With all due respect, it’s hard to view the finals of the Lucasi Hybrid New England 9-Ball Series Winter Classic on Sunday, February 12 as anything but a battle between Beauty and the Beast; specifically, (in reverse order) Dan Cintron, and the rising Canadian female star, Brittany Bryant.

Cintron came back from the loss-side to challenge her as the hot seat occupant, and Bryant prevailed to conclude an undefeated weekend. The $3,625-added event drew 66 entrants to Legends Billiards in Portsmouth, NH.

They almost met in the battle for the hot seat, but while Bryant successfully got by Barian Yildran in a winners’ side final four, double hill match, Cintron fell to Paul Tori 6-6 (Cintron needing to reach eight). Bryant survived a second straight double hill match, and sat in the hot seat, awaiting what proved to be Cintron’s return.

First up for Cintron on the loss-side was Ivo Petrov, who’d gotten by Scott Packard 8-1 and Tsepel Tenzin 9-7. Yildran drew Adam Vetucan, fresh off two straight double hill wins over Mike Barbagallo and Gareth Steele. Vetucan made it three straight double hill wins with a victory over Yildran, as Cintron was busy downing Petrov 10-8. 

To his credit, Vetucan made it four straight double hill matches in the quarterfinals, but this time, he came out on the wrong end of the decision to finish fourth. Cintron moved on and downed Tori 8-6 in the semifinals. In a straight-up race to eight, Bryant concluded her undefeated weekend with an 8-3 victory over Cintron.

‘Twas, as they say, Beauty that killed the Beast.