The pro billiards tour includes major tournaments as well the world championships. The tour's first year saw it stage the largest billiards tournament in history. The tour became financially troubled in 2006 and stopped holding major events. In 2007, the IPT Ultimate 8 Ball was staged, and the tour was resurrected.
Stauch's participation in billiards
Shari Stauch was a professional player of pool for over 20 years, before she retired in 2004. In addition to her playing career, Stauch helped develop the billiards industry by co-founding Pool & Billiard Magazine with Harold Simonsen. She was awarded the Women's Professional Billiard Association's Sportsperson of Year in 1995. She has also been awarded five WPBA President's Awards. She was inducted into WPBA Hall of Fame in 2007.
Billiards is a game with a rich history. It has been played by many people, from commoners to royalty, hustlers and presidents. It was initially played on a North European lawn in 15th century. Later, it evolved into what we call today.
IPT Ultimate 8 ball
In Los Angeles, the IPT Ultimate 8-Ball held its first event in June 2008. Originally a match between English player Karl Boyes and Filipino player Alex Pagulayan was scheduled. However, Pagulayan's manager contacted the IPT's management for an alternative player. Tony Robles was then invited to replace Pagulayan. Robles accepted and flew to L.A. the following night. He defeated Karl Boyes and won in thrilling, close match. The prize money for each player was $5,000 and $1,000.
The IPT Ultimate 8-Ball is the largest pool tour in the world and will be held in five cities in 2006. The IPT will give away more than $8 million in prize money in 2006. The North American Open 8-Ball Championship will have a record-breaking prize fund of $2 million and an unprecedented first-place prize of $350,000.
Women's Professional Billiards Association
The Women's Professional Billiards Association is a professional pool tour for women. WPBA was established in 1976 by the Women's Professional Billiard Alliance. It features women pool players. Madelyn Whitlow and Palmer Byrd were its founders. Larry Miller is also a founding member.
WPBA started as a British billiards organization. It sponsored tournaments both for professionals and amateurs. In its early years, the association sponsored amateur competitions and junior contests. Joyce Gardner, Thelma Carver and Ruth Harrison were the members. Gardner won seven tournaments out of fourteen, while Carpenter and Harrison took home three and four, respectively. Harrison broke the record of 719 in 1937, which still stands as a record for women’s billiards.
Jim Bakula's influence upon women's pro-billiards teams
Jim Bakula was a pioneer in women's billiards, and his influence dates back to the 1980s. While he was General Manager of Brunswick's Billiard Division, Bakula championed the inclusion of women's divisions in events. Later, he was elected president of the Billiard Congress of America (BCA) and appealed to them to support the WPBA with grant funding. The Women's Pro Billiard Tour was created as a result.
Future of pro billiards tour
Pro billiard tours are in flux. The PBT, a fringe professional sport, is looking for stability, and Don Mackey is one of the people attempting to help it get there. Camel cigarettes was the sponsor of the 1996 PBT tour. The company later parted ways with Mackey and began its own tour.
It has been ten years since the first event, the Gulf Coast Women's Regional Billiard Tour, paid out $12,330 in prizes. The tour expanded its events to the Gulf Coast region, which required venues to have at least twenty tables. Many Texas-area rooms were left out of contention. The new tour was a positive for both the venue and the game.