Dan Brien came back from a defeat in the hot seat match by Ben LaBlanc to take both sets of a true double elimination final and win the third stop on the New England 9-Ball series tour on Sunday, October 10. The $100-added handicapped event drew 31 amateur players to Sebago Lake Billiards in Windham, ME.
From among the winners' side final four, Brien sent Bob Dennis to the one-loss side 5-2, as Lablanc defeated Corey Taperly 5-3. The two battled to double hill before Lablanc moved Brien to the semifinals and sat in the hot seat, awaiting his return.
Dennis and Taperly moved over to the one-loss side and played only a single match there. Dennis was dropped into the tie for fifth place 5-3 by Jake Longley, who'd defeated Mark Small 6-1 and Roger Morason 5-4 to reach him. Taperly's 6-1 demise came at the hands of Garith Steele, who'd advanced past Dan Angers and Ernest Porell, both 5-3.
It was Longley, with a 4-2 win over Steele in the quarterfinals, who faced Brien in the semifinals. Brien and Longley battled to double hill before Brien prevailed and moved back for a second chance versus Lablanc. Brien took the opening set of the true double elimination final 5-3. Lablanc fought back in the second set, forcing a single deciding game at double hill, but Brien persevered and took home the first place prize.
