The pro-billiard tour includes a series of tournaments including the world championships or major events. In its inaugural year, the tour held the largest billiards tournament. The tour ran into serious financial difficulties in 2006 and was forced to cancel major events. The IPT Ultimate 8 Ball was organized in 2007, and the tour resurrected itself.
Stauch's involvement with billiards
Shari Stauch played professionally for 20 years in pool before retiring in 2004. Stauch also played professionally for 20 years, before she retired in 2004. With Harold Simonsen, Stauch founded Pool & Billiard Magazine. In 1995, Stauch was named Sportsperson Of The Year by Women's Professional Billiard Association. Five times she has been awarded the WPBA President's Award. In 2007, she was inducted in the WPBA Hall of Fame.
Billiards has an extensive history with players that range from royalty to commoners, hustlers or presidents. The game was originally played on a northern European lawn in the 15th century. It evolved into the modern style that we know today.
IPT Ultimate 8 ball
The IPT Ultimate 8-Ball's first event was held in Los Angeles, California in June 2008. Originally a match between English player Karl Boyes and Filipino player Alex Pagulayan was scheduled. Pagulayan’s manager called the IPT management to seek out an alternative player. Tony Robles was invited by Pagulayan to be his replacement. Robles accepted this invitation and flew from Chicago to L.A. on the evening. He won the match against Karl Boyes in a thrilling and close match. The prizes for both players were $5,000 and $1,000. Plus expenses.
The IPT Ultimate 8-Ball will be held worldwide in 2006 in five cities. The IPT will offer more than $8 million worth of 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. The Women's Professional Billiard Alliance was founded in 1976. The WPBA is a professional pool tour for women. Madelyn Willow, Palmer Byrd, and Larry Miller were the founders of this organization.
WPBA began as a British billiards society. It sponsored tournaments, both for amateurs or professionals. In its early years, it ran junior and amateur competitions. Joyce Gardner was a member, as well as Ruth Harrison and Thelma Carpenter. Gardner won seven of 14 tournaments she entered, and Carpenter and Harrison won four each. Harrison broke Harrison's 1937 record of 193, which remains a record in women’s billiards.
Jim Bakula's influence over women's pro-billiards
Jim Bakula's influence over women in billiards dates back to 1980. Bakula, who was the General Manager for Brunswick's Billiard Division at the time, advocated inclusion of women's teams in events. Later, Bakula was elected President of the Billiard Conference of America (BCA). This appealed at them to grant funding for the WPBA. This eventually led to the creation of the Women's Pro Billiard Tour.
Future of pro billiards tour
The future of professional billiard touring is in doubt. Don Mackey, an amateur fringe sport in billiards, is helping to stabilize the PBT. Camel cigarettes was the sponsor of the 1996 PBT tour. The company later parted ways with Mackey and began its own tour.
It's been ten-years since the first event of the Gulf Coast Women's Regional Billiard Tour paid out $12.330. During this time, the tour added more events to the Gulf Coast area, requiring venues with at least twenty tables. This left many Texas-area rooms out of the running. However, this new tour was a great addition to the game and venues.