In 2008, the Lone Star Billiards Tour began as a series of random, independent billiard events, founded and directed by WPBA Pro Player, Kim Newsome. It wasn’t until June 2009 that the official Lone Star Billiards Tour was established, and by 2010, it was well on its way to becoming one of the most well-known billiard tours in the United States. Now, in its 8th year, the Lone Star Billiards Tour held its first event on February 27th-28th, 2016, under a brand new moniker, the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour. “We are proud to announce, that we have taken our relationship with Poison by Predator Cues to the next level” says Newsome. The Lone Star Billiards Tour will now be known as the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour. “Poison by Predator is proud to continue its support of Kim Newsome, Poison Pro, and the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour. We look forward to an exciting future together as the title sponsor of the tour,” said Jani Haney, Sponsorship Manager. The tour now sports a flashy new red and black logo which incorporates Lone Star and Poison logo elements, and will undergo a mild transformation, with a slightly new name, new logo, and new website, coming soon. “Our players will come to recognize this as the new symbol of excellence in billiard events”, says Newsome.
In 2009, Poison by Predator Cues joined the tour as its official cue sponsor, and now, with an even stronger association with Poison, it’s sure to attract even more attention than before. “On this tour, we believe in a standard of excellence, and that’s why Poison has been our official cue since 2009. When this title sponsorship opportunity presented itself, we knew instantly, this was a positive change for the tour and its players. The Predator Group carries with it the integrity we want to represent and preserve in our sport. Poison by Predator is an industry leader in cue technology and innovation, and our goal is to expose our players to the best possible ways to improve their game, and their tournament-going experience”, says Newsome.
Players were excited to hear the news, as Poison has become a popular brand in the South, and now, facilitating a brand new era for billiards in Texas. Andy Jethwa, long-time player and former tour champion, had this to say about his tour experience, and the new title sponsor: “Playing on this tour has definitely helped my game in many aspects. The competition level is very high and has increased my confidence and improved my game overall. Having Poison for a new title sponsor is great. They’ve supported our tour for years, and Kim does such a great job, together, they have brought some great tournaments to Texas. I’m looking forward to what the future holds for the new Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour.”
With the support of over 17 Texas venues since 2009, along with its players, sponsors, and fans, the tour has carried an impressive 8-year record, holding an average of 9 events annually, with a current 2016 average of 128 players per stop. “Texas continues to be one of the hottest places for pool in the U.S., and our objective has always been to offer low entry fee events, open to all players, of all skill levels. We’ve remained consistent over time and that’s something on which our players have come to depend”, says Newsome. The tour is unique, in that it offers amateur and open 9-ball divisions, and allows its amateur players to compete in both divisions, a platform which gives its not-so-experienced players twice the play. Other amenities include venues in excess of 10,000 square feet, diverse equipment and competitors. Players compete on 7-foot bar tables, 8-foot standard tables, and 9-foot professional tables, with red circle or measle cue balls, on Simonis cloth, offering an opportunity for new champions to emerge, and giving all players a chance to test their skills under different playing conditions. There is also a ladies 9-ball division (Gulf Coast Tour) at each stop, and junior players (under 21) are welcome at all tour venues accompanied by a parent or guardian.
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