Houston’s own J.C. Torres seized a first-time win at the fifth stop on the 2021 Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour, going undefeated in the 64-player, open 9-ball division, conquering formidable competitor, Joey Bourgeois, Jr. in the final, 6-5.
On August 21st-22nd, 2021, title sponsor Poison by Predator Cues, sponsors Predator Cues, APA of North Harris County, Alamo Billiards, Outsville Billiards, and Team StraightPool Eye, facilitated another successful event for players across Texas. More than 80 competitors, including 22 Gulf Coast Tour women, participated in the weekend festivities held at the brand new, R House Bar and Grill in Houston, Texas. The room provided 14, 7’ Diamond bar tables, and the Tour supplied Predator Arcos II Balls and Accu-Racks for each table, sponsored by Predator and Outsville Billiards. The open 9-ball division paid out over $7,000 in prize money for the two-day, $1,000 added event.
On his way to the winners’ side, final four, J.C. Torres took down David Twitty, 6-3, Randall McKenney, 6-1, Johnny Griffin, 6-2, and Andy Jethwa, 6-3. Paul Bramwell was on a roll, defeating Riley Lemons, 6-1, tour newcomer, Michael Voisard, 6-5, Sonny Mejia, 6-0, and room owner, Robert “Phaminator” Pham, 6-4. Joey Bourgeois, Jr. was on a mission, cutting through Brendan Ledgeway, 6-4, Paul Lively, 6-1, Derek Fontenot, 6-2, and David Miller, 6-2. Sergio Rivas rounded out the final four on the winners’ side, powering past Kevin Gallegos, 6-1, Brent Humphrey, 6-2, Manny Chau, 6-2, and Ernesto Bayaua, 6-1. On the one-loss side, and in the final sixteen, Gary Gunter fell to Leon Contreras, 5-3, while Griffin ended Philip Broussard, 5-0. Chau eliminated Eric Cantrell, 5-0, while Fontenot slid past Rojas, 5-4. Vying for the final eight, west side action witnessed Contreras defeat D. Miller, 5-0, and Bayaua dust off Griffin, 5-4. Chau maintained his position, eliminating Jethwa, 5-3, while Fontenot foiled Pham, 5-1. Back on the east side, Torres was in full swing, ousting Bramwell, 6-4, while Bourgeois, Jr. stopped Rivas, 6-4. Hot seat action pitted two of Texas’ youngest, power players in the game. It was Torres’ time to shine, handing Bourgeois, Jr. his first loss of the tournament, 6-4. Back on the one-loss side, Contreras shutout Bayaua, 5-0, and eased by Bramwell, 5-4, while Fontenot sent home Chau and Rivas, by the same score, 5-2. Contreras ended Fontenot’s five-match, winning streak, but was thwarted by Bourgeois, Jr. in the next round, 5-2. In the true, double elimination final, Torres quickly found himself down 5-3 to Bourgeois, Jr. in the first set. Torres dug deep, winning three in a row, ending the match on a 6-5 note, and capturing his first open 9-ball title on the Poison Lone Star Tour.
The final event will be held October 9th-10th, 2021, at Big Tyme Billiards located at 100 Cypresswood Drive, in Spring, Texas, 77388.
For more information about the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour, visit www.LoneStarBilliardsTour.com.
Open Payouts – Total $ $7,280
1st J.C. Torres $1,060/$1,700
2nd Joey Bourgeois $710/$1,000
3rd Leon Contreras $400/$700
4th Derek Fontenot $220/$400
5th-6th Sergio Rivas, Paul Bramwell $100/$200
7th-8th Ernesto Bayaua, Manny Chau $65 ea.
9th-12th Andy Jethwa, David Miller, Robert Pham, Johnny Griffin $50 ea.
13th-16th Gary Gunter, Victor Rojas, Philip Broussard, Eric Cantrell $40 ea.