The International Pool Tour attracted the best players from all over the globe. This tournament was one of the first multi-million dollar tournaments that was aired on television, and it aimed to bring pool into the mainstream. It was founded by Kevin Trudeau. He was an avid gamer of pool, and was already a successful man when he came up with the idea for IPT.
The professional sports tour featured bright lights, professional production and the best pool players in the world. This was a crucial step for pool as the sport was not well organized at the time. Players would play several race-to-8 sets a day, but only two players per group advanced to the next round.
Trudeau wanted to give the game serious consideration. He started the tour with $13 million in funding. Although the tour was short-lived it brought the sport back into the limelight. The tour was worth more than $6 million over its lifetime.
In its first year, there were four events. The King of the Hill Eightball Shootout had a $200K prize pot. A second was the North American Open with a $2million purse. Other tournaments included the IPT Players 8-Ball Championship, which was scheduled for October 22-29. 2007: The tour was cancelled due to problems at the facility.
The first year was the most lucrative in pool history. Reyes won a total of $500K for his victory over Roderick Morris in the World Open Eight-ball Championship. He also received a $163k first prize for his win against Niels Feijen in the Predator World 14.1 Championship.
Efren Ries is considered a legend. Bata is his nickname. He is the king and hotshot of billiards. His nickname stems from his reputation as "running the tables." He has won 14 tournaments. He won a bronze medal in eight ball at the 2002 Asian Games.
As a young man, he earned $500 an hour as a teacher of pool. His emergence into the world of pool was unexpected. A few years ago, he decided to become a tournament pro. He was then the face of IPT. He is currently the color commentaryator on U.S. broadcasts.
Reyes and Francisco Bustamante represented Philippines in the World Cup of Pool. They defeated Earl Strickland and Roderick Morris. They were also awarded the Dr. Louis Pannullo award.
The International Pool Tour featured several other stars, including Mike Sigel. Sigel, before he was a pro, sold imported goods and gambled on the road. He began competing after hearing about the league. During his tenure, he won two world championships and is a two-time World Professional Pool Champion.
Trudeau was a long-time pool fan and came up with the idea for the tour after he saw a radio advertisement about a Chicago pool tournament. Initial plans were to host a challenge match in August 2005. After negotiations with the facility, it was cancelled.