The pro billiards tour is a series that includes the world championships and major events. In its first year, it hosted the biggest billiards tournament ever. But, by 2006, the tour had fallen into serious financial trouble, and was forced to cease hosting major events. In 2007, the tour revived itself by staging the IPT Ultimate 8-Ball.
Stauch's involvement in billiards
Shari was a professional pool player who played for over 20 years until 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 named Sportsperson of the Year by the Women's Professional Billiard Association in 1995 and is a five-time WPBA President's Award winner. She was inducted into WPBA Hall of Fame 2007
Billiards has an extensive history with players that range from royalty to commoners, hustlers or presidents. It was first played as a lawn game in Northern Europe in the 15th century and evolved into the style 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. In the beginning, a match was planned between Alex Pagulayan and Karl Boyes from England. Pagulayan’s manager reached out to the IPT for an alternate player. Tony Robles was invited as a replacement for Pagulayan. Robles accepted the invitation and flew to L.A. during the night. In a thrilling match, Robles beat Karl Boyes to win the match. The match was worth $5,000 and $1,000 respectively, plus expenses.
The IPT Ultimate 8-Ball, the world's largest pool tour, will be held across 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 boasts a record-breaking prize pot of $2,000,000 and a staggering first-place reward of $350,000.
Women's Professional Billiards Association
Women's Professional Billiards Association offers a professional pool tournament 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 amateurs or professionals. In its early years, the association sponsored amateur competitions and junior contests. Its members included Joyce Gardner, Thelma Carpenter and Ruth Harrison. 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 has a significant influence on women who play pro billiards
Jim Bakula's influence over women in billiards dates back to 1980. 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. This led eventually to the creation the Women's Pro Billiard Tour.
The pro billiards tour is in its future
The future of the pro billiard tour is up in the air. Don Mackey, an amateur fringe sport in billiards, is helping to stabilize 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.
The first event, the Gulf Coast Women's Regional Billiard Tour - which paid out $12,330 worth of prizes - took place ten years ago. Since then, the tour has added events to the Gulf Coast. Venues must have at minimum twenty tables. Unfortunately, many Texas-area venues were not eligible for the tour. However, the new tour's presence was good for the game and for the venues.