Gabby Pouncey, Aaron Springs, Will Felder, Gabriel Rivas, Pete Charles and Justin Espinosa
Competing in their first Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour pool tournament, “Gabby” and Jason Hunt went undefeated to win the open and amateur 9-ball divisions, respectively. After stifling a field of 61 players, Gabby defeated Aaron Springs in the open final, 6-3, while Hunt denied Will Felder in the amateur final, 5-3.
On April 24th-25th, 2021, sponsors Poison by Predator Cues, Predator Cues, APA of North Harris County, Alamo Billiards, Outsville Billiards, Team StraightPool Eye, Southern Streaming, and Slick Willies Family Pool Hall (5319 Westheimer) in Houston, Texas, facilitated another successful event for Tour players. This event was $1,000 added and drew nearly 70 players, with 24 ladies in the Gulf Coast Tour Event, paying out almost $11,000 in prize money. As always, Slick Willies provided premium amenities, which included twenty-three, Brunswick 8’ Tables, in a smoke-free environment. Predator Arcos II Pool Balls and Accu-Racks by Outsville Billiards were provided for each table.
In the open 9-ball division, on his way to the winners’ side, final four, Gabby defeated Luis Acosta, 6-1, Martin Ramos, 6-4, Sylver Hernandez, 6-3, and Pete Charles, 6-1. Will Felder tackled Richard Hutchinson, 6-1, Felix Galindo, 6-3, J.C. Torres, 6-2, and Albert Bustillos, 6-2. Aaron Springs bested Michael Pickering, Tim Jerkins, 6-2, Derek Fontenot, 5-0, and Gabriel Rivas, 6-2. Rounding out the final four, Justin Espinosa overcame Jason Hill, 6-2, Mike Anderson, Jose Mancillas, 6-5, and Jason Hunt, 6-2. On the west side, Kenney Nguyen was on a roll with wins over Erik Renteria, 5-1, Isaiah Arellano, 5-4, and Hernandez, 5-2, fell to Rivas, 5-4. After suffering a first round loss, Steve Lenz eliminated Acosta, 5-0, Wesley Escobar, 5-1, Brian Murphy, 5-1, Torres, 5-0, and Chris Ramoz, 5-1, until losing to Hunt, 5-3. Advancing to the final twelve, Mancillas denied Dennis Hadley, 5-4, and Bustillos, 5-1, while Fontenot shutout Javier Alienes, 5-0, losing in turn to Charles, 5-1. As the one-loss side played out, east side action was underway. Gabby overwhelmed Felder, 6-3, and it was Springs over Espinosa, 6-4. In the hot seat match, Gabby wasted little time on Springs, running away with it, 6-1. Back on the one-loss side, Rivas ended Hunt, 5-3, while Charles derailed Mancillas, 5-0. Advancing into the final four, Felder sent Rivas packing, and Espinosa advanced over Charles, by the same score, 5-3. Espinosa finished off Felder, 5-3, but was eliminated by Springs, 5-3. Springs earned himself a rematch Gabby, but that opportunity was short-lived, as Gabby ran away with the final set, 6-3. This was Gabby’s first time to compete, and his first win, on the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour.
In the amateur 9-ball division, newcomer Jason Hunt earned his way into the winners’ side, final four, with victories over Brian Murphy, 5-2, Wesley Escobar, 5-3, Isaiah Arellano, 5-0, and J.C. Torres, 5-3. Javier Alienes dusted off Joe Gonzales, 5-1, Erik Renteria, 5-4, and Sylver Hernandez, 5-1.Jose Mancillas took down Ed Palacios, Jr., 5-0, Jason Hill, 5-3, Oscar Ramoz, 5-1, and Steve Lenz, 5-3. Wrapping up the final four, Will Felder dominated Eddie Pacheco, 5-1, Mike Anderson, 5-3, Jim Walker, 5-1, and Pete Charles, 5-2. On the one-loss side, and in the final sixteen, Chris Bagget took out Dennis Hadley and Hernandez, by the same score, 4-1, while Kenney Nguyen ousted Ramoz, 4-2, and Torres, 4-3. Elias Garza won five matches, including wins over Mike Anderson, 4-1, Gary Behrens, 4-1, Isaiah Arellano, Chris Ramoz, 4-1. One round from the final eight, Garza was eliminated by Steve Lenz, 4-1. After losing his first match, Chuck Adams bested Jim Shortell, Mo Morales, Aaron Springs, 4-2, Brian Sakuma, and Renteria, 4-1, but fell to Pete Charles, 4-2. The final eight was formed, and east side action ensued. Felder squeezed by Mancillas, 5-4, and Hunt shutout Alienes, 5-0. Hunt made quick work of Felder, 5-3, securing his first hot seat match in his first event.Back on the west side, it was Baggett over Nguyen, 4-3, and Mancillas, 4-3, while Lenz denied Charles 4-0, and Alienes, 4-3. Lenz secured his fourth win over Mancillas, 4-0, but was relegated to third place by Felder, 4-1. Once again, Felder faced off with Hunt, but Hunt would not be denied, and quickly defeated Felder in the first set of the true, double elimination final, 5-3. This was the first time Hunt competed on Tour, and this was his first win.
The Tour would like to acknowledge junior players Malachi Walker and Tyler Miller, who competed in amateur 9-ball division. Junior players, 17 and under, always receive a $5 discount, and are permitted to attend any event with a parent or guardian.
Finally, the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour would like to welcome all the new players who attended this event, and invite them back at every opportunity.
The next event will be June 4th-5th, 2021, at Slick Willies Family Pool Hall, located at 5319 Westheimer, in Houston, Texas. For more information about the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour, visit www.LoneStarBilliardsTour.com.
Johnny Archer, Rodney Morris, Rocky McElroy and Tony Crosby
Meglino goes undefeated to claim Amateur title
After a double hill battle that left Rodney Morris in the hot seat, Florida Pool Tour director, Tony Crosby kept a semifinal appointment with Johnny Archer, defeated him and came back to down Morris in the finals. The $1,000-added Super 16 event ($500 to winner in the form of paid entry to the Tornado Open), was held on Sunday, April 24, and actually drew 22 entrants to Capone's in Spring Hill, FL.
In a $1,000-added, Amateur event, held on Saturday, April 23 (same location), Anthony Meglino went undefeated through a field of 83 to claim that title.
The first of the Crosby/Morris battles followed two 7-4 wins by them in the winners' side semifinals. Crosby, defeating Mike Delawder, and Morris, sending Tommy Kennedy to the loss side. Morris won the double hill, hot seat fight and waited on Crosby's return.
On the loss side, Kennedy picked up long-time rival/former road partner Johnny Archer, who'd eliminated Richard Broumpton 7-4 and Donnie Mills 7-5 to reach him. Delawder drew Meglino, who'd already won the Amateur event and here, sent Jason Richko (7-4) and Han Berber (7-3) home. Delawder and Meglino locked up in a double hill battle that eventually sent Delawder to the quarterfinals against Archer, who'd defeated Kennedy 7-2. Archer advanced a step further with a 7-4 victory over Delawder, but had his bid for the title ended by Crosby 7-4 in the semifinals.
Things weren't looking too good for Crosby when the finals opened with three straight racks for Morris. But Crosby responded, not only tying it at 3-3, but chalking up three more for a three-rack lead, which he'd never relinquish. At 6-3, they both won two more racks, and Crosby had the title.
In the Amateur event, Meglino advanced to a winners' side semifinal against Raymond Linares, while Kyle Bova and Dan Marchini squared off. Meglino and Bova advanced to the hot seat match, both 7-2, over Linares and Marchini. Meglino then defeated Bova 7-3, and waited on what turned out to be an opponent he'd sent to the loss side in a winners' side quarterfinal, Francisco Diaz.
Diaz had moved to the left bracket and defeated Mike Kohn 5-2 and John Souders 5-3 to draw Marchini. Linares picked up Felix Luna, who'd gotten by Justin Stock and Jason Hunt, both 5-3. Diaz then survived a double hill battle versus Marchini, as Luna eliminated Linares 5-3.
Diaz took the quarterfinal match over Luna 5-2 and then denied Bova a re-match versus Meglino with a double hill win in the semifinals.
Meglino completed his undefeated run with a double hill win in the finals. The victory, combined with his later 5th place finish in the Super 16 event, notched his winnings to just over $1,000 for the weekend.
Tour director Tony Crosby thanked Capone's owner Rocky McElroy and his staff for their hospitality, as well as sponsors Aramith, Simonis, Stroke-It Wear, Florida Pool Table Movers, and Billiards and Darts Supply. A "super-special" thank you went out to Xtreme Pool Challenge for the work and effort that went into their producing one of the best live streams in the country.
The Florida Pool Tour and Xtreme Pool Challenge will be at Park Avenue Billiards in Orange Park, FL on the weekend of May 14-15. The event – Super 32 – will be an Open 10-Ball Championship with a $5,000 first prize. Call 727-488-0536 or 904-200-5843 for more information or to pay your entry fee. You can also visit the tour Website at www.floridapooltour.com.
Though Dave Johnson would give him a little double (hill) trouble in the semifinals, Marc Creamer came back from a hot seat loss to meet and defeat Seth Tamavoughn in the finals of the September 26 stop on the Western New York Tour. The $500-added, bar table 8-ball event drew 18 entrants to Eastridge Billiards in Rochester, NY.
Creamer got by Jason Hunt 5-3 to earn his spot in the hot seat match, as Tamavoughn was busy sending Angie Killips to the loss side 6-4. Tamavoughn claimed the hot seat 5-3 and waited for Creamer's return.
On the loss side, Hunt drew Ron Casanzio, who'd picked up a forfeit win over Chris Brainan, and defeated Tim Cassidy 7-3. Killips met up with Dave Johnson, who'd gotten by Roger Jackson 7-4 and tour director Nick Brucato 5-4. Though he'd jump out to a 4-0 lead, in a race to five, Casanzio gave way to Hunt, who won five in a row to advance to the quarterfinals. He was joined by Johnson, who'd defeated Killips 6-3.
Johnson took the quarterfinal match 5-3 over Hunt, but, as originally noted, while putting up a strong, double hill fight against Creamer in the semifinals, he had to settle for third place. Creamer took his second shot against Tamavoughn and claimed the title with a 7-5 win.
It was the second time in a row on the Western New York Tour that Dave Grau found himself in the hot seat. On Saturday, November 22, at Eastridge Billiards in Rochester, NY, tour director Nick Brucato won 11 on the loss side to meet and defeat him in the finals of a triple-elimination format tournament called the 8-Ball Grind. On Saturday, December 20, at the final 2014 stop on the tour, dubbed The Jingle Grind, again at Eastridge Billiards, Grau did it again, working his way through a field of 52. This time, though, he defeated his challenger in the finals, Angelo Inness, and claimed the event title.
The rarely-seen triple elimination format creates a third bracket, into which players who've chalked up a loss on the normal losers' side bracket are sent. Those players play a single game and the winners are eventually woven back into the final stages of the normal losers' side bracket. The format creates some puzzling, late-stage information; like (in this most recent event) Louis Recio, who won a loss-side match, competing for the 9/12 finish, moved to the third bracket, won a match and then finished in that 9/12 slot, when he lost a match to Dylan Stuck.
No bracket confusion for Grau, though. It was a straight shot to the hot seat, which went through Seth Tamavoughn among the winners' side final four. Daryl Stuck (father of the two Stucks in the tournament) squared off against Inness in the other winners' side semifinal. Two 3-1 scores put Grau and Stuck in the hot seat match, where a third 3-1 score sent Stuck to the semifinals.
On the loss side, Tamavoughn met up, first, with the son in the Stuck clan, Dylan, and after defeating him 2-1, faced Jason Hunt, who'd defeated Al McGuin 2-1. Inness drew Jeff Montgomery, who came from the third bracket to meet him. Tamavoughn defeated Hunt 1-0, as Inness ended Montgomery's day 2-1. In another peculiarity of the triple elimination format, the quarterfinals were between Daryl Stuck, fresh off his defeat at the hands of Grau in the hot seat, and Tamavoughn. A single game decided the quarterfinal, and the elder Stuck moved on to face Inness in the semifinals.
Inness defeated Stuck 2-1, and got a shot at Grau in the hot seat. Perhaps, with the sting of his runner-up performance a month earlier still in his head, Grau completed his undefeated run with a 3-1 victory over Inness in the finals.
