The International Pool Tour attracted the best players from all over the globe. This tournament was the first to be broadcast on TV and was intended to promote pool as a mainstream sport. It was founded by Kevin Trudeau. Kevin Trudeau was an avid player of pool and was already a successful businessman at the time he founded IPT.
It was a professional tour of pool that featured professional production and bright lights. 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 was determined that the game would be a success. The tour was funded with $13million. Although the tour was short-lived it brought the sport back into the limelight. The tour paid out more than $6,000,000 in prizes during its existence.
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 was also 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 a total of $500K for his victory over Roderick Morris in the World Open Eight-ball Championship. Reyes also won a $163k First Prize for his victory against Niels Feijen at the Predator World 14.1 Championship.
Efren Reyes has been called a celebrity. He is known as Bata and is considered the king among billiards hotshots. His reputation as "running all the tables" is his nickname. He has won 14 tournaments. He won a silver medal in eight-ball at 2002 Asian Games.
He used to make $500 an hour teaching pool when he was younger. It was a surprise that he found his way into the pool world. He decided to make it a career as a pro tournament player several years ago. He was the face IPT. He is the current color commentator on U.S. broadcasts.
Reyes and Francisco Bustamante represented Philippines on the World Cup of Pool. They defeated Roderick Morse and Earl Strickland. They were also awarded the Dr. Louis Pannullo award.
Several other stars were included in the International Pool Tour, including Mike Sigel. Before he became a pro, Sigel sold imported products and was a road gambler. 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 had been a long-time enthusiast of pool and thought up the tour after seeing a radio advertisement for a Chicago region pool tournament. The tour originally planned to hold a challenge game in August 2005. After negotiations with the facility, it was cancelled.