Kenney Nguyen captured the 38-player, open 9-ball division, with a final win over Beto Cavazos, at the 7th stop on the 2023 Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour. Johnny Griffin was on fire, scoring a win in the 57-player, amateur division, while newcomer, Joshua English, finished in second place.
On September 9th-10th, 2023, title sponsor Poison by Predator Cues, Predator Cues, Outsville Inc., Team Straight Pool Eye, and Brutal Game Gear USA, facilitated another successful event, drawing strong fields in each division, and paying out almost $7,000 in prize money. The Rockin’ Cue, located at 2020 South Expressway 83, in Harlingen, Texas, provided twenty, 7’ bar tables for tournament play, covered in Predator Arcadia Reserve, tournament blue cloth, in a non-smoking environment. Predator sponsored the Arcos II ball sets used on each table, and Accu-Racks were provided by Outsville Billiards, for discussion-free racking.
Kenney Nguyen
In the open 9-ball division, winners’ side final eight, Beto Cavazos defeated Bryan Rodriguez, while Kenney Nguyen overwhelmed Mo McDonah, both by the same score, 6-3. Johnny Griffin ousted Chad Burgesss, 6-4, and Greg Medina bested Juan Reyes, 6-3. In the following round, Nguyen detoured Cavazos, and Griffin denied Medina, by the same score, 6-3. In the hot seat match, Nguyen edged out Griffin, 6-5, capturing his first, east side victory. On the west side, down to the final eight, Isaiah Aellano shut out Joshua English, 5-0, but fell in turn to Cavazos, 5-4. Bryan Rodriguez eliminated Carlos Ruiz, 5-1, but lost his next round to Medina, 5-4. Down to the final four, Cavazos went on to defeat Medina, 5-2, and Griffin, 5-3, to meet Nguyen in the finals. In the true, double elimination showdown, Cavazos won the first set, 6-5. In overtime, Nguyen regrouped, closing out the set, 5-2, and securing his first-ever, Tour victory.
In the amateur 9-ball division, winners’ side final eight, Johnny Griffin defeated Rick Castillo, 5-1, and Mo McDonah overcame Isaiah Arellano, 5-3. Joe DeLaGarza slid by Tom Wallace, 5-4, and Scott Kitto sent Joshua English west, 5-2. In the following round, it was Griffin over McDonah, and Kitto dusted off DeLaGarza, 5-1. Hot seat action witnessed Griffin overwhelm Kitto, 5-2. On the west side, in the final eight, English eliminated Eddie Solis and McDonah, by the same score, 4-0. Medina sent home Cavazos, 4-3, and DeLaGarza, 4-3, to meet English. Down to the final four, English surpassed Medina, 4-1, and Kitto, 4-1, to enter his first, Tour finale. In the first set, Griffin wasted little time, and after five match wins, English fell to Griffin, 5-0. This marks Griffin’s second amateur division win, this season.
Johnny Griffin
Finally, the Tour would like to thank all the players who came out to support this event, especially those who attended their very first event, and welcome them back at every opportunity.
Open Division – $2,455
1st Kenney Nguyen $550 / $525
2nd Beto Cavazos $320 / $350
3rd Johnny Griffin $200 / $130
4th Greg Medina $120
5th-6th Isaiah Arellano, Bryan Rodriguez $60 ea
7th-8th Carlos Ruiz, Joshua English $35 ea
Amateur Division – $4,385
1st Johnny Griffin $600 / $1,100
2nd Joshua English $375 / $750
3rd Scott Kitto $225 / $425
4th Greg Medina $140 / $250
5th-6th Joe DeLaGarza, Mo McDonah $60 / $100 ea
7th-8th Eddie Solis, Beto Cavazos $40 / $50 ea
9th-12th Isaiah Arellano, Rick Castillo, Tom Wallace, George Nino $25 ea