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.

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.