Jesus Atencio and Cesar Garcia
Jesus “Golden Boy” Atencio and Cesar Garcia racked up first-time wins at the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour 2021 “Comeback” Event, held March 27th-28th at Big Tyme Billiards in Spring, Texas. Atencio went undefeated in the 64-player, open 9-ball division, shutting out Wesley Escobar in the final, 7-0, while Cesar Garcia also went unmatched in the 64-player, amateur 9-ball division, conquering Victor “Champion” Rojas in the final, 5-1.
Producing only two events in 2020, the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour ceased tournament production in March 2020 and resumed business on March 27th, 2021, a little over one year later. Tour title sponsor, Poison by Predator Cues, sponsors Predator Cues, APA of North Harris County, Alamo Billiards, Outsville Billiards, Team StraightPool Eye, Southern Streaming, and flagship host venue, Big Tyme Billiards, helped facilitate a phenomenal “comeback” event for players all across Texas and Louisiana. There were 74 competitors, along with 52 women who participated in the Gulf Coast Tour women’s event, who couldn’t wait to get back to the business of playing competitive pool. The event garnered 126 players in all, and paid out nearly $15,000 in prize money. The tournament was played on twenty-three Diamond Bar Tables, with brand new Predator Arcos II Pool Balls, and Accu-Racks by Outsville Billiards. As always, Big Tyme provided a non-smoking atmosphere, impeccable equipment, and an attentive staff. All of these amenities made for a very enjoyable, tournament-going experience, and everyone was ecstatic to be back.
In the open 9-ball division, on his way to the winners’ side, final four, Jesus Atencio bested Gary Gunter, Steve Williams, 7-1, Stacy Benoit, 7-2, and Steve Lenz, 7-6, while Ernesto Bayaua blazed through Bobby Perez, Charlie Jenkins, 7-5, J.C. Torres, 7-0, and Derek Fontenot, 7-0. Wesley Escobar powered past Javier Alienes, 7-5, Justin Richard, 7-4, Theo Hoang, 7-3, and David “DG” Gonzales, 7-4. John Weeks of Lufkin, Texas tackled John Braud, 7-2, Kevin Frauenberger, 7-6, Brian Murphy, 7-2, and Victor Rojas, 7-3. In the final twelve, battling through the one-loss side, newcomer Dylan Chambers curbed Fontenot, 5-4, while Cesar Garcia dusted off Lenz, 5-3. It was Benoit over Gonzalez, 5-2, and Rojas toppling Coffman, 5-4. On the east side, Escobar took down Weeks, 7-2, while Atencio shut-out Bayaua, 7-0. In the hot seat match, Atencio was full steam ahead, derailing Escobar, 7-4. Back on the one-loss side, Garcia ended Chambers, 5-2, but fell to Weeks, 5-4. Rojas defeated Benoit, 5-1, and Bayaua, 5-4, but failed the test against Weeks, 5-4.
Waiting in the wings, Escobar overcame Weeks, 5-1, earning himself a rematch with Atencio. In the final set, Atencio showed no mercy, dominating Escobar, 7-0. Congratulations to Jesus Atencio on his first, Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour win.
In the amateur 9-ball division, on his way to the winners’ side, final four, Cesar Garcia bested Brian Murphy, Tracy Lacy, 5-4, Steve Lenz, 5-4, and Bill Fuller, 5-1. Justin Richard never let his guard down, defeating Rodolfo Rodriguez, Jr., 5-2, Bret Harlan, 5-3, Sonny Bosshamer, 5-3, and finally, Stacy Benoit, 5-4. Dennis Hadley took down Justin Hubacek, David Guerra, 5-1, Bart Bowman, 5-1, and lastly, Ray Porter, 5-2. Rounding out the final four, Victor Rojas overwhelmed Beau Courts, 5-0, Chuck Adams, 5-3, Jay Winters, 5-4, and Kevin Frauenberger, 5-2. As the east side, final four took shape, the west side went into elimination mode. Down to the final twelve, Lenz took out Porter, 5-4, and Frauenberger eliminated Robert Perez, 5-2. It was Coffman over Stacy Benoit, 5-3, and Fuller sliding by J.C. Torres, 5-4. On the winners’ side, Garcia secured his fifth win against Richard, 5-2, while Hadley fell to Rojas, 5-4. In the hot seat match, Garcia slid by Rojas to claim the victory, 5-4.
On the one-loss side, Frauenberger ousted Richard, while Hadley eased by Fuller, 5-4. Down to the final four, Hadley made his move against Frauenberger, 5-3, but was stopped by Rojas, 5-4. Once again, Rojas rose to meet Garcia, but was knocked once more, 5-1. Congratulations to Cesar Garcia on winning his first tournament, on the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour.
The Tour would like to welcome all the new players who attended from cities across Texas and Louisiana. Congratulations to Michael Presley and Debra Leger, who each won a set of Predator Arcos II Pool Balls. Tiffany Johnson scored, winning three Poison playing cues, along with Brittany Kromer, David Trevino, and Brian Murphy, who took home Poison Cues as well.
The next event will be April 24th-25th, 2021, at Slick Willies Family Pool Hall, located at 9315 Westheimer, in Houston, Texas. For more information about the Poison Lone Star Billiards Tour, visit www.LoneStarBilliardsTour.com.
