosty went with the lows, both chipping into Sydney's lead in the game. Sydney fired back, and the game was fairly even when Frosty unleashed a four-ball run-out, ousting Melissa and then Sydney for her fourth win of the series. Game 8 saw Frosty come up empty on the break, but neither Sydney nor Melissa could get anything on their first turns. Frosty ended up defending the mediums, but it was a six-ball run by Sydney that wiped out Melissa and put Frosty on the edge. Sydney won a turn later, her third of the series. Frosty struck first with a short run in game 9, but it didn't hold up well for her highs. Melissa chose mediums and did damage to both of the front-runners, but it was a six-ball run-out from Sydney that decided the game, and she managed to deny Frosty a point as Sydney scooped up her fourth win. Sydney didn't have much of a chance in game 10, as Frosty targeted her specifically on a seven-ball run that took out her lows, but Melissa extended the series with one of the best defensive efforts of the tournament yet, pinning her 8 to Frosty's highs to keep it safe. Melissa picked at Frosty and then beat her in a race to get her second win of the series. Melissa refused to let the series go quietly, and Frosty's aggressiveness toward Sydney quickly turned game 11 into another one-on-one battle. Melissa and Frosty didn't play all that well against each other, but they kept Sydney out of the game, and Melissa eventually made Frosty's last two balls to earn her third win. Melissa continued her late surge with a six-ball run along the bottom rail from the break in game 12. Sydney soon followed it up after Frosty's miss with a five-ball run that saw Frosty knocked out of the game. Melissa would make Sydney's last two balls, putting all competitors at four wins in the series for a decisive final game. Game 13 saw Sydney take the upper hand with the lows on an early run after an empty break from Melissa. Frosty tried to attack directly at Sydney, still unconcerned about Melissa, who had a small counterattack on her second turn. Sydney took Melissa out first, and then faced up and beat Frosty a turn later for her critical fifth win to advance. Frosty qualifies at 17.5, while Melissa took 15.5 points in the series.

Smokey v. Shiny v. Pauline at Intel Center, Diamond. Shiny thought her strong first turn, which saw her take the lows to protect, would be enough to get her through game 1. She was on the right path as Smokey took out a vulnerable Pauline, but he didn't stop there, winning two turns later as Shiny proved incapable of potting Smokey's last ball, giving him his first win. Shiny went perfectly unchallenged for two turns in game 2, but Pauline took the lows on her second turn, and she did so by damaging Shiny's highs quite a bit. Smokey then swooped in on a three-ball run-out, knocking out Shiny first and then Pauline for his second win. Pauline had the best start to game 3, but by the end, it didn't seem to have much impact. Pauline found herself out of the game at one point, but Smokey's scratch revived her, and she took him out first before beating Shiny for her first win of the series. Shiny didn't dominate in game 4, but she battled closely with Pauline and Smokey to protect her chosen lows. Pauline seemed to be the biggest threat, but Shiny managed to get Smokey out first before knocking out Pauline for her first win. Shiny had a big start with a four-ball run from the break, and Pauline took lows to leave Smokey with a weakened medium set. Smokey attacked well in the game, none better than at the end when he took out Pauline and then Shiny on his three-ball run-out for his third win in five games. Smokey didn't get very much traction in game 6, and Shiny and Pauline attacked the lows, which became his suit, rather readily. Pauline's attacks were not dangerous, but again she found herself first out in a close finish that ultimately fell to Shiny for her second win. Shiny didn't get to enjoy the benefits of leading off in game 7, as she went empty on the break. Smokey followed with a seven-ball run, and Pauline knocked Shiny out on a four-ball run that followed. Smokey protected the mediums well, and made Pauline's last two balls on his second turn for his fourth win of the series. Pauline had the jump on game 8 right from the start, making a five-ball run that left both opponents frustrated. Shiny eventually laid claim to the mediums, which would be costly for her, as Pauline took her out first and then Smokey on her two-shot finish to her second win. Pauline was put in an early deficit by Smokey and Shiny in game 9, as they left her with the damaged lows. Shiny then protected the highs just a bit better than Smokey did for his mediums, beating him with the last two shots of the game to take out Pauline and Smokey back-to-back for her third win. Smokey found himself out of a sloppy game 10 rather quickly thanks to Shiny, who then used a brilliant defensive move to stymie Pauline, who tried and failed to get the 4 in a pocket. Shiny took out Pauline's 7 for her fourth win, pulling even with Smokey in the series as it approaches its end. Smokey needed just an eight-ball run-out in game 11, capitalizing on an empty break by Shiny to get the win by taking her out first, and then Pauline. Shiny remains in the qualifying fight with 15 points, while Pauline is out at 11.

That's all for today's action. Tomorrow should bring another five series to the table.

Heart of the Game Cutthroat 2017 - Round 1 Day 9

We're going to aim for five series today. We begin with...

Katelynn v. Bear v. Gizmo at Pepsi Arena, Lighton. Bear had no trouble with game 1 at all, turning in a ten-ball run-out after Katelynn got nothing from the break. Gizmo never had a chance to shoot, but still earned half a point in a split with Katelynn for second place. Katelynn had a four-ball run on her first turn of game 2, and while Gizmo made a ball this time, Bear's six-ball run left his brother in a bad position. Katelynn got the best of them both, taking out Gizmo first and then Bear two shots later on her second turn for her first win. Katelynn fired off a decent break, but Bear took a six-ball run to establish himself with the mediums early on. Gizmo did a little work against both of them, but it was Katelynn with a six-ball run-out at the end of game 3, again ousting Gizmo before Bear for her second win. Game 4 was a mess for all of the players. Katelynn took mediums reluctantly off the break, allowing Bear to take a better-positioned low set. Gizmo made do with the highs, aided by both of opponents scratching. Bear would take out Katelynn in the middle of the game before an awkward battle with Gizmo that saw Bear take a sloppy win for his second victory. Game 5 saw a disjointed effort from Bear, who got nothing on the break. Gizmo chose to defend the mediums, and he and Katelynn attacked the lows quite well to weaken Bear. Katelynn took Bear out on a four-ball run, and then beat Gizmo a turn later with a tap-in on his 8 for her third win of the series. Katelynn weathered a firm attack from Bear and Gizmo in game 6, as they combined to take out most of her highs fairly quickly. Bear would betray Gizmo later in the game, taking him out first, and Katelynn attacked against Bear, getting the win on her second try at his last ball, her fourth win of the series. Bear made sure the series would reach to after lunch, picking up the game 7 win on a six-ball run-out after a strong first turn. Gizmo helped him to weaken Katelynn, who didn't defend herself that well as Bear took her out first and then Gizmo for his third win. Bear pulled even with Katelynn at four wins, striking in a five-ball run-out as he defended the medium set against her lows. Bear did have to take out Gizmo first to spark the run, but he made sure Katelynn couldn't counterattack as they hurtle toward a decisive meeting. Bear and Gizmo spent too much time in game 9 fighting among themselves, with Gizmo taking out Bear on a five-ball run, then coming up short against a nearly untouched Katelynn, who clinched advancement with her fifth win. Bear took 15 points from the series, while Gizmo is out with 4.5 points and no wins.

Solaris v. Bryant v. B. Chapman at Nissan Hall, Infinity. Chapman played well in game 1, and avoided most trouble from her opponents. Solaris saved Bryant late with a scratch, but Chapman buried both of them on a three-ball run-out, giving Solaris the second place point in her first win. Game 2 started out well enough with Chapman defending the lows and Solaris taking the highs to leave Bryant with the mediums. Things got sloppier later on, as Solaris had a scratch to revive Bryant, who then took Solaris out before scratching himself. Solaris had new life as he cranked a three-ball run, eliminating Bryant again, but Chapman banked the 15 to the top right for her second win. Bryant made a good strategic move, avoiding busting his cluster of mediums up as Chapman and Solaris fought among themselves. They each had one ball left when Bryant attacked, first taking out Solaris and then Chapman in his first win. Solaris had to wait the longest for a win, but he got his in game 4 in grand fashion, knocking out Bryant on his second shot of a seven-ball run-out in five shots. He then turned against Chapman, making two double-pots to win, with the 6 to the top side and 8 to the top left, followed by the 7 to the top right and the 9 at the bottom left on a bank. Solaris made an interesting deal in game 5 to guarantee a point when it became clear Chapman had a stranglehold on the game. Solaris flubbed a shot to gift possession to Chapman, and she took out Bryant first, after having put both of them in danger with her seven-ball run. Solaris was happy with the point despite Chapman earning her third win. Chapman made an interesting return of the favor in game 6, as Solaris had decimated both remaining sets with an eight-ball run that included some collateral damage against his lows. Bryant took the mediums to hurt Chapman more, but she went on a five-ball run-out, taking herself out of the game just before Bryant as she double-potted both of their final balls. The strange win was Solaris' second of the series. Solaris went on another deep run in game 7, a seven-ball run from the break. Bryant couldn't make anything on his first turn, and Chapman made sure he didn't get a second, pinning Bryant's last ball next to one of Solaris' mediums. Solaris made a three-ball run-out to complete his third win, gifting the second place point to Chapman. Solaris continued his strong play in game 8 with a four-ball run at the start of the game. Chapman chose the mediums instead of the lows, playing a speculative option that the lows wouldn't last long. Bryant proved her wrong, defending his lows well while weakening his opponents, but Solaris struck back and took the lead on his second turn. Chapman tried to get Bryant out, and Bryant retaliated, ultimately allowing Solaris to take out Chapman first and then Bryant for his fourth win of the series. Bryant had two turns in game 9, both of which were four-ball runs. Solaris did a bit of work on his second turn as well to clear the table up, but Bryant only countered by taking out Chapman and then Solaris on consecutive shots with his game-ending run for his second win. Chapman had to fight for everything in game 10, as Bryant led a firm opening attack to protect his lows, and Solaris followed it up by claiming mediums through an assault on the highs. Chapman defended her last ball perfectly, winning on a seven-ball run-out to equalize with Solaris at four wins, after taking him out first. Bryant did everything in his power to keep the series going after game 11, using his second turn for a seven-ball run-out that saw him betray Solaris with the sixth shot of the run, before dispatching Chapman on the final shot in his third win. Bryant wouldn't let the game get away from him in game 12, despite being out for a moment when Solaris took him out. Solaris soon scratched, giving Chapman more life and Bryant a second chance. Bryant promptly used this opportunity to take out Solaris ahead of Chapman a turn later, a conscious choice as he collected his fourth win to show favoritism. Bryant and Chapman showed more club loyalty against Solaris, shutting him down quickly in game 13 to battle head-to-head alone. Bryant got the best of Chapman in this, winning on a double-pot of the 14 to the top right and the 12 to the top left on a two-rail bank. Bryant's five wins send him to the second round, while Chapman took 18 points and Solaris hit 16 points in the close series.

Tigerette v. Cobalt v. Fuchsia at Nike Field Events Center, Commerce. Tigerette made quick work of her pair of sophomore opponents, blasting a four-ball run from the break and a three-ball run-out at the end despite taking some hits from Cobalt and Fuchsia on their turns. Cobalt fell first, and then Fuchsia, as Tigerette earned her first win of the series. Cobalt had a big eight-ball run in game 2, six of which were against his opponents after some collateral damage. Tigerette weakened him further in claiming highs, but Fuchsia took her out on her second turn, only to fall on Cobalt's second turn with his tap-in on her 10. Cobalt picked up his first win of the series. Cobalt didn't get much on the game 3 break, allowing Fuchsia to pick up the slack as she defended the mediums. Tigerette and Cobalt cut into her lead at times, but Fuchsia held them off with a four-ball run-out, allowing Tigerette to take the point for second place. Tigerette had a brutal six-ball run to start game 4 on her first turn, including a triple pot that sent the 14 and the 4 to the top right and the 3 to the bottom right. Cobalt had a chance to select a set, but he failed, and Fuchsia took the lows, leaving Tigerette to take both of them out on her second turn, starting with Cobalt's highs and ending with Fuchsia's lows for her second win. Cobalt made a big push on his second turn in game 5 after a hot start from Tigerette put her in a favorable position. Cobalt made a five-ball run, taking Tigerette out, but making a long shot on the 6 easy work for Fuchsia, who picked up her second win in the process. Tigerette made a big six-ball run as she defended the mediums in game 6, and she nearly picked up the win with her effort, knocking Cobalt from the game. Fuchsia fired back, unwilling to settle for a point as she made a four-ball run-out to keep her last low on the table in her third win. Fuchsia and Cobalt got snippy with each other in game 7, allowing Tigerette a lot of leeway in defending the mediums through a strongly packed cluster near the top right. Tigerette offed Cobalt first once again, and then finished her three-ball run-out with Fuchsia's last two balls, earning her third win in the process. Tigerette crushed an eleven-ball run in game 8, twice committing acts of self-sabotage as she tried to line up the final ball. This nearly proved costly, but neither Fuchsia nor Cobalt could make a counterattacking run. Cobalt did enough to formally claim the mediums, but Tigerette banked in his 6 on her next shot, winning her fourth game with the shot to the top side. Tigerette followed that up with a massive ten-ball run-out from the break in game 9, denying both Fuchsia and Cobalt a shot, as they'll split the final second place point awarded. Tigerette advances to the second round with five wins, while Fuchsia scored 13.5 and Cobalt scored 5.5, both insufficient for a second chance in the event.

Gabe v. Nicole v. Blizzard at UPS Hall, Maplewood. Gabe never had a chance in game 1 thanks to a deep five-ball run by Nicole on her first turn. Blizzard followed it up with a short turn that saw her claim the highs, and she eliminated Gabe. Nicole returned fire, but Blizzard won with a four-ball run-out that saw her double-pot the 8 and 9 to the top side to begin her path to her first win. Nicole pulled off a huge eight-ball run in game 2, wiping the lows off the table right from the start. Gabe made a shot against Nicole to preserve a point, and while Nicole was not clinical in her finishing against his highs, she did manage to pick up the win, her first, after a few parries back and forth. Gabe was the one with the big run in game 3, making an eight-ball run and putting Blizzard on the spot on her first turn. She made his 7, but couldn't get much other traction against Gabe, who eventually won his first game on a pair of tap-ins. Game 4 lacked a big run as the other games had seen, instead opting for choppy play and short runs. Nicole was on one when she scratched, a critical error to her game, as it gave Gabe a direct route to take her out of action. Blizzard, in a much less threatening position, couldn't do enough against Gabe to prevent him from winning his second game. Blizzard restored the usual form of play with an eight-ball run in game 5, pinning both of her opponents in bad positions. Gabe and Nicole worked together for awhile, weakening Blizzard's power, but their respective hunger for a point doomed them, leaving Blizzard to knock out Nicole and Gabe on consecutive shots in her second win. Gabe had a good start in game 6, taking the highs with his first run. Nicole followed up to claim the mediums, and both of them left Blizzard in a precarious position as she made a small counterattack. Gabe then finished off Nicole on a four-ball run that left Blizzard with only one ball, which she shot around on both sides to pot Gabe's last two for her third win. Blizzard cracked a seven-ball run from the break of game 7, a huge performance for herself that put her lows in a position of strength. Gabe followed up with a four-ball run, taking Nicole out of the equation again in this seemingly two-player series. Blizzard then potted his 8 and banked his 10 to the top side for her fourth win. Game 8 featured more of the choppy playing style preferred by Gabe and Nicole, as Blizzard didn't make anything on the break. Gabe took the highs while Nicole went for the lows, and while it took some time to get Blizzard out, no thanks to Gabe's scratch, she was the first to fall. Gabe then came from behind to beat Nicole for his third win. Gabe didn't get anything on the break, allowing Nicole to claim the mediums and Blizzard to take the highs, making it difficult for Gabe to defend the lows. The end was remarkably close in game 9, as Nicole betrayed Gabe due to an easier shot, and then she banked in Blizzard's last ball on the next turn for her second win. Blizzard tried to protect the highs in game 10, while Nicole had the mediums, leaving a vengeful Gabe with the lows. This worked out pretty well, as Gabe split the even game open with a four-ball run, taking Blizzard out. Two turns later, Nicole just bested Gabe for her third win, leaving plenty to be settled in the series. Game 11 saw Blizzard finally put the series to rest, battling her way to defend the lows as Gabe put up a particularly vicious attack toward her. Nicole was the first to fall on Blizzard's three-ball run-out, as she clinched advancement with her fifth win. Gabe sits at 15 points, while Nicole is already out with 11.

Chicky Phil v. Stinky v. Dusty at Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific. Chicky Phil started well in defending the lows, but Stinky made quick work of Chicky Phil on a seven-ball run. Dusty nearly got a point without shooting, but she and Stinky sparred a bit, with Stinky prevailing for his first win. Chicky Phil didn't have to wait long for his revenge on Stinky's efforts, attacking Stinky's highs early in game 2. Dusty piled on and helped eliminate Stinky, although it was Chicky Phil doing the honors in the end. Chicky Phil then ousted Dusty for his first win. Game 3 was a bit slower to develop in terms of targeting, although Chicky Phil and Stinky appear to have a bitter rivalry brewing. Dusty made an error at the end, nearly knocking herself out, which allowed Stinky an easy tap-in to oust her before making the last two highs to also beat Chicky Phil for his second win. Game 4 saw Chicky Phil establish himself with the highs pretty well, and Dusty made the lows her own at the expense of Stinky and the mediums. Dusty put Stinky into a hole, and while he struck back a bit, Chicky Phil took him out on the first shot of a four-ball run-out that gave the host his second win. Dusty was happy to fly under the radar with choppy and short runs in game 5, and it worked well, as she casually combined with Stinky to take out Chicky Phil early. The problem for Dusty was vulnerability, as Stinky took her out in two turns since most of her balls were near pockets, while his were safer in the middle of the table. Stinky earned his third win with the effort. Dusty again didn't play either opponent directly too much, but she found herself unable to pick up a win after Stinky was taken out of the game on a four-ball run by Chicky Phil. The host instead made Dusty's last ball on his second try for his third win of the series. Dusty rocked a seven-ball run in game 7, drastically harming both opponents. Stinky didn't get anything on his first turn thanks to a scratch, allowing Chicky Phil to shift the balance of power, taking Stinky out with a couple of Dusty's balls. Dusty couldn't build off her run, and fell to a three-ball run-out by Chicky Phil, his fourth win of the series. Dusty didn't have the same urgency on her shots in game 8, allowing Stinky and Chicky Phil to push her around in a fight to get at each other. Stinky actually had a large possession advantage, but Chicky Phil erased it on a three-ball run-out for his fifth win of the series. Both Stinky and Dusty are out of the secondary qualifying process.

That's five series and 50 games today. Look for more of the same tomorrow.

Heart of the Game Cutthroat 2017 - Round 1 Day 8

We're back with likely four series today unless two of them go quickly. First up...

Josie v. Rosemary v. Sleepy B. at AT&T Hall, Oceanside. Josie had a bit of a slow start in game 1, allowing Sleepy B. to take the early lead, but Josie's third turn spelled the end of Sleepy B. after a five-ball run. Rosemary had a chance to take the win, but missed on Josie's 7, and Josie buried Rosemary's 13 for the win, her first. Josie had a bit of a personal attack on Sleepy B. in game 2, using her second and third turns to decimate Sleepy B.'s highs. Rosemary nearly got the better of Josie at the end, but she missed on the 1, and Josie managed to get the 8 around her own 1 for the win at the bottom right, Josie's second win of the series. Game 3 was an absolute mess for all involved, as Josie took her lows early on, and Sleepy B. pushed Rosemary out of the game until Josie scratched. At this point, Rosemary held on pretty well, knocking out Josie before falling to Sleepy B. two turns later, as the latter earned her first win of the series. Rosemary stepped up a little stronger in game 4, choosing to protect the highs. This didn't seem to go so well after Josie attacked while defending the mediums, but Rosemary took out Josie on her third turn. Sleepy B. provided a late challenge but couldn't get around Rosemary's defense, and Rosemary picked up her first win in short order. Rosemary claimed the highs early in game 5, and when Sleepy B. messed up on her first turn, Josie took a dominant stance through the middle of the game. Rosemary got the best of both of her opponents though, taking out Sleepy B. on the third shot of a five-ball run-out that also ended Josie through some crafty play. Rosemary has two wins now. Rosemary continued her upward surge in game 6, choosing lows to defend from the break. Josie quickly built up a counterattack, but Sleepy B. hampered both opponents, mostly Josie. On her third turn, Rosemary made her move with a four-ball run-out that down Josie on the first two shots and Sleepy B. on the next two for her third win. Rosemary looked to be in danger in game 7 after an empty break. Sleepy B. immediately took the lows to defend, and Josie soon followed with the highs, but Rosemary stormed back on a seven-ball run for her second turn, wiping out Josie and damaging Sleepy B. Rosemary would get the win on her next turn as Sleepy B. couldn't produce a sufficient counterattack, putting Rosemary on the brink of advancing with four wins. Rosemary made it five in a row for wins with a big game 8, starting on a run and ending with a four-ball run-out that saw her down Sleepy B. and Josie in that order after dominating the game. Her opponents were uncoordinated, and both will be out of the running to join Rosemary in the second round.

Summer v. Jasmine v. Spot at UPS Hall, Maplewood. Jasmine stole the show in game 1 with a nine-ball run on her first turn, with just one instance of collateral damage. Spot selected the lows on his first turn, but failed to take out Summer, who soon returned the favor against him before losing quickly to Jasmine in the veteran's first win. Jasmine and Summer both had good runs to start game 2, each pushing Spot to the brink of disaster. Spot struck back on a five-ball run dampened by a scratch, but this scratch slowed down Jasmine and Summer and bought Spot the time to attack against them, culminating in his first win on his third turn as he potted Summer's last ball. Spot had a good game 3 overall, but he ended up with nothing to show for it, twice scratching to revive each of his opponents once. Summer eventually ended him, but she couldn't hold off Jasmine at the end of the game, as the veteran earned her second win in the series. Summer did her part to decimate the low set while defending the highs in game 4, but she couldn't be prepared for Jasmine's second turn, which saw her bench Spot on the first shot before making all five of Summer's balls consecutively for her third win in a big six-ball run-out. Jasmine had an explosive break in game 5, potting one of everything but choosing to defend the lows. Summer soon followed with the mediums, and both of them worked well against Spot despite needing three turns to oust him. Summer then had better position against Jasmine and took her out in another couple of turns with a kick on the 3 to the top side for her first win. Jasmine made another deep cutting run in game 6, putting Spot in trouble. He responded quickly to the run, leaving the lows to Summer, who ultimately defended them well. Jasmine took out Spot, and then Summer bested Jasmine late for her second win of the series. Jasmine struck big in game 7, after Summer turned a nearly empty break into a seven-ball run. Jasmine attacked with a six-ball run that seated Summer rather abruptly. Spot nearly got Jasmine's last ball in, but she made his 5 on her second chance, a two-rail bank to the top side for her fourth win. Summer kept the series going after a rocky start to the game for her highs. Jasmine took lows but wasted a chance at a big run from the break. Spot followed up with the mediums and did well, but Summer held on, taking out Spot first before topping Jasmine in a slow finish for her third win. Jasmine did well in game 9 to prevent a counterattack by Summer, leaving her with a weak set after Jasmine took lows and Spot took highs. Jasmine knocked Summer out, and then beat Spot on the next turn for her clinching fifth win. Summer took 13 points in qualifying, which probably won't be enough to advance, while Spot had a paltry 5 points to his name.

Dominic v. Luigi v. Sugar at House of 10 Windows, Del Sur. Luigi had the first big run in game 1, doing a number against the highs. Sugar had a chance to stick Dominic with that set, but she missed, and Dominic escaped to the mediums. Predictably, Sugar was first out, but Dominic then surged forward to beat Luigi in a comeback for his first win of the series. Luigi again struck first in game 2 with a six-ball run to put the medium set in trouble. Sugar had a chance to put Dominic on the edge of defeat, but she missed her shot, and Dominic ended up winning with a six-ball run-out, sparing Sugar until the fourth shot of that burst. Dominic has two wins now. Dominic started a lot earlier with a nine-ball run from the break in game 3, a brilliant performance that just kept Luigi alive when he made a four-ball run against Dominic. Sugar never got a shot, and Dominic survived just long enough to pick up the win, his third of the series, against Luigi. Dominic had a weaker break in game 4, and he paid for it a bit. Sugar took the highs on the first turn, and Dominic claimed the mediums, but it was Luigi with his favored lows that did the best. Both Sugar and Dominic had scratches to help Luigi recover from a rough start, and he took them out on consecutive turns, gifting the second place point to Sugar while he won his first game. Luigi had no doubts about taking highs in game 5, after an impressive break and his five-ball run that followed it. Sugar doubled down by taking mediums, which ended up as a bad decision. Dominic fought with Sugar to knock her out of the game on a three-ball run, but Luigi took the win in the end, his second win of the series as he tapped in Dominic's last ball. Sugar ripped an eight-ball run after a scratch by Dominic in game 6, the impressive performance giving her a guaranteed point. Luigi missed his shot to earn something from the game, and Dominic had a three-ball run before Sugar bounced him with a bank of the 6 and a long shot on the 10 for her first win. Dominic settled things down again in game 7, struggling at first against Sugar's highs and Luigi's mediums, but he did well at the end. Luigi was the first player out thanks to Sugar, but Dominic got the win, his fourth, as he came from behind to top Sugar. Game 8 went to Luigi after a very painful start for all of the players after two scratches brought the full rack on the table. Sugar tried to defend the lows, but she was out first on Luigi's four-ball run-out, followed by Dominic on the two shots after that as Luigi earned his third win of the series. Sugar had a good start to game 9, taking the highs this time, but things got tight near the end of the game. Sugar elected to take out Luigi first, but she couldn't finish off Dominic, and he took her out to clinch the series on his fifth win, advancing to the second round. Luigi hit 12 points while Sugar had 6, both failing to qualify for further action in this preseason adventure.

Sierra v. Oreo v. Valencia at Apple Center, Todavía. Valencia had a better start to game 1 than her opponents with a deep run to pin both of them under her mediums. Valencia took Sierra out on her second turn, but had no chance to answer against a four-ball run-out from Oreo, who took the first win in the series. Valencia didn't leave her sister out to dry in game 2, making a nice run as she defended the highs. Sierra chose to protect the mediums, and the two of them attacked against Oreo more fiercely, taking her out on the second turn before Valencia got the better of Sierra at the end of the game for her first win. Sierra ran a brilliant ten-ball run-out in game 3 on her first turn of the game. Valencia and Oreo never had a chance to claim a suit, each taking half a point for their equally disappointing finish as Sierra picked up her first win. Sierra had a shorter five-ball run on her second turn of game 4, but both Sierra and Oreo picked on Valencia's highs as their primary target. Sierra actually took out Valencia first, as part of a three-ball run-out on her third turn to earn her second win. Sierra's slow start is completely behind her after her strategically sound game 5 performance. She defended her mediums quite well, and pitted Oreo and Valencia against each other for much of the game. Sierra ousted Valencia first, straining their loose partnership as sisters as Oreo was able to gain another point in Sierra's third win. Valencia charged forward with a six-ball run after Oreo couldn't do anything after a Sierra scratch to start game 6. Sierra scratched again later, and Valencia felt no shame in burying her sister first, choosing to beat Oreo head-to-head a turn later. Valencia earned her second win of the series. Oreo went on a seven-ball run-out in game 7 on her second turn, pummeling against Valencia's lows before taking out Sierra's mediums in the efficient rally for her second win that had been brewing for awhile. Valencia went on quite the surge after being attacked by Oreo and betrayed by Sierra early in game 8. Valencia downed Sierra, likely ending their collaboration, but couldn't beat Oreo, who took Valencia's 8 to the bottom side for her third win. Valencia sought vengeance in game 9, and she got it with a nine-ball run, leaving Sierra to meekly tap in one ball to earn the point over Oreo before Valencia finished her off for her third win, leveling the win totals for all three competitors. Sierra charged forward with a six-ball run in game 10, crippling the medium set while defending the highs. Oreo chose to knock out Valencia first and take the point, as Sierra made quick work of Oreo with a three-ball run-out on her second turn. Sierra sits on four wins, taking the inside track in the series. Oreo and Sierra both did a number on the highs, with Oreo doing most of the damage early on before Sierra claimed the mediums. Valencia was stuck with third place again, but Oreo kept the series alive as she won game 11 for her fourth victory. Oreo and Sierra decided to settle the series in game 12, combining at the end to eliminate Valencia on Oreo's five-ball run. Sierra had a chance to win but wasted it, allowing Oreo to take her fifth win and the series. Sierra qualified at 17 points, while Valencia is out with 11.5 points.

That's it for today. We're aiming to get up to five series tomorrow.

Heart of the Game Cutthroat 2017 - Round 1 Day 7

We're back for a new day of games. We'll likely play four series today unless fatigue sets in, as the pace of play has taken a toll this week. We begin with...

Potter v. Patches v. Avril Lavigne at Ford Forum, Pronger. Patches prevailed in game 1, most sternly challenged by Potter as they battled with the highs and the lows. Patches protected her lows well, and took out Avril on a five-ball run before knocking Potter out on the next turn for her first win. Potter provided a much better effort in game 2, working a five-ball run on his first turn as he chose to protect the highs again. Avril stepped in to take out Patches on her first turn, and Potter then made a three-ball run-out to get his first win over Avril. Patches got back into the swing of things for game 3, protecting the mediums this time after a good start to the game. Potter elected to secure a point for himself, quickly putting Avril on edge after she messed up her first turn, and Patches knocked her out. Patches took some time to get Potter out, but she succeeded for her second win. Game 4 saw another downturn for Patches, as she couldn't keep her highs on the table after two turns. Potter did most of the damage, but Avril dealt the final blow, and she managed to make her advantage count for a win two turns later when she beat Potter. Avril and Potter did more battle in game 5, after Avril had made a strong run on her second turn that left Potter in good position to knock out Patches. Potter would also beat Avril this time, but not as easily as he should have after a shaky turn. Avril brought the series to two wins for everybody when she made a six-ball run on her first turn and a three-ball run on her second turn, both plays combining to weaken Potter early and then eliminate him two shots before downing Patches' last ball. Patches broke the deadlock with an effective first turn in game 7, putting herself in defense of the lows. Potter took the medium set, and put a lot of pressure on Avril, who couldn't recover from the early attacks, allowing Patches to take her out on the second turn. Patches continued the run, and while Potter countered, Patches picked up the win, her third of the series. Potter had a dominant game 8 with an eight-ball run to establish himself. Avril's making of the 6 on her first turn relegated Patches to third place duties, but Potter made quick work of Avril's last two balls for his third win. Avril put in a similar effort in game 9 with an eight-ball run, and Patches did her part with a couple of shots to put Potter down. However, Avril scratched late in the game, sparking two turns of futility before Patches stepped up to down her and then Potter for her fourth win. Avril and Potter helped offset Patches' four-ball run from a thundering break in game 10. After the first turn, things looked even, but Avril took out Potter quickly, and then bested Patches through defensive positioning to get the win, her third of the series. Potter bounced back with a five-ball run in game 11 that did a lot of damage to the mediums that Avril held after Patches took lows and Potter grabbed highs. Patches made it interesting in the end, but Potter did a 12-5 combination to the top left for his fourth win in the series. Potter had an interesting dilemma on hand in game 12 near the end, with all three players fairly even. He ended up taking a beneficial strategy with a three-ball run-out that downed Patches and then Avril for his fifth win. Potter heads off the the second round, while Patches scored 15 points and Avril took 12 for qualifying.

Taylor Swift v. Vladimir Vasilyev v. Dewey at Nike Field Events Center, Commerce. Vladimir starred with big runs on his first two turns, leaving just three mediums on the board alongside his high set. Dewey accidentally revived Taylor with a scratch, and Taylor quickly betrayed him to earn a point, although that was all she got as Vladimir closed up the win. Taylor and Vladimir switched roles in game 2, as Taylor delivered a bruising second turn to everyone. She knocked out Dewey first, then had two collateral damage shots before wiping out Vladimir's 5 for the win on a huge run. Taylor attacked with force, making two balls on the break of game 3 and then potting her own medium to ignite the rest of the run. Vladimir stepped in to claim the lows, which proved a mistake at the end. Taylor got control after a lull, taking out Vladimir and Dewey in that order on the last two shots for her second win. Taylor made her big surge in game 4 on her third turn, after weathering a slight attack from Vladimir early on. Dewey and Vladimir had shaky performances on the whole in this game, and Taylor picked them off with a six-ball run-out, with Vladimir getting the second place finish. Taylor had a slow start in game 5, and Dewey and Vladimir nearly did enough to put her out of the game. Taylor didn't help her cause by scratching, but the extra balls on the table diverted her opponents' attentions to each other. Vladimir ended up ousting Dewey, and then Taylor battled two aside with Vladimir, before potting one of her own balls to get a clear shot at his for her fourth win in the series. Taylor didn't last very long in game 6 despite her strong break. When Dewey shot into a cluster, Taylor couldn't get anything out of the next shot, and Vladimir and Dewey combined to take her out. Vladimir followed up by knocking out Dewey two turns later for his second win. Dewey and Vladimir got established well in game 7, but Taylor starred with a five-ball run to make things close near the end of the game. She couldn't complete the effort, leaving Vladimir to knock her out before Dewey for his third win of the two-horse race of a series. Vladimir kept up the fight in game 8, using Dewey to help him weaken Taylor early on before betraying Dewey to face Taylor directly. Taylor nearly got the better of Vladimir, but the rookie held strong to pick up his fourth win, pulling even with Taylor on the brink of advancing. Dewey decided to have a say in game 9, picking up the low set and using it to great effect. In the end, he struck a four-ball run-out, downing Taylor and then Vladimir for his first win in the series. Dewey wasn't done yet, striking early in game 10 with a strong run to pick up the medium set. Vladimir took a few pot shots at Taylor, but couldn't take her out, and she managed to even things out a bit. Dewey still got his second win, taking out Vladimir first and then Taylor on his three-ball run-out. Dewey had another good break in game 11, claiming the lows with his play. Taylor took some time to establish herself with the highs, but both she and Dewey nearly got Vladimir knocked out. Vladimir fought back with a four-ball run, but Dewey prevailed again, taking out Vladimir and Taylor on consecutive shots for his third win. Dewey had something brewing in game 12, but Taylor snuffed it out pretty quickly. Vladimir had made it a mission to attack Taylor, but Dewey and Taylor fought him off. Dewey had a chance to win late, but rattled Taylor's 7 out, and she cut his 14 to the bottom side for her fifth win and the series. Vladimir finished with 16 points, while Dewey's late rally got him up to 13 points.

Midnight v. Dusky v. Leandra at BMW RockDome, Westside. Originally scheduled for Friday, this series and the next four after it went on Monday. Midnight didn't get a great start to game 1, but she started playing well from her second shot. She and Leandra combined strongly against Dusky, who didn't do much to defend herself. Leandra then got the upper hand on Midnight for her first win of the series. Leandra set the tone on the break of game 2, claiming the medium set again. Midnight showed the weakest in this game, but she still took a second place, as Dusky woke up with a three-ball run-out at the end for the win, her first. Dusky reverted back to poor shooting in game 3, and Midnight also had some struggles with her accuracy, but after Dusky went out thanks to Leandra's attack, Midnight barely held Leandra off for the win, putting all three players at one win. Leandra's success in game 4 stemmed from a very lucky five-ball run that saw Dusky benched rather abruptly. Midnight tried to fight back as she protected the highs, but she missed on Leandra's last ball, and Leandra made both of Midnight's for her second win. Leandra didn't get as much out of game 5, as Midnight launched the first attack and Dusky went deep on a four-ball run to damage Leandra later in the game. Leandra weakened both opponents, but quickly fell to Midnight, who would win her second game on a three-ball run-out. Dusky and Leandra each had big runs in game 6, quickly destroying the low set that belonged to Midnight. Seeking vengeance, Midnight instead scratched on her second turn, and Dusky soon put her out of her misery. Leandra would prevail in the end, making both of Dusky's remaining balls after Dusky couldn't clear Leandra off the table. The win was Leandra's third. Leandra and Dusky combined to take out Midnight again early in game 7, although Leandra did most of the heavy lifting this time as Dusky and Midnight both had struggles. Leandra eventually found her shot in a frustrating finish, taking out Dusky after awhile for her fourth win. Leandra had an abbreviated first turn in game 8, allowing Dusky to set the tone early in the game. Dusky did just that, putting Midnight in a tough position. Leandra's second turn left plenty to be desired as well, and Dusky took the win on a five-ball run-out that saw her end Midnight on the second shot before making three straight against Leandra for her second victory. Leandra and Dusky seemed to continue their casual partnership during game 9, working to pummel Midnight's mediums. Leandra turned first with a deep run that would have knocked Dusky out were it not for a scratch. This kept Dusky in the game, and she would pull off a five-ball run-out in the end, knocking out Leandra and then Midnight for her third win in the series. Dusky went on a crazy seven-ball run-out late in game 10 for her fourth win, pulling even in the series with Leandra, who had made the early push in this game. Dusky kept her highs on the table and attacked relentlessly, denying Leandra a point by taking her out first. Dusky switched over to lows for game 11, and managed to play off Leandra and Midnight against each other. Both were weakened by their personal rivalry too much to combat Dusky. Midnight took Leandra out somewhat selfishly, and Dusky then made Midnight's last ball to win the series with her fifth win. Leandra had 14 points in qualifying, while Midnight took 12.

Wings v. Lexi Woode v. Puff I at Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central. Wings made a good impression on his new home fans in game 1, keeping all of his balls on the table through two turns thanks to scratches by both of his opponents. Puff I was in trouble from the start, and Lexi had difficulty in attack, allowing Wings to oust Lexi and then Puff I with minimal resistance for his first win. Game 2 saw a dramatic drop in shot quality on all sides, mostly due to a cluster containing all three sets of balls. Puff I and Lexi managed to keep themselves in the game, while Wings fell to an early exit, and then Lexi beat Puff I when the latter missed a late shot. This was Lexi's first win. Lexi wouldn't get as lucky in game 3, as both of her opponents targeted what would become her medium suit early on. Lexi also scratched, hurting her cause, and Puff I made sure to take her out first. Puff I almost got the win, but her last shot ended her own high suit instead of Wings' lows, giving Wings his second win. Game 4 went even better for Wings, who claimed his highs at the start of the game with a firm break. Puff I and Lexi each had runs, Lexi going five balls to bring everything to an even level. Wings then struck with Lexi going out first, and then a tap-in on Puff I's 2 for Wings' third win of the series. Lexi established herself first with the mediums in game 5, and went on a significant run to damage her opponents. Wings then picked the lows to defend, after potting and a medium and a high to spark a six-ball run-out for his fourth win in a surge of brilliant shooting. Wings iced off the series with a firm break to take the lows in game 6. Lexi soon attacked his lows while defending the mediums, but her scratch gave Wings new life. Puff I had one weak turn, and then Wings finished Lexi off before ousting Puff I on the next turn for the series-clinching win. The quick series saw Puff I claim 5 points while Lexi took only 4, both already eliminated from a chance of reentering the competition in the second round.

Ms. Kitty v. Kayla v. Cassandra at Verizon Field Events Center, Pacific. Ms. Kitty knows this will be a tough series to get anything out of, going against good friends. Kayla and Cassandra didn't definitively work against Ms. Kitty, but they did knock her out first, with Cassandra dealing the death blow first to Ms. Kitty with collateral damage, and then to Kayla for her first win. Ms. Kitty managed to put both Cassandra and Kayla on the edge of defeat in game 2, but it didn't do any good, as Cassandra followed up her big opening run with a three-ball run-out, seating Ms. Kitty and then Kayla, for her second win. Ms. Kitty completed half of the job in game 3, earning herself a point when she knocked out Cassandra after scratching on the previous turn. Kayla still had a lot of strength and pinned Ms. Kitty in a bad spot before taking her out on the next turn, giving Kayla her first win of the series. Cassandra and Kayla found their partnership at an awkward spot after an eight-ball run by Ms. Kitty left both of them vulnerable. Cassandra opted to equalize things, but then denied Kayla a point as she let Ms. Kitty finish second in Cassandra's third win of the series in four games. Ms. Kitty finally struck for a win in game 5, driving a stake between Cassandra and Kayla after their lingering bitterness from the last game. Both took shots at each other, allowing Ms. Kitty's lows to stand longer, and then Ms. Kitty took out Cassandra's mediums and Kayla's highs on a four-ball run-out for her first win. Ms. Kitty kept the tensions between her opponents high, turning against Cassandra to pile on to what Kayla had done earlier in game 6. Cassandra didn't strike back well enough and found herself out fairly quickly. Ms. Kitty then beat Kayla head-to-head for her second win of the series. Ms. Kitty continued the divide and conquer technique in game 7, weathering a renewed attacked from Kayla and Cassandra at the start. Ms. Kitty managed to knock out Kayla first, and then held off Cassandra at the end to grab her third win of the series, pulling even with Cassandra in wins. Ms. Kitty came back from the dead for the win in game 8, as Cassandra's second scratch of the game came on what would have been the final shot. Kayla didn't get much done on her turn, but Ms. Kitty knocked Kayla back out of the game before downing Cassandra for her fourth win. Cassandra also went on the brink of advancing as she won game 9, with a renewed helpful effort from Kayla to keep Ms. Kitty away from the title as it becomes more obvious Kayla won't take the series. Cassandra still pushed Kayla around a bit, but took out Ms. Kitty first in her fourth win. Ms. Kitty went on a massive run on her first turn of game 10, forcing Kayla out of the game, and then going head-to-head with Cassandra. Ms. Kitty's run faded too soon, and Cassandra pulled off a three-ball run-out for the win, clinching the series in the process. Ms. Kitty took 15 points in qualifying, while Kayla's already done at just 8 points.

Mitchell v. Twinkie II v. Nightfur at Mercedes-Benz Forum, Harrison. Mitchell one-upped his future captain in game 1, running six balls from the break to make things tough. The true hometown hero, Twinkie II, did what she could with what was left, and Mitchell would knock out Nightfur on his second turn. Mitchell was slow to close out the game, but he did get his first win over Twinkie II. Mitchell again had a stunning break for a rookie in game 2, choosing to protect mediums this time. He and Twinkie II damaged Nightfur enough that her counterattack became unimportant, and Mitchell took Nightfur out on his second turn, and then Twinkie II thanks to some good defense on the next turn. Mitchell has two wins already in the series. Nightfur drew a point of the pair of Specters with her game 3 performance, following up Twinkie II's fierce attack against the lows. Nightfur kept Mitchell in the game in a weakened state, but took him out first on her three-ball run-out, and then benched Twinkie II for her first win. Nightfur furthered the divide between the teammates she's opposing, striking quickly against one set in game 4. Twinkie II and Mitchell were both dumbfounded by the move, and Nightfur did more on the second turn before Twinkie II threw Mitchell under the bus. Mitchell predictably exited first, and Nightfur wasted no time in completing a four-ball run-out to oust Twinkie II as well for her second win. Mitchell's only action in game 5 was a scratch that kept Twinkie II at full strength through the first turn. Nightfur didn't waste time in taking Mitchell out, and she put a bit of damage on Twinkie II during the four-ball run, but Twinkie II ousted Nightfur with a three-ball run-out to earn her first win. Twinkie II had a decent game going as she defended the highs in game 6 from the break, but a late scratch coupled with Mitchell's previous surge left Twinkie II in trouble. Nightfur would take her down, and then turned to Mitchell, with whom she had some trouble. Mitchell couldn't connect on Nightfur's last two balls either, and Nightfur did scoop up her third win of the series after an awkward phase of the game. Nightfur made it four wins in game 7 as she took out Twinkie II and Mitchell on a three-ball run-out, including a close double-pot of the 3 and 4 at the end of the game to put herself on the brink of advancing. Mitchell fought back in game 8, with the help of an early scratch by Nightfur that gave him and Twinkie II plenty of chances to bury Nightfur. The wily veteran Nightfur stayed in the game long enough to give Twinkie II trouble, but it was Mitchell taking out both of them, with Nightfur drawing the point for placing second in Mitchell's third win. Game 9 was very competitive for all of the players, with Twinkie II starting well, Nightfur surging in the middle, and Mitchell prevailing on a tough cut at the end for his fourth win, pulling even with Nightfur on the brink of advancing. Nightfur earned the series in game 10 with a massive seven-ball run-out, drilling Twinkie II's favored lows down first before tapping in the 12 to complete things against Mitchell despite ceding him a point. Mitchell finished at 15 points while Twinkie II had 7 as Nightfur advances for sure to the second round.

Boots v. Panda v. Crystal at Honda Driftwood Coliseum, Pearl. Game 1 took just one turn, as Boots made a couple of balls from the break to claim the lows for herself. Panda piled on in claiming mediums, but Crystal overcame the early deficit with a seven-ball run-out, gifting second place to Crystal on a shot decision in her first win. Game 2 went much slower but maintained a similar even keel between the players. No one was out early, and it took until Panda's late three-ball run to sit Boots on the bench. Crystal fired back, but while she made one of Panda's mediums, she also potted her last ball, securing just second place for herself as Panda got his first win. Crystal made up for things by getting a big run in game 3. Eventually, Boots was knocked out by Panda, who tried to turn on Crystal but ended up getting his last ball pinned at the top right. Crystal took care of it with a tap-in for her second win of the series. Boots had a big chance late in game 4 to make things interesting in the series after she took out Panda, but she missed on Crystal's 13 at the bottom left. Crystal shot back on the 3 at the top side, converting the shot for her third win in the series as she tries to pull away quickly. Crystal continued her surge in game 5, working to protect her lows after a slow first turn saw Panda take the mediums. Crystal gained the lows on her second turn, and Boots was quickly made a target with her depleted highs. Crystal would get the win a couple of turns later on a three-ball run-out, with Panda gaining second place this time. Crystal smacked a six-ball run in game 6, hungry for the series this time. Panda managed to claim the highs to combat Crystal's low, and Boots got a turn in before Crystal and Panda combined to end her game. Panda continued that late run and won the game on its fourth shot, taking out Crystal's last low for his second win. Crystal nabbed another six-ball run on her first turn of game 7, going after the mediums as she protected the highs. Boots didn't want to leave the game without a point, so she potted the last medium to end Panda's game, and then she made it a seven-ball run-out with one piece of collateral damage to earn her first win. Crystal unleashed an eight-ball run in game 8 in an attempt to clinch the series again, but Panda weakened Crystal and then Boots took both of them out for her second win to deny the Flames captain once again. Boots stayed composed in game 9, protecting the lows. Panda supported her cause with a larger attack on the highs to slow Crystal down, but Crystal kept things even on the counterattack. On the third turn, Boots finished both of them off on consecutive shots, dropping Panda first and then Crystal as Boots claimed her third win in a row. Crystal finally took the series in game 10, although Panda did everything he could to keep Boots involved in the process, reviving her twice to prevent Crystal from attacking him directly. Boots ended up getting a point from her second place finish as Crystal turned on Panda before taking Boots out. Crystal advances to the second round, while Boots hit 12 points and Panda is out with 9 points.

That's all for a big post. Tomorrow, we want to do four or five series of games.

Heart of the Game Cutthroat 2017 - Round 1 Day 6

Just three series today as we adjust the schedule for more even games over the rest of the round. We begin with...

Kyle v. Rudolph v. Neopolitan at Ebay Center, Queens. Rudolph got off to a great start with an eight-ball run in game 1, which allowed Neopolitan to pot the last high ball to bench Kyle. Neopolitan continued a slow build by playing defense to keep her ball on the table, which worked in the end as she beat Rudolph head-to-head for her first win. Game 2 saw Rudolph improve on his previous effort with a ten-ball run-out, giving half a point to each of Neopolitan and Kyle, the latter not even getting a chance to take a shot. Rudolph had another good run in game 3, going four balls on his second turn, which damaged Kyle in particular. Neopolitan ended up taking Kyle out to face Rudolph directly, and once again, she got the better of him, taking out his four balls before he could get her last one. Neopolitan can be proud with two wins in the series so far. Kyle didn't do himself any favors in game 4, scratching on his second turn to give each of his opponents an extra ball. They promptly eliminated him, with Rudolph dealing the last blow, and Rudolph also managed to hold off Neopolitan in a slow battle for his second win. Rudolph made a five-ball run in game 5, heavily targeting the medium set as he defended the lows. Neopolitan and Kyle each had a miss, but Neopolitan claimed the highs by knocking Kyle out on her second turn, and she once again bested Rudolph despite his advantage. Neopolitan earned her third win so far. Game 6 saw Kyle get more involved in the attack after Rudolph built a five-ball run. Kyle also struck a deep run, putting Rudolph in trouble. Neopolitan finished him off, and then held on against Kyle despite his late advantage. Neopolitan made Kyle's last two balls for her fourth win. Kyle made his presence felt again in game 7, pulling strings in the middle and late parts of the game, including with a three-ball run-out to settle a close finish after Neopolitan came up short. Kyle's balanced attack helped him get a win, and he left second place to Rudolph this time. Neopolitan appeared to be out of game 8 as well, as Kyle had taken her out on a late run, but his scratch let her back in, and she would win with a three-ball run-out for her clinching fifth victory, taking out Rudolph and then Kyle. Rudolph qualified at 11 points, while Kyle is already out of the running with his 4.5 points.

Mario v. Prism v. Ms. Puppy at Nestle's Warriors Hall, Central. Mario started well in game 1, attacking the highs while defending the lows, but Prism stole the show with her run on her first turn, wiping out Mario's lows. Prism then left Ms. Puppy an awkward shot, and took her out on the next turn for her first win. Prism had an awful break in game 2, leading to a painfully slow process in the end. Prism wasn't a part of this, getting knocked out by Mario early on, but Ms. Puppy's lack of shooting precision caused her to take a tough loss again, as Mario picks up his first win of the series. In game 3, Mario and Ms. Puppy again had the clear advantage, taking out Prism before her second turn. At the end, both players had chances to win, but it was Ms. Puppy prevailing on the second try for her first win. Prism figured things out again in game 4, pummeling a five-ball run on her second turn to take out Ms. Puppy before turning her attention to a close battle she ultimately won over Mario for her second win. Prism had another poor break to lead off game 5, and it led to a bit of confusion. Ms. Puppy ended up defending the high suit against Mario and the lows, and they worked to take out Prism first. Then, Mario finally got the better of Ms. Puppy after a slow battle that saw each of them miss twice on the other player's last ball. Mario took his second win of the series. Mario had all the makings of a good performance with his game 6 break, but an early scratch reversed that. He oddly selected highs from the break, which became a favored target of Ms. Puppy and Prism over the next two turns, the latter wiping him out at the end of turn 2. Prism did this to start a three-ball run, which left just one of Ms. Puppy's lows on the table. Ms. Puppy fired back but couldn't take out Prism, who finished the job at the bottom side for her third win. Ms. Puppy showed a bit more poise in game 7, responding to a strong break by Prism with a nice opening run. Mario and Prism each got their shots in after that, but Ms. Puppy had a four-ball run-out in the end, taking out Mario and Prism in turn for her second win of the close series. Prism had the chance to go on a deep run in game 8, but she couldn't make an early shot. She chose to defend the lows, while Ms. Puppy took the highs. Mario was in trouble early, but managed to pull even before Ms. Puppy ousted him and Prism on the last two shots for her third win. Ms. Puppy seemed to have a good grip on game 9 at first, but both Prism and Mario pushed her medium down. Mario took over the advantage late, holding four on the table, and while Prism knocked out three of them, he shot back to take out Ms. Puppy first and then Prism to even things at three wins apiece. Prism had a huge five-ball run to start game 10, burying the high set very quickly. Ms. Puppy made sure that set belonged to Mario before attacking Prism's lows, and despite another deep run from Prism, she would end up finishing last for the game. The cringe-worthy finish saw Mario take out Prism but fail to hit Ms. Puppy's ball, and Ms. Puppy then knocked Mario out for her fourth win. Prism ensured at least one more game after a crazy game 11. Ms. Puppy scratched on the break, leading to chaos as Mario had an early miss and Prism took the mediums. This balance existed to the end, where Prism broke out on a three-ball run-out to take out Mario and then Ms. Puppy to earn her fourth win. Mario forced the series into a decisive game after game 12 opened in poor form for all of the players. Ms. Puppy eventually claimed the lows, and Mario protected the mediums, while Prism took the highs and was eliminated in due time. Mario and Ms. Puppy then battled, with Ms. Puppy's miss on the 10 from short range allowing Mario to bank the 4 to the bottom side for his fourth win. Game 13 was a little bit of everything, as Mario took the lows to defend. Ms. Puppy got the mediums, and played well, but a five-ball run from Prism gave her a late advantage. Mario couldn't stop Prism, but Ms. Puppy took her out and then Mario on a three-ball run-out to secure the series with her fifth win. Mario ended up with 16 points for qualifying, while Prism scored 15.

Hoppy v. Chelsea v. Zach at House of 10 Windows, Del Sur. Hoppy had a decent start in game 1, partially mitigated by a scratch from Chelsea on her first turn that kept Zach hanging around. Chelsea was later punished for the scratch, as Hoppy and Zach worked together to get her out of the game. Hoppy would get the knockout, and then managed to hold off Zach until she won on the next turn. Game 2 belonged firmly to Zach and Chelsea, as they each used their first turns to pummel the highs, weakening Hoppy immediately. Hoppy got a couple of shots in, but Zach dealt the death blow to her and damaged Chelsea in the process, giving him his winning advantage a couple of turns later after exchanging short runs. Zach earned his first win of the series. Chelsea had an early mistake in game 3, costing her a chance to pressure Hoppy. Instead, Hoppy earned the chance, taking highs to bully Chelsea's lows. It worked, as Hoppy knocked Chelsea out to go head-to-head with Zach, which was a battle Hoppy won readily with her advantage in balls on the table. Hoppy has two wins now. Zach got back in game 4, battling with Hoppy again at the end and prevailing this time after a disappointing effort from Chelsea. This pulled Zach even with Hoppy at two wins. Zach had a poor break in game 5, but he made it work out in the end, as Hoppy and Chelsea casually attacked his mediums while more ferociously going after each other. Zach swooped in with a six-ball run-out at the end, taking out Chelsea before Hoppy for his third win. Zach had a similar break to lead off game 6, getting few positive results from it. The shooting was poorer this time, until Chelsea unleashed her four-ball run-out to take out Zach and Hoppy within shots of each other for her first win. Zach had to hold on tight in game 7, although he did force Chelsea to take the medium set when he selected highs after Hoppy took lows. Hoppy later scratched to revive Chelsea, but Zach assembled a three-ball run-out from the kitchen, sinking Chelsea and then Hoppy for his fourth win. Zach only got the break shot in game 8, as Hoppy erupted for a nine-ball run, and Chelsea claimed the remaining high ball to earn herself a point. Chelsea did make three of Hoppy's five balls, but Hoppy responded with one more shot on her second turn for the win, her third of the series. Chelsea had a beastly six-ball run in game 9 that put Zach and Hoppy on edge. Hoppy finally betrayed Zach on her third turn, making both highs to keep herself alive with the mediums. She made it a five-ball run to put herself even with Chelsea, and it was a battle Hoppy would win, as Chelsea couldn't get clear looks and ended up gifting a great final shot to Hoppy. The win put Hoppy back on par with Zach at four apiece, with Chelsea far behind at one win. Chelsea didn't want to let the series end yet, putting on another strong run to get the early advantage. Chelsea then knocked out Hoppy to face a reeling Zach head-to-head, where she would get the win with a nice pair of shots two turns later. Chelsea has her second win in the series. Zach made an assurance of game 11 being the deciding game, taking out Chelsea early on with a four-ball run. He didn't account for the home fans rallying Hoppy into a remarkable five-ball run-out, taking Zach from perfect to second place as Hoppy secured the fifth win to advance. Zach qualifies at 16 points, while Chelsea is already out with 9.

That's all for today. There should be four series tomorrow before potentially some action over the weekend.

Heart of the Game Cutthroat 2017 - Round 1 Day 5

We're back with likely four series again today, beginning with...

Waluigi v. Chimpy v. Ruby at Pepsi Arena, Lighton. Ruby had all but won game 1 after making five balls over two turns, but her scratch revived both of her opponents, who tried to target her. Waluigi didn't have much success, but Chimpy damaged Ruby before taking out Waluigi. Ruby would fall on Chimpy's next turn, giving the wily returning veteran his first win. Waluigi attacked with more intent in game 2, making a five-ball run to deeply damage Chimpy's chances at another win. Ruby had an early scratch that derailed her effort, and by the time she went directly against Waluigi after he ousted Chimpy, the advantage was too much to overcome. Waluigi cruised to his first win with an easy final turn. Chimpy and Waluigi struggled at the start of game 3, allowing Ruby to build up a nice lead, and Chimpy felt no loyalty to keep Waluigi in the game, taking him out first. Ruby had a chance to take the win but missed her shot, and Chimpy made a three-ball run-out for his second win of the series. Chimpy set the tone in game 4 with a nice opening run, and Ruby struggled at first, allowing Waluigi to pick lows. Ruby didn't get better until a four-ball run-out at the end, as the other players kept her in the game and she made them pay, taking out Chimpy and then Waluigi for her first win. Ruby never got a chance to defend her highs in game 5, as Waluigi claimed the lows and Chimpy took the mediums while combining to take her out on the first turn. Head-to-head, Waluigi damaged Chimpy a bit, but Chimpy fired back with a four-ball run-out for the win, his third of the series. Chimpy attacked well from the game 6 break again, making things difficult for himself when he had to choose a suit, eventually taking highs. Waluigi followed to claim lows, and they put Ruby at the brink of elimination. She tried a counterattack, but it fell short, and Chimpy offed her, only to be on the wrong end of Waluigi's three-ball run-out for his second win of the series. Ruby had her chances to get back in the series with game 7, but she couldn't defend her medium set against Waluigi, who took her out on his second turn before ousting Chimpy on the next turn after Chimpy couldn't make Waluigi's 5. Waluigi picked up his third win of the series. Game 8 saw Chimpy and Ruby team up to slow down Waluigi's recent momentum, quickly wiping him out on the first turn. Chimpy then dipped into a defensive posture, which successfully prevented Ruby from making a move. Chimpy won on his next turn for his fourth win. Ruby put up another floundering performance early in game 9, and she nearly got knocked out, but Waluigi and Chimpy decided to fight among themselves later in the game. Ruby woke up with a four-ball run-out at the end, offing Chimpy and then Waluigi with the effort for her second win. Waluigi made a strategic error in game 10, targeting Ruby rather than Chimpy, who had a poor start to the game but still a healthy complement of balls on the table. Ruby was first out, and Chimpy turned on Waluigi head-to-head, taking him out on the next turn to clinch the series on his fifth win. Waluigi took 13 points for qualifying, while Ruby scored 10.

Snuggle v. Smudge v. Puff III at AT&T Hall, Oceanside. Smudge got off to a fierce start to game 1, attacking the mediums as she defended the highs. Puff III missed her first shot, allowing Snuggle to claim lows and pressure the mediums as well. They briefly tried to take down Smudge, but she was too strong, eliminating Puff III and Snuggle on consecutive turns for her first win. None of the three players had a good game 2, but it was particularly rough for Puff III, who combined poor shooting with a lack of defense that allowed Snuggle to bump her late in the game. Smudge then countered with a precise kick on the 12 to the top left for her second win to oust Snuggle. Smudge didn't get anything on the break in game 3 either, and Snuggle decided to protect highs. He wasn't great at this, as Puff III quickly buried him by taking the medium set, and Smudge then embarked on a five-ball run-out in the end, benching Snuggle before Puff III this time for her third win. Game 4 saw more twists and turns than a mystery thriller, as two scratches revived people just as they were ousted. Puff III brought Snuggle back from the dead, and Smudge did the same for Puff III soon after. Snuggle would seat Puff III once again, and he managed to hold off Smudge long enough to take her out too, earning his first win in the series. Smudge had a four-ball run early in game 5, hurting the mediums that would be Puff III's suit eventually. Snuggle struggled a bit during the game, and quickly lost his defense, while Puff III burst forward with a six-ball run-out for the win, her first. Smudge settled for second in this appearance. Smudge did well in game 6 to put herself on the brink of advancing with a four-ball run early on and another one to close out the game after Puff III and Snuggle failed to stop her. Snuggle was the first to fall, as Smudge picked off his lows before taking Puff III's mediums to earn her fourth win. Snuggle and Puff III seemed to align their attacks better in game 7, targeting Smudge's low set frequently. This worked to take her out first, and Snuggle kept his run moving with a seven-ball run-out in total, using collateral damage to clear the way to take out Puff III. The unity between Puff III and Snuggle waned late in game 8, as clear shots on Smudge's balls were not present, so they attacked each other. Smudge exploited this to great effect, making a four-ball run-out by downing Snuggle and then Puff III for her fifth win. Smudge gets an easy pass thru to the second round. Snuggle recorded 8 points, and Puff III had 7, both of which mark poor performances.

Pounce v. Precious v. Shelley at House of 10 Windows, Del Sur. Pounce couldn't get anything off the break in game 1, allowing Precious to build a good start defending the mediums. Pounce then roared forward on his second turn with a six-ball run. Precious did the rest to take out Shelley, but she couldn't get Pounce, who won with a three-ball run-out for his first victory. Precious felt hard done by game 2, as her nine-ball run on her first turn, which kept Pounce sidelined for most of the game, ended up being wasted when she scratched. Shelley made sure to take out Precious first, and Pounce then knocked out Shelley with a pair of tough shots to steal his second win. Pounce wouldn't make it three despite his good start in game 3, as he couldn't keep the lows on the table. Shelley had a scratch at one point that made things more difficult, but she kept her composure with the mediums, and ended up taking out Pounce and then Precious on a three-ball run-out for the win, her first. Precious went on another deep run, eight balls this time, on her first turn of game 4. It appeared the effort would be met with similar failures as last time, but neither Pounce nor Shelley could get Precious' last ball down, and Precious fired back with a three-ball run-out, taking Pounce out first and then Shelley in her first win. Precious opted to save her critical run for the end of game 5, instead letting Pounce and Shelley carry the offensive load early in the game. This they did, weakening Precious and each other quite a bit in the even game, until Precious turned things around with a four-ball run-out that offed Pounce's lows before Shelley's mediums for Precious' second win. Shelley adopted the early-run style of Precious in game 6, using a six-ball run to pit Precious and Pounce against each other. Both missed on their first turns, and Precious missed a second time to allow Shelley to further weaken them. Pounce decided one point was better than none, taking out Precious before quickly succumbing to Shelley's brutal reign in her second win. Shelley didn't help herself by scratching on the break of game 7. Pounce and Precious quickly pummeled the medium set as the scraps Shelley would take, and Pounce wiped them out on his second turn to go head-to-head with Precious. Pounce had the early advantage, but he couldn't corral her last ball, and she stole the win away, her third in the series. Precious and Pounce both started slow in game 8, allowing Shelley to return to dominance. Pounce abandoned the fledgling partnership with Precious to save his own hide, making her a quick out by his own work. He had the framework of a run, but he couldn't convert against Shelley, who quickly ousted him for her third win. Shelley continued her good shooting into game 9 with a seven-ball run that induced a scratch from Pounce. Precious betrayed him on the next turn, leaving him to be dispatched by Shelley, who took Precious out on the next shot to secure her fourth win. Precious smashed a quick seven-ball run in game 10, forcing Pounce into a relatively easy decision. He chose to take out Shelley by potting the last low ball, and then surrendered to Precious, who took her fourth win as the series now has two players on the brink of victory. Pounce went on a deep run in game 11, making seven in a row and leaving Shelley to knock out Precious almost immediately. Shelley then dueled with Pounce, and nearly bested him, but Pounce made Shelley's last ball on his third try to secure his third win of the series. Shelley and Precious seemed to have more urgency to end the series in game 12, but neither one could sink Pounce's last ball, and Pounce made them both pay with a three-ball run-out, offing Precious and then Shelley with the effort for his fourth win. Game 13 laid it all on the line for this series, and it started well for Shelley. Pounce had a deep run at one point, making six in a row, but Precious soon targeted him and Shelley finished him off. Precious then beat Shelley head to head for the critical fifth win to advance.

Jennifer Livilotti v. Lize v. Strut at Audi Hall, Terrace City. Lize didn't let a sore shoulder get her down in game 1, finessing her way through the game. Strut thought he had a coup with getting lows, but Lize took him out first before calmly and slowly banking Jennifer's last high 12 to the top left for her first win. Strut had his grip on game 2, having successfully engineered a four-ball run to wipe out Lize and Jennifer, but a scratch changed things. Lize quickly took him out from the kitchen, but she couldn't knock out Jennifer, who would counter more effectively for her first win at the end. Game 3 went remarkably close throughout, as Lize made the first decision on suit, taking lows, but all three players had two balls left when Lize executed a four-ball run-out for the win, her second. Lize took out Jennifer's two first, and then knocked in Strut's two mediums for her second win. Strut made a huge impact in game 4, blasting a seven-ball run to establish himself quickly with the medium set. Jennifer took no hesitation to knock out Lize by making the last high ball, and Jennifer nearly got the better of Strut, but he made Jennifer's last two balls for his first win. Strut and Jennifer did a lot of damage against Lize's lows before she got into game 5, but she dished some back, doing enough to weaken both of them. Jennifer would deal the killing blow to Lize's game, but she couldn't get Strut's last ball, and Strut beat Jennifer for his second straight win. Game 6 returned to the very close form of prior battles. Strut took a four-ball run on the break, but Jennifer and Lize parried him back and each player had one of the last three balls on the table. Lize shone brightest in this late moment, offing Strut before sneaking Jennifer's 9 around her own 13 for her third win with the shot at the top right. Lize continued to do well in game 7 with a short arm motion to preserve her shoulder. Her five-ball run this time, combined with Jennifer's support, quickly sent Strut out of the game. Jennifer and Lize each had a ball left late, and Jennifer's extra strength lifted her to her second win in the series. Lize continued to get things done in game 8, establishing herself with the highs early on. Strut chose the lows on his turn, but Jennifer and Lize combined to get him out of the game rather quickly. Lize ended with a three-ball run-out to finish off Jennifer again, taking her fourth win in the process. Lize kept her offense going with a small run early in game 9, and then another push on her second turn. Strut backed her up pretty well, and they combined to wipe out Jennifer early on. Lize couldn't handle Strut's attack near the end, and Strut won his third game in the series with a three-ball run-out. Strut blasted a nine-ball run on the break in game 10, and Lize put down one of Strut's lows to secure a point for herself. She ended up making a four-ball run, but Strut hit her last ball in when she faltered on his fifth. The win puts Strut and Lize level with four wins each as the series comes close to its end. Jennifer made her presence felt in game 11, attacking viciously against both lows and mediums to weaken Lize and Strut. As the game progressed, Strut did a little damage to Lize and a lot to Jennifer, but Lize took Strut out before potting her own last ball to gift the win to Jennifer in an act of diplomacy. Jennifer and Lize kept their unspoken agreement going in game 12, and it was working perfectly, with Strut out of the game early. Jennifer then scratched, and Lize couldn't put Strut away before his turn. Strut stormed his way to a four-ball run-out, denying Lize a point while ceding one to Jennifer as he took the series with his fifth win. Lize actually scored better than Strut with 17 points to his 16, and Jennifer added 15 in a good series for all involved.

Tomorrow, we'll do another four series or so.

Heart of the Game Cutthroat 2017 - Round 1 Day 4

We're back with more games today, likely reaching at least four series again with the possibility of a fifth. First up...

Hoot v. Citrus v. Princess at Volkswagen Stadium Events Center, Viewpoint Sound. Game 1 stayed even at first, as Citrus selected mediums and Princess took highs on their first turns. Hoot struck back, but couldn't weather their combined storm against him. Princess ousted Hoot, and then Citrus took out Princess for her first win. Citrus couldn't make anything on the break in game 2, and Princess showed no mercy with a hot start. Hoot supported that with more damage to Citrus, who also wasted her second turn. Princess would get the win on a four-ball run-out, dispatching Citrus on the second shot and Hoot two shots later for her first win. Citrus bounced back in game 3, facing a stern challenge from Hoot's good start to the game. Citrus elected to knock out Princess early, and then played excellent defense before getting two pairs of shots to fall to defeat Hoot for her second win. Citrus targeted the mediums on her opening run in game 4, choosing to protect the highs, which backfired against a seven-ball run from Hoot that featured collateral damage. Hoot wouldn't get the last laugh either, as Princess picked up the win on a three-ball run-out after Hoot's take-down of Citrus couldn't extend to Princess. The strong finish gave Princess her second win of the series. Citrus used her first turn in game 5 to put Hoot in deep trouble after he started well attacking against what would be Princess' highs. Princess recovered after that, helping to bury Hoot before Citrus finished him off. Princess then made a three-ball run-out to take out Citrus, earning her third win in the series. Hoot made a good choice to take lows on his first turn, as he held the advantage late in the game against Princess and Citrus, who had battled each other to a weakness for both. Hoot swooped in and knocked out Citrus and then Princess for his first win to conclude game 6. Citrus and Hoot had decent starts in game 7, but they couldn't sustain their offense in the later stages of the game. Both Citrus and Hoot had short second turns, and this gave way to a three-ball run-out from Princess, taking out Citrus and then Hoot for her fourth win. Hoot seemed to have a good start in game 8, but he couldn't put up a similar result on his second turn. Citrus and Princess quickly attacked against him, and he was out when Princess made his final low ball. Princess struggled to get Citrus out, but Citrus missed a tap-in, gifting Princess the win, her fifth and final of the series. Princess heads off to the second round, while Citrus qualifies with 8 points and Hoot takes 7 points.

Paps v. Bells v. Niki at Cisco Arena, Tysini. Paps and Bells both shot well on their opening turns in game 1, combining to take out Niki before she could take a shot. Bells did a lot of damage to herself in the process of keeping her turn going, and Paps just made the 9 on his second turn for the win, his first. Niki promptly got revenge in game 2, using an effective first turn to protect her highs quite well. Paps found himself in a bit of trouble later in the second turn, but Niki took out Bells first and then Paps on the last turn for her first win. Paps and Niki worked hard to put Bells in a deep hole early in game 3, as she had just the 3 on the table after Niki's second turn. Bells held on as Paps and Niki turned to fight each other, and Bells would take out Niki on the second shot of a six-ball run-out that ended with Paps getting knocked out. Bells recorded her first win of the series. Each player had a surge in game 4, with Niki doing well at the start, Bells starring in the middle of the game, and Paps cranking a four-ball run-out to take out Bells and then Niki for the win, his second of the series. Game 5 saw more strategy than usual, as the players tried to balance offense and defense after Niki's scratch. In the end, Bells compromised with Niki, taking out Paps on a three-ball run before offing Niki on the next turn for Bells' second win. Bells and Niki failed to close out Paps in game 6 after leaving him deeply damaged, and he struck back, double-potting the 9 and 10 to take out Bells before offing Niki on the next turn for his third win. Bells and Niki feuded a bit in game 7 after Niki tried to take out Bells. Paps was already deep behind at this point, but Bells made sure to take him out before attacking Niki, which would be a failure. Niki shot back with the last two shots for the win, her second of the series. Game 8 featured quite the battle for Niki, who managed to hold onto her last ball long enough to earn second place, while Bells did the heavy lifting to beat Paps and then Niki for her third win in the series. Game 9 got off to a slow start, which benefited Bells quite a bit as she made an eight-ball run to pressure both of her opponents. In need of points, Niki would betray Paps at her first chance, and she would have to settle for second place when Bells offed her in turn for her fourth win. Niki got established first in game 10, but it would lead to her being the first to exit against Bells, who carried that momentum a little farther to get the win on a six-ball run-out. She ended by banking the 7 of Paps into the top side for her fifth win to advance to the second round. Paps took 12 points in qualifying, while Niki holds 11 points for her efforts.

Puff II v. Wild Thing v. Slinks at Coca-Cola Field Exhibition Center, Boston. Puff II got off to a big start with a seven-ball run to pressure her opposition. Wild Thing further made things worse for Slinks, but the wily veteran hung around and ended up winning on her second turn, offing Puff II and then Wild Thing. Wild Thing had a sloppy game 2 as well, scratching on his second turn. This made him an easy target, and his highs were quickly off the table thanks to Slinks. Puff II then battled with Slinks, and got the win with a two-rail bank on the 3 to the bottom side for her first win. Wild Thing eased up on his shooting force in game 3, and while Puff II and Slinks battled among themselves, he sat in wait. Wild Thing went head-to-head with Slinks and got the win through solid shooting, his first win in the series. Game 4 saw Wild Thing establish himself early on, but Slinks did the bulk of the offense as the protect of the medium set. Puff II worked with Slinks to take Wild Thing out, but Slinks scratched to revive him. Puff II then continued her attack, and Wild Thing weakened Puff II. This left Slinks to make two shots in the end for the win, her second of the series, with Puff II finishing second. An even start to game 5 gave way to a big five-ball run-out by Puff II in the end, as she started with collateral damage to get position on Slinks' remaining pair of balls before taking out Wild Thing's last two for her second win in the series. Slinks successfully defended the highs in game 6 after a rocky start to the game on Puff II's poor break. Puff II was the first out as Wild Thing downed her, only to be taken out by Slinks in her third win. Puff II countered in game 7, defending the highs after Wild Thing had a bit of a slow start. Wild Thing would pick up the second place as Puff II took him out on the last shot of her five-ball run, right after bouncing Slinks to pick up her third win. Puff II had a huge six-ball run-out on her second turn of game 8, after Wild Thing had claimed highs on his first turn. Slinks had a rough turn, and never got to truly defend her lows, as Puff II wiped her out first before taking down Wild Thing in her fourth win. Wild Thing seemed a bit more determined in game 9, protecting his highs quite well. Slinks did well to keep the lows on the table as well, and they survived a single-handed push by Puff II. Wild Thing would get the win over Slinks after taking out Puff II on an earlier turn. Slinks stepped up again in game 10, challenging right from the start as she claimed the lows to protect. Puff II took the highs, and successfully pushed back at both opponents, but Wild Thing and Puff II had a mutual protection clause with their 6 and 14 frozen. Slinks did what she could around the rest of the table, and then took out Wild Thing's 6 on the combination before glancing Puff II's 14 off her own 5 and into the top right on a long deflection play. This was Slinks' fourth win, putting two players on the brink of advancing. Wild Thing, in a must-win situation in game 11, did just that despite Puff II having a remarkably hot start. Slinks struggled for a bit of the game, but picked up the pace later. Wild Thing also had a scratch to complicate the game, but a cluster-buster on his next turn helped continue his run to eventually end the game. He made seven in a row for the win, ousting Puff II and then Slinks for his third victory. Slinks took over the offensive driving with an eight-ball run on her first turn of game 12, taking highs completely out of the game. Puff II had a chance to assure the series be decided in this game, but she missed on the 5, and Wild Thing made it to take out Puff II. Slinks wouldn't back down even as Wild Thing made a four-ball run, and Slinks eventually poked around for the last pair of balls she needed to take her fifth win. Slinks advances to the second round, while Wild Thing took 15 points and Puff II scored another 14 in the tight series.

Marsell v. Stealth v. Dreamy at Samsung Arena, Whitewater. Marsell has the distinction of being the first to face league teammates, but that didn't bother him in game 1. He promptly selected highs and weakened lows, which led to Dreamy finishing third. Stealth fought well in response, but had to settle for second as Marsell made a four-ball run-out for his first win. Marsell appears to be attacking one suit fiercely as his strategy, this time going after highs in game 2. Stealth and Dreamy combined to fight him off, although Dreamy was briefly out of the game until Stealth forced Marsell into a scratch. This proved too much for him, as Stealth took out Marsell and then Dreamy for his first win. Dreamy and Stealth switched roles a bit in game 3, as Dreamy took the mediums and had to bunker down for much of the game. Stealth provided a strong attack against Marsell, who lashed out at the two players but couldn't eliminate either one of them. Dreamy dealt the final blow to Marsell and then took out Stealth for her first win. Dreamy kept up well in game 4, as Stealth established himself with the medium set. Marsell tried a different strategy, trying to fly under the radar by taking the damaged lows, and while Dreamy did inflict damage on Stealth and vice versa, Dreamy's final turn was a three-ball run-out that saw Marsell seated before Stealth once again in Dreamy's second win. Marsell had some success playing Dreamy and Stealth against each other early in game 5, but a scratch from Marsell ruined that. Dreamy and Stealth used their next three turns combined to wipe out Marsell, with Stealth ending on a four-ball run-out that also beat Dreamy in the end for his second win. Stealth made an executive decision on his second turn in game 6, electing to wipe out Dreamy's highs first before tackling Marsell's mediums on his six-ball run-out. Marsell had done well to damage Dreamy on his turn after she started the picking, but Stealth took the win, his third. Marsell pulled a lot of the strings in game 7, and he thought it would nearly work, but after he took out Stealth, he couldn't make Dreamy's last ball. Dreamy fought back with the final pair of shots including a difficult bank of the 5 to the top side for the win, her third of the series. Game 8 saw Marsell again choose his suit, taking lows, which led Stealth to take highs. Stealth did quite a bit of damage to Dreamy's mediums, but Dreamy recovered just fine in the end, helping take down Marsell first and then finishing her three-ball run-out against Stealth for her fourth win. Dreamy did brilliantly to betray Stealth at the end of the series, going on a huge eight-ball run from the break at first. Stealth claimed his suit but also scratched, and this kept Marsell in the game. He couldn't do enough on his run, and Dreamy took him out before also ending Stealth in her fifth win. Dreamy heads to the second round, while Stealth qualified at 14 points and Marsell had only 5 after being successfully double-teamed.

Expect more of the same for playing time tomorrow and going forward.