From the IPT Q & A Section or their website (
http://www.internationalpooltour.com/ipt_content/q_and_a/default.asp#j) :
"QUESTION:
How can I guarantee playing in the qualifying tournaments for the North American Open and the World Open?
Answer:
Applications will be forthcoming within the next few months. The IPT North American 8-Ball Open Championship and the IPT World 8-Ball Open Championship will be open to any player in the world, man or woman, of any age. We are in the process of organizing
qualifying tournaments in selected billiard rooms around the world. Since there are
fifty openings for both of these tournaments we will have
fifty qualifying tournaments for each event. More details will be forthcoming in the next few months."
Of course I added the underlines.