Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Lone Undefeated League In Lone Match
Undefeated Xtreme 8Ball, after finally knocking off a respectable opponent (very, in fact) in Pool Legends last week, will look to keep it going against Pool Fiction. X8B is in its first season in Major League Pool, but enjoyed a successful debut in Pro Players Association last season. Their opponents, Pool Fiction, have been around to say the least. Lately they've been mired in a nasty slump losing matches left and right. Though it seems the light at the end of the tunnel is coming closer and closer. Is it daylight, or an oncoming train?
The key for Pool Fiction will be to attack. They're the visiting league, and can't afford to go weak anywhere. X8B is too deep for that. Pool Fiction did win for the first time this season last week, but it was Pool Loverz. Still, beggars can't be choosers. PFN will be be led by perennial All-Star xlx_bpk_xlx, and former X8B player easy.money who is 4-0 this season. If Pool Fiction is going to make any kind of play at the #1 seed they've held seemingly every season in recent memory, they need to show they can win these types of matches.
For Xtreme 8Ball, it's a 3-headed monster. dan.buddy and king.ronnie are generally reserved for the mid-to-late games, with Dan in the role of clincher. Dan is 2-2 in such opportunities. X8B also has a player who is finding it increasingly difficult to stay under the radar - u_got_no_skill is 4-0 for this team which has an outstanding 21/7 record. Stephen also picked up a solid win over Pool Legends' ooo_franchise_ooo. The X8B Captain, the_lvlagician, made it to this week's Big League Tour Finals before falling in 3 games to Lucky Shots' nick_ownzz. Speaking of Lucky Shots, X8B has gotten canuck_stoner from LS. No reason has been made clear for the switch yet, but a check of team records, a headcase in LS who can't stay out of the box, and pre-season issues between Captain simon.kitto and a few members of his team might point one in the right direction. canuck_stoner is 0-2 with two failed clinch attempts this season for LS.
I'm not convinced PFN is out of the woods, yet. A win over Pool Loverz is something anybody can accomplish, for the most part. X8B is having an outstanding season, they probably won't go undefeated, but I can't reasonably say it'll end tonight. X8B to win 4-3, clinching before game 7.
