The International Pool Tour attracted players from all corners of the globe. This tournament was the first to be broadcast on TV and was intended to promote pool as a mainstream sport. Kevin Trudeau was the founder. Kevin Trudeau was an avid player of pool and was already a successful businessman at the time he founded IPT.
It was a professional sports tour that featured bright lights, professional production, and some of the world's best pool players. This was an important step for pool, as it was a sport that was not well-organized at the time. There were eight sets of race-to-8 matches per day. Only two players in each group advanced to next round.
Trudeau was determined give the game a serious shot. With $13 million of funding, he started the tour. 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.
The inaugural year of the tour saw four events. One of the events was the King of the Hill Eightball Shootout with a prize fund of $200K. The North American Open was another, with a $2,000,000 purse. Other tournaments included IPT Players 8-Ball Championship which was set for October 22-29. Due to issues with the facility, the tour was cancelled in 2007.
The first year of the tour saw the largest pool prize money ever. Reyes won $500K for his win against Roderick Moor in the World Open Eightball Championship. For his victory over Niels Feijen, Reyes was awarded a $163k prize.
Efren Ries is considered a legend. Bata is known as the "king" of the billiards hotshots. His reputation as "running all the tables" is his nickname. He has won 14 tournaments. For the 2002 Asian Games, he won a bronze medal in eight-ball.
As a young man, he earned $500 an hour as a teacher of pool. It was a surprise that he found his way into the pool world. He decided to turn pro at tournaments a few years back. He was the face IPT. Currently, he serves as the color commentator on U.S. broadcasts.
Reyes and Francisco Bustamante represented Philippines at the World Cup of Pool. They defeated Earl Strickland and Roderick Morris. They won the Dr. Louis Pannullo Trophy.
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. After word spread about the league, Sigel began to compete. He was the winner of two world championships, and a two time World Professional Pool Champion.
Trudeau, an avid pool fan, thought of the tour after hearing a radio advertisement for a Chicago-area tournament. Initial plans called for a August 2005 challenge match. It was cancelled after negotiations with the facility.