The International Pool Tour attracted players from all corners of 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 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 a major step forward for pool, which at that time was not well-organized. Although players could play many race-to-8 sets in a single day, only two players from each group progressed to the next round.
Trudeau wanted to give the game serious consideration. He started the tour with $13 million in funding. Although it was a short-lived venture it did help bring the sport into the public eye. The tour paid out more than $6,000,000 in prizes during its existence.
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. A second was the North American Open with a $2million purse. Other tournaments include the IPT Players 8-Ball Championship. It was scheduled for October 22-29. Due to issues with the facility, the tour was cancelled in 2007.
The first year of the tour featured the most prize money in the history of pool. Reyes won $500K for his win against Roderick Moor in the World Open Eightball Championship. He also won $163k for his victory against Niels Fijen in Predator World 14.1 Championship.
Efren Reyes is considered to be a superstar. Bata is his name. His reputation for "running the tables" is what gave him his nickname. He has won 14 tournaments. He was awarded a bronze medal for eight-ball at the 2002 Asian Games.
He earned $500 an hr as a pool instructor when he was younger. His emergence into the world of pool was unexpected. He decided to make it a career as a pro tournament player several years ago. He was soon the face IPT. He is currently the color commentator for U.S broadcasts.
Reyes and Francisco Bustamante represented Philippines in the World Cup of Pool. They defeated Roderick Morse and Earl Strickland. They won the Dr. Louis Pannullo Trophy.
Many other stars participated in the International Pool Tour including Mike Sigel. Sigel worked as a road dealer and importer before he became an international pool tour pro. After hearing of the league, he began competing. During his tenure, he won two world championships and is 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. Initially, the tour planned to have a challenge match in August 2005. The tour was cancelled following negotiations with the facility.