Match M62 paired two undefeated 5-0 contenders in the second Final Smokeout semifinal. Fuente Fuente OpusX Angel's Share had won Group G before defeating AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes and Davidoff Year of the Horse Limited Edition 2026. Liga Privada T52 had won Group C before eliminating Crowned Heads Mil Días and Oliva Serie V Melanio Figurado.
The full-strength matchup contrasted a 5 1/4 x 50 Dominican Robusto with a 6 x 52 Nicaraguan Toro. Angel's Share was a Dominican puro led by a middle-priming Chateau de la Fuente OpusX wrapper. Liga combined a Connecticut River Valley Habano wrapper, Brazilian Mata Fina binder and Honduran-Nicaraguan filler.
The published category scores ended level at 29.5 to 29.5. Construction, draw, complexity and finish tied at perfect 5.0 scores. Angel's Share won burn 5.0 to 4.5; Liga answered by winning balance 5.0 to 4.5. The official Final Smokeout bracket records Angel's Share as the M62 winner and Championship finalist.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Fuente Fuente OpusX Angel's Share | Liga Privada T52 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Arturo Fuente | Drew Estate |
| Origin | Dominican Republic | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Dominican OpusX, middle priming | Connecticut River Valley Habano |
| Binder | Dominican | Brazilian Mata Fina |
| Filler | Dominican | Honduran and Nicaraguan |
| Factory | Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia | La Gran Fábrica Drew Estate |
| Vitola | Robusto, 5 1/4 x 50 | Toro, 6 x 52 |
| Strength | Full | Full |
| Ashology score | 29.5/30 - Exceptional | 29.5/30 - Exceptional |
| M62 result | Winner - advanced to Championship | Loss - Final Four finisher |
Angel's Share began with cedar, cinnamon, dried fruit and sweet tobacco on the cold draw. Sweet cedar, baking spice, white pepper, cream and fruit sweetness formed an aromatic opening. Caramel, toasted nuts and cinnamon deepened the center before oak, espresso and pepper rose through a final third that retained the cigar's signature sweetness.
Liga began with dense earth, cedar, cocoa and pepper. Black pepper, dark earth and espresso arrived through thick, oily smoke. Dark chocolate, leather and charred oak deepened the center over controlled sweetness before espresso, pepper and mineral-rich earth became concentrated in the final third.
Both cigars shared cedar, espresso, pepper and underlying sweetness, but their styles remained distinct. Angel's Share was brighter and more aromatic through cinnamon, fruit, cream, caramel and toasted nuts. Liga was darker and more forceful through cocoa, earth, leather, charred oak and mineral intensity.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
Four categories produced no separation. Construction and draw tied 5.0 to 5.0: Angel's Share delivered excellent airflow, precise combustion and elegant ash, while Liga supplied an excellent draw, heavy smoke and strong ash. Complexity and finish also tied at perfect 5.0 scores, rewarding two complete but sharply different experiences.
Published score: 29.5-29.5; official M62 winner: Angel's Share.
Angel's Share gained half a point on burn, 5.0 to 4.5. Its precise combustion earned the perfect mark, while Liga's burn remained Outstanding. Liga recovered that half point on balance, winning 5.0 to 4.5 as its power, dense smoke and concentrated flavors remained fully composed.
Those opposing advantages returned the public scorecard to a deadlock. CigarOfTheYear.com's Ashology methodology says performance is tracked throughout the competition, but the public pages do not state an M62 tiebreak formula. The accurate record is therefore a tied published assessment and an official bracket victory for Angel's Share—not an invented numerical margin.
Official Result: Fuente Fuente OpusX Angel's Share Wins Match M62
The official Final Smokeout bracket advances Fuente Fuente OpusX Angel's Share over Liga Privada T52 and into the Championship. The victory improved Angel's Share to 6-0 and created Match M63 against Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto.
Angel's Share later lost the title match to Padrón and finished #2 overall as the 2026 Runner-Up with a 6-1 record. Liga rebounded to defeat E.P. Carrillo Encore Majestic in Match M64, finishing #3 overall at 6-1. Both retained Exceptional 29.5 evaluations and podium positions.
Final Ashology Verdict
Liga delivered a semifinal worthy of the podium. It matched Angel's Share in construction, draw, complexity and finish, then answered a burn deficit with the higher balance score. Its earth, cocoa, espresso, leather, charred oak and mineral depth formed a powerful, composed performance.
Angel's Share advanced in the official record after an equally exceptional performance built on flawless technical control and a sweeter, more aromatic progression. The transparent conclusion matters: the published cards are tied, the category exchange is even, and the bracket—not a fabricated point differential—names Angel's Share the winner.
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.