Kyle Pepin went undefeated to win the Lucasi Hybrid New England 9-Ball Series stop on Sunday, December 11. Pepin faced two separate opponents in his hot seat and finals battle; Nick Conner in the hot seat, and Sean Anderson in the finals. The $300-added event drew 20 entrants to Schemengee’s Bar & Grill in Lewiston, ME.

Pepin’s first opponent among the winners’ side final four was Josh Rupard, whom he shut out to advance to the hot seat match. Conner and Anderson, in the meantime, squared off in the other final four winners’ battle. Anderson needed only four games to win that match, but was stopped at three, advancing Conner to meet Pepin. Pepin gave up only a single rack in advancing to the hot seat, where he waited for Anderson’s return.

Rupard moved over to face Mike Levet, who’d defeated Greg Murray 4-3 and John Regan, double hill to reach him. Anderson picked up James Dunlop, who’d gotten by Mike Olcot 5-3 and shut out Corey Tapley. Anderson dropped Dunlop into the tie for fifth place 4-3, as Levet was busy ending Rupard’s day with a double hill win. In the quarterfinals that followed, Levet ended up on the wrong end of his second straight double hill match, which advanced Anderson to meet Conner, who’d sent him west from among the winners’ side final four.

Anderson came out on top this time 4-2, and stepped up to face Pepin in the finals. Pepin prevailed 6-2 to take top honors.

Paul Dubwa withstood a strong challenge from Scott Packard, who won six straight matches on the loss-side to meet him in the finals of the Lucasi Hybrid New England 9-Ball Tour stop on Sunday, November 13. Dubwa prevailed to go undefeated in the $330-added event which drew 22 entrants to 9-Ball Rack ‘Em Up Billiards in Auburn, ME.

It was Dubwa against John Regan in the battle for the hot seat. Dubwa had sent Jud Strang west in a 6-6 handicapped win among the winners’ side final four, while Regan was busy dispatching Mark Small to the loss side 6-4. Dubwa got into the hot seat with a 7-3 win, and watched as Packard drew closer, one match at a time.

Strang moved over and picked up Philip Walton, who’d defeated John Parson and Kyle Pepen, both 6-4. It was Small who came to the loss-side and had the misfortune of running into Packard, who’d chalked up his second and third wins on the loss side against Rick Beaulie 4-2 and Joey Meuse 4-4. Packard moved into the quarterfinals with a 6-2 win over Small and was joined by Strang, who’d downed Walton 6-1.

Packard took advantage of a handicap to move past Strang 5-6 in those quarterfinals, and turned to face his final obstacle; Regan in the semifinals. Packard completed his run with a 5-3 victory over Regan, but couldn’t put a stop to Dubwa, who allowed him only two racks in completing his undefeated day.