Eric Cantrell and Eric Aicinena defeated record-breaking fields to secure undefeated wins, at the season opener of the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour, held at Big Tyme Billiards in Spring, Texas. In the final of the 104-player, amateur 9-ball division, Cantrell dusted off Sky Massingill in the first set, 5-4, while Aicinena bested Ernesto Bayaua in the finals of the 88-player, open 9-ball division, 6-2. This was a long-awaited, first-time win for Eric Cantrell, whose highest finish to date was second place.
Shabib, Bayaua, Tang, Van Ness, Garcia, Aicinena, Felder, Price, Changezi, Gallegos, Pangilinan, Greene
On January 3rd, 2026, title sponsor Poison by Predator Cues, sponsors Predator Cues, Alamo Billiards, Outsville Billiards, and Team Straight Pool Eye, facilitated another successful event for players across Texas, providing a payout of over $12,000. There were 131 competitors, including 35 Gulf Coast Tour women, who participated in the first event of the Tour season, held at the popular Big Tyme Billiards in Spring, Texas. Big Tyme provided twenty-four, 7’ bar tables for tournament play, all covered with 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.
Cantrell, Garcia, Perez, Almaraz, Felder, Renteria, Price, Washington, Frauenberger, Massingill
In the amateur 9-ball division, winners’ side final 8, Sky Massingill ousted Kenneth Price, 5-4, while Eric Cantrell defeated Erik Renteria, 5-3. Victor Rojas knocked down Kevin Frauenberger, 5-2, while Terry Washington took down Mille Almaraz, 5-2. In the next round, Cantrell sent Massingill west, 5-3, while Rojas stopped Washington, 5-3 . The hot seat match, Cantrell edged out Rojas, 5-4. On the west side and in the final 8, Price took out Renteria and Washington by the same score, 4-2. Garcia, Jr. made quick work of Frauenberger, 4-2, but fell to Massingill, 5-4. Massingill moved on, shutting out Rojas, 4-0, earning himself a spot in the finals. In the final match, Cantrell and Massingill came out swinging, bringing the score to 4-4. In the end, Cantrell pulled ahead to close out the set, 5-4, emerging the latest winner on the Poison Lone Star Tour. Congratulations to Eric Cantrell on this phenomenal, first-time win.
Cantrell
Cantrell, Massingill
In the open 9-ball division, winners’ side final 8, Ernesto Bayaua denied Dale Van Ness, 6-1, while Cesar Garcia, Jr. overwhelmed Chris Greene, 6-2. Eric Aicinena overpowered Will Felder, 6-3, and Raed Shabib Kevin sent Kevin Gallegos west, 6-2. In the next round, Garcia fell to Bayaua, 6-4, and Aicinena sent Shabib packing, 6-3. The hot seat witnessed Aicinena power through Bayaua, 6-2. On the west side, and in the final 8, Shahram Changezi eliminated Kenneth Price, 5-3, and Shabib, 5-3, while Josh Pangilinan ended Gallegos and Garcia, Jr., by the same score, 5-4. Shabib went on to defeat Pangilinan, 5-1, but fell to Bayaua, 5-4. In the first set of the true, double elimination final, Aicinena was on repeat, shutting down Bayaua for a second and final time, 6-2. Congratulations to Eric Aicinena on this monumental win.
Aicinena
Bayaua, Aicinena
The Tour would like to thank all the players who came out to support the first event of the year, especially those who drove in from far away places. The Tour would also like to officially welcome all the new players who attended, and encourage them to return at every opportunity.
The next stop of 2026 will be February 7th-8th at Iturbide Pool House in Laredo, Texas.
Amateur Payouts – $$6,520
1st Eric Cantrell $700 / $1,500
2nd Sky Massingill $475 / $900
3rd Victor Rojas $325 / $600
4th Kenneth Price $240 / $300
5th-6th Cesar Garcia, Jr., Terry Washington $130 ea / $200 ea
7th-8th Kevin Frauenberger, Eric Renteria $70 ea / $120 ea
9th-12th Will Felder, Junior Perez, Mille Almaraz, David Williams $40 ea
13th-16th Dylan Mendez, Daryl Owens, Brandon Tang, Courtney Peters $30 ea
17th-24th David Leal, John Braud, Curtis Slama, Joe Hudson, Ray Porter, Michelle Yim, Andrew Rodriguez
Pedro Oviol $20 ea
Open Payouts – $5,735
1st Eric Aicinena $800 / $1,400
2nd Ernesto Bayaua $540 / $795
3rd Raed Shabib $330 / $500
4th Joshua Pangilinan $200 / $200
5th-6th Cesar Garcia, Jr., Shahram Changezi $100 ea / 70 ea
7th-8th Kenneth Price, Kevin Gallegos $75 ea
9th-12th Chris Greene, Dale Van Ness, Brandon Tang, Will Felder
13th-16th Kevin Frauenberger, Steven Kay, Sonny Bosshamer, Eddie Palmer, Jr. $30 ea
17th-24th Jacob Pena, Jayce Pena, Jose Castellanos, Jaden Acuna, Daryl Owens, Victor Rojas, Curtis Slama, Joe Hudson $20 ea