The pro billiard tour is a series of tournaments, including the world championships and major events. The tour's first year saw it stage the largest billiards tournament in history. However, by 2006, the tour was in serious financial trouble and had to stop holding major events. The IPT Ultimate 8 Ball was the catalyst for the tour's revival in 2007.
Stauch's participation at billiards
Shari Stauch played professionally for 20 years in pool before retiring in 2004. Stauch, along with Harold Simonsen, helped to develop the billiards market by co-founding 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. She was inducted into WPBA Hall of Fame in 2007.
Billiards has a long and rich history. There have been many players, from royals to commoners to hustlers to 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 first event of the IPT Ultimate 8-Ball was held in Los Angeles in June of 2008. An original match was set up between Alex Pagulayan (Filipino player) and Karl Boyes (English player). Pagulayan’s manager called the IPT management to seek out an alternative player. Tony Robles was then invited to replace Pagulayan. Robles accepted the invitation and flew to L.A. during the night. He beat Karl Boyes in an exciting and close match. The match was worth $5,000 and $1,000 respectively, 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's record-breaking prize fund will be $2 million. It will also offer a $350,000 first-place bonus.
Women's Professional Billiards Association
Women's Professional Billiards Association hosts a professional pool competition for women. WPBA was started in 1976 as Women's Professional Billiard Alliance. This association features competitive women's pool players. Its founders include Madelyn Whitlow, Palmer Byrd and Larry Miller.
The WPBA was originally a British billiards association. It sponsored tournaments for both amateurs and professionals. In the early years, the association ran amateur competitions and junior competitions. Joyce Gardner was a member, as well as Ruth Harrison and Thelma Carpenter. Gardner won seven out of fourteen tournaments, while Carpenter won four and Harrison three, respectively. Harrison broke the record at 197 in 1937 which is still an outstanding record for women's pool.
Jim Bakula's influence upon women's pro-billiards teams
Jim Bakula's influence on women in billiards goes back to the 1980s. Bakula was the General Manager of Brunswick's Billiard Division and advocated for women's sections in events. Bakula was later elected president of The Billiard Congress of American (BCA). He appealed for grant funding to the WPBA. The Women's Pro Billiard Tour was eventually created.
The pro billiards tour is in its future
The future prospects of the professional billiard tour are uncertain. Don Mackey, a fringe professional sports, is working to ensure stability for the PBT. He recently filed a federal lawsuit against Camel cigarettes, who had sponsored the PBT's 1996 tour, and later split with it and started 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. In order to add more events to the Gulf Coast, venues must have at least 20 tables. Many Texas-area rooms were left out of contention. The new tour was a positive for both the venue and the game.