The International Pool Tour was a tournament that attracted some of the most renowned players around the world. 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. Kevin Trudeau started it. He was an avid pool player who was already a successful businessman when he conceived of IPT.
It was a professional sport tour that featured bright lights and professional production. The event also included some of the most talented pool players around. This was an important step in the history of pool. It was a sport that was not well organised 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 was determined give the game a serious shot. With $13 million of funding, he started the tour. It was a short-lived venture that helped to bring the sport in the spotlight. Throughout its lifespan, the tour awarded more than $6 million in prize money.
During its initial year, the tour featured four events. One of the events was the King of the Hill Eightball Shootout with a prize fund of $200K. The North American Open had a purse of $2 million. The IPT Players 8-Ball Championship took place from October 22-29. In 2007, the tour was canceled due to problems with the facility.
The first year of the tour featured the most prize money in the history of pool. 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 Reyes has been called a celebrity. Known as Bata, he is the king of the billiards hotshots. His reputation of "running tables" gave him his nickname. He has won fourteen tournaments. For the 2002 Asian Games, he won a bronze medal in eight-ball.
He was a pool teacher when he grew up. It was a surprise that he found his way into the pool world. He made the decision to become a professional tournament player a few years ago. He was then the face of IPT. He currently serves as the color commentator in U.S. broadcasts.
The World Cup of Pool was a tournament where Reyes and Francisco Bustamante represented the Philippines. They defeated Earl Strickland and Roderick Morris. They also won the Dr. Louis Pannullo Award.
Many other stars participated in the International Pool Tour including Mike Sigel. Before he became a pro, Sigel sold imported products and was a road gambler. He started to play after the word got out about the league. He won two World Championships during his tenure.
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. The tour originally planned to hold a challenge game in August 2005. After negotiations with the facility, it was cancelled.