Lazaro Martinez, III, otherwise known as, “Little Laz”, and brother Gabriel Martinez, swept the 56-player open 9-ball and the 56-player amateur 9-ball divisions, respectively, at the third stop on the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour held at Fast Eddie’s (Culebra) in San Antonio. Laz defeated Danny Almaraz in overtime, while Gabriel also came from behind to conquer 2022 Tour Champion, Johnny Griffin, in the final. These victories marked first-time, Tour wins, for both players.
On March 18th-19th, 2023, title sponsor Poison by Predator Cues, sponsors Predator Cues, Outsville Billiards, Team Straight Pool Eye, and Brutal Game Gear, facilitated another successful event for players across Texas. Nearly 100 competitors, including 18 Gulf Coast Tour women, participated in the third stop of the Tour season, held at Fast Eddies’s (Culebra) in San Antonio, Texas. Predator sponsored the Arcos II ball sets used on each table, and Accu-Racks were provided by Outsville Billiards for discussion-free racking.
In the open 9-ball division, winners’ side final eight, Martin Ramos defeated Lazaro Martinez, III, 6-5, and Danny Almaraz slid past Rudy Sanchez, 6-5. Johnny Griffin overwhelmed Erik Silva, 6-3, while Wayne Senn made quick work of Eduardo Hernandez, 6-3. In the following round, Almaraz sent Ramos west, 6-4, while Griffin slid past Senn, 6-5. Hot seat action witnessed Almaraz defeat Griffin, 6-4. On the west side, down to the final eight players in the event, Jayden Dupree eliminated Hernandez, 5-1, but fell to Ramos by the same score. Laz dusted off Sanchez and Senn, 5-1, to meet Ramos. Laz continued to power through the west side, ending Ramos, 5-4, and Griffin, 5-1, to face off with Almaraz in the finals.
The finals witnessed two players vying for their first, Tour title. In the first set, Laz edged ahead, closing it out, 6-4. In overtime, Almaraz could not recover, losing the second set, 5-3. Congratulations to Lazaro Martinez, III, on his first, Tour victory!
In the amateur 9-ball division, winners’ side final eight, Johnny Griffin bested Martin Ramos, 5-1, while Jayden Dupree fell to Rudy Sanchez, 5-1. It was Gabriel Martinez over Gilbert Cardenas, 5-3, while David Leal denied Wayne Senn, 5-4. In the following round, Griffin sent Sanchez west, 5-3, while Gabriel Martinez slid past Senn, 5-4. In the hot seat match, Gabriel was unstoppable, sending Johnny to the one-loss side, 5-2. On the west side, in the final eight, after losing to Ramos in the first round, Martinez, III, dusted off Albert Luna, 4-2, and Sanchez, 4-3. Jesse Rizo shutout Felipe Yniguez, 4-0, but fell to Senn, 4-2. Laz went on to eliminate Senn, 4-3, marking an incredible nine matches to reach the final three. His nine-game winning streak was ended by Griffin, 4-2, who moved on to Gabriel Martinez, and the finals. Griffin earned himself a rematch with the San Antonio phenom, and regained ground, taking the first set, 5-4. In the second set Martinez regrouped, closing out the set, 4-2. Congratulations to Gabriel Martinez who captured his first win on the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour!
The Tour would like to thank all the San Antonio players who came out to support the event, and those players who traveled from out of town, to experience some San Antonio hospitality! Fast Eddie’s hosted a first-rate tournament, while Ruth Paine and Naomi Garcia did an excellent job maintaining a seamless, two-day event.
For more information about the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour, visit www.LoneStarBilliardsTour.com.
Open Payouts – Total $1,900
1st Lazaro Martinez, III $600
2nd Danny Almaraz $380
3rd Johnny Griffin $290
4th Martin Ramos $190
5th-6th Wayne Senn, Jayden Dupree $90
7th-8th Eduardo Hernandez, Rudy Sanchez $60
9th-12th Erika Silva, David Leal, Felipe Yniguez, Albert Luna $35 ea
Amateur Payouts – Total $1,620
1st Gabriel Martinez $550
2nd Johnny Griffin $330
3rd Lazaro Martinez, III $240
4th Wayne Senn $160
5th-6th Rudy Sanchez, Jesse Rizzo $80
7th-8th Albert Luna, Felipe Yniguez $40
9th-12th David Leal, Martin Ramos, Jayden Dupree, Gilbert Martinez $25