Match M13 opened Group C with its two eventual Top 16 qualifiers. Liga Privada T52 brought Drew Estate's full-bodied stalk-cut signature; AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes answered with a box-pressed blend under a Nicaraguan Rojita Hybrid wrapper.
Both 6-inch cigars were made in Esteli, Nicaragua. T52 paired its 52-ring Stalk-Cut and Stalk-Cured Connecticut River Valley Habano with Brazilian Mata Fina and Honduran-Nicaraguan fillers. Bellas Artes used a broader 54-ring Toro with a Havana '92 binder and fillers from Nicaragua, Honduras and Brazil.
The scorecard was elite and unusually clean. Construction and complexity earned perfect ties, while burn also finished level. Liga created the complete 1.5-point margin in the remaining three categories, scoring 5.0 for draw, balance and finish against Bellas Artes' 4.5 in each.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Liga Privada T52 | AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Drew Estate | AJ Fernandez |
| Origin | Nicaragua | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Connecticut River Valley Stalk-Cut and Stalk-Cured Habano | Nicaraguan Rojita Hybrid |
| Binder | Plantation-Grown Brazilian Mata Fina | Havana '92 from Quilali, Nicaragua |
| Filler | Honduran and Nicaraguan | Nicaragua, Honduras and Brazil |
| Factory | La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate, Esteli, Nicaragua | Tabacalera A.J. Fernandez Cigars de Nicaragua, Esteli |
| Vitola | Toro, 6 x 52 | Toro, 6 x 54, box-pressed |
| Strength | Full | Medium-Full |
| Ashology score | 29.5/30 - Exceptional | 28.0/30 - Excellent |
| M13 result | Winner | Loss |
T52 began with dense earth, cedar, cocoa and pepper. Black pepper, dark earth and espresso drove the first third through thick, oily smoke. Dark chocolate, leather, charred oak and controlled sweetness broadened the middle before espresso, pepper and mineral-rich earth formed a composed final third.
Bellas Artes opened with cedar, cocoa, baking spice and sweet tobacco. Pepper and toasted cedar led into cocoa and roasted coffee. Cream, cinnamon, walnut and mild caramel sweetness softened the center, while espresso, earth, pepper and cedar returned for a warm, spicy close.
The cigars shared dark roast, earth, cedar, cocoa and pepper, but arranged those flavors differently. Bellas Artes emphasized approachable movement between spice, cream and sweetness. T52 applied greater concentration and force, holding its darker register together through a longer, more commanding finish.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Construction and flavor complexity both ended 5.0 to 5.0. Burn tied at 4.5. Those three shared categories confirmed that Bellas Artes belonged in the same elite conversation: it matched T52's craftsmanship, flavor development and combustion score.
Liga Privada won three categories; three categories tied.
T52 scored a perfect 5.0 for draw against Bellas Artes' 4.5. Its effortless resistance and heavy smoke delivery created the first half-point advantage without asking the full-bodied blend to sacrifice control.
Liga repeated the edge in balance and finish, winning both 5.0 to 4.5. Its pepper, espresso, dark chocolate, leather, oak and mineral earth stayed integrated, then carried into an exceptionally long conclusion. Bellas Artes remained warm, spicy and medium-long, but could not fully equal that composure or persistence.
The arithmetic was exact: three ties canceled half the scorecard, while three Liga advantages added half a point each. T52 won the official result 29.5 to 28.0, with no category loss and no score below 4.5.
Official Result: Liga Privada T52 Wins Match M13
Liga Privada T52 defeated AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes and opened Group C at 1-0. T52 later beat Herrera Esteli Habano and Diesel Vintage Series to complete a perfect 3-0 group stage and advance as the Full-Bodied Titans winner.
Bellas Artes recovered immediately. Victories over Herrera Esteli Habano and Diesel Vintage Series produced a 2-1 record, second place in Group C and a Top 16 berth. Its only group loss therefore came against the cigar that would ultimately finish third overall.
T52 continued through Crowned Heads Mil Dias and Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado, reached the Final Smokeout, then defeated E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic in the third-place match. M13 was the first victory in a 6-1 tournament run and an early display of the consistency that sustained it.
Final Ashology Verdict
AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes earned its Excellent classification with no category below 4.5. Perfect marks for construction and complexity, a reliable draw and burn, and a layered progression through cocoa, coffee, cream, cinnamon, walnut, caramel and pepper made it a deserving group qualifier.
Liga Privada T52 reached Exceptional territory by adding complete control to comparable depth. Its perfect draw supported dense smoke; perfect balance kept power and sweetness aligned; and a perfect finish extended the cigar's dark, forceful character without losing composure.
M13 was not decided by a flaw in Bellas Artes. It was decided by three final degrees of polish. T52 converted draw, balance and finish into three precise half-point gains, launching a perfect Group C campaign and the tournament's eventual podium run.
Tasting notes reflect the cigars and vitolas evaluated during the 2026 competition. Flavor, strength and burn performance may vary based on storage, age, vitola and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.