Letter from Ian Anderson - President of the World
Pool-Billiard Asociation (WPA):
19 August, 2005
To All Players and Federations
I write to you as both a former professional billiard player and as the President of the World Pool-Billiard Association. It has taken me some time to compile this letter, but I felt it was important that it be written, given the recent announcements within our sport. All I ask is for you to take a few minutes to read it, and give consideration to what is being said.
You have all most likely seen or heard about the latest news announcing new events which are being organized by a new promotions organization in the USA, the International Pool Tour, or more commonly referred to as IPT. No doubt these new events will all sound great to you as pool players, but I do ask you to sit back and give very serious consideration to what this may all mean to both yourself and the long term future of the sport.
Like many others before, IPT sees itself as its own authority and does not wish to be under the scrutiny of any legitimate body, such as the WPA. This decision of theirs is cause for concern in itself. Why wouldn’t they want legitimate sanctioning by the world’s only legitimately recognized international organization for pool? This is a good question to consider. Because at the end of the day the sanctioning doesn’t cost them anything; it is for free because the sanctioning fee comes from the added prize fund.
When you consider the amounts of money being bandied about, the amount that the WPA would receive may seem like an awful lot of money for a pool organization to get, but the truth is that all of the money goes back into the sport. The main bulk of this money would most likely be put back in the form of one or two extra tournaments each year, or used to boost up prize money to already existing events.
With reference to a Questions and Answers release from IPT: First of all let’s take a look IPT’s first event. It’s being hailed as the “World 8-Ball Championship”. That’s great isn’t it? Here is an event being played between two Americans and that is supposed to constitute a legitimate world championship, at least according to IPT ! And who’s contesting this “world championship” event – two players whose better playing days are probably sometime behind them. I have no objection to a challenge type match between these two contestants, but really, to try and claim it as a world championship event is insulting.
So where does that leave the WPA World 8-Ball Championship in comparison to the IPT event? Who is the real champion? Well according to IPT it sounds like it must be the winner of their event. “As of right now, in my opinion, there is no world 8 Ball champion.” I’m pleased in this quote it was clarified as being the writer’s opinion, because I’m sure that is not how everyone else feels. Who do you consider should be recognized as the true world champion? Should it be the winner of a challenge match whose player selection was made according to the ‘old pals act’, or Efren Reyes who won the WPA World 8-Ball Championship last year, in a contest that featured 63 other leading players from more than twenty countries worldwide. They were players who had to qualify to earn a start in the event.
In all articles associated with IPT, the subject of “huge” money is inevitably raised. Their proposed tour certainly sounds exciting, and is indeed a worthy amount of money being talked about. But comments like “I am not doing this to make money.” have to be queried. It may be true that Mr. Trudeau doesn’t have to make money on this venture, but there is no doubt in most minds that this really is his objective – to make money. And nobody can begrudge him of that, if he is willing to invest in the sport then he is entitled to earn a return.
But surely he is doing it to make money; he hopes to make money by selling the matches to pay-per-view television. Anyone who believes he is simply doing it because he can afford to and he wants to put all this money into the pockets of pool players he doesn’t even know, those people must still believe in Santa Claus. You will no doubt have seen the $199 entry fee per tournament and the $899 membership fee.
1.The IPT also differentiates itself from all other tours with the fact that our events will be produced for television to a higher level of professionalism than any other event. The production quality of the events will be superlative. No one can compete with the production values that the IPT events will have. The amount of television coverage that IPT events will have will dwarf any other tour's television coverage exposure.
The paragraph above is certainly some claim. The WPA World 9-Ball Championship goes out to 80 countries with an audience of some 500,000,000 people. Imagine how many people must be watching IPT’s event if it is going to dwarf everything else !
If you bother to read the Q & A article in full, you will notice a number of incorrect statements and claims; far too many to address in this letter.
In simple terms, what I am trying to say to you is this: We have all seen these sorts of ideas and promises before. Mostly they don’t get any further than just being an idea, usually because they are unable to raise the necessary funds to develop their ideas, but in fairness to IPT it doesn’t appear as though money will be the problem.
The main concern is that if this project is allowed to develop under IPT’s structure, the future of the sport as we know it today could be in jeopardy. What assurances are there from IPT as to how long they intend to stay in the business? Sure, we will hear it is long term, but what assurances are they giving other than some verbal promises. You surely wouldn’t expect to hear them say, “Well, we’ll just try it and see what happens. If it doesn’t work and we can’t earn any money, then we’re outta here”. But this may well be closer to the truth.
Their reasons for not wanting to sanction with the WPA is a great concern for us. If you were really intent on developing the sport properly, why wouldn’t you want the world governing body to sanction the event, which would make their events legitimate – especially when they want to call it a “world championship”.
Is their reason because they wouldn’t want the WPA to receive so much money? Money that we have said we would be putting back into the sport by one way or another. Some of the money could be used to help administer the sport more professionally. As you would all know, the work done by the WPA is done on an honorary basis and this seldom can be as good when compared to being able to pay for your help.
The WPA was set up in 1987 in an effort to make the games of pocket billiards have a more international flavor. Pool was happening within the USA, Japan and some countries of Europe. With the forming of the WPA, a true world championship was able to be held, bringing together players from all different countries to compete.
Just three continents were the foundation members of the WPA, and today we have six, every continent is a member.
From these humble beginnings, with only a few tournaments for players and where the members were obligated to stage the world championships for men and women we have now reached a stage where our calendar is almost full every year. This has only been achieved because of the existence of the WPA, by bringing everyone together. All our memberships work closely together to co-ordinate events to prevent clashes and to give all players a better chance of playing in as many events as possible.
Unlike organizations such as IPT, the WPA has a number of responsibilities far beyond what most players would realize. Importantly, we are not here for the short haul, but rather the long. We are committed to the long term development of the sport; not just pack up tomorrow if something happens that we don’t like. We are a non-profit organization and whatever money we make, we are obligated to invest it back into the sport one way or another.
We have to invest in the future, to make sure that the sport keeps going and growing by developing the young, probably the most important investment we can make. We have to help with such other activities as Artistic and Disabled disciplines. We have to help develop and train referees and other official’s criteria so that when a competition takes place and we need officials, we will have competent people to do the job. We need to recognize and endorse player coaching programs.
We have to make and amend policies to maintain our Olympic recognition, something which I’m sure you would all be aware is important to us. Many a nation receives benefits as a result of WPA’s membership to the IOC. Fortunate players from these countries are already receiving great assistance from their governments and National Olympic Committees and this number is growing all the time. And for any of you that may not count this as being so important, just ask the thoughts of players who took part in the recent World Games.
So it’s all well and good for someone to come along now and tell everyone what they’re going to do, and that they don’t want to work with anyone because they are so great; but I ask what is IPT going to do for the future of our sport? What programs have they got planned that will allow the opportunity for a youngster to be trained so that when he reaches that ripe old age of sixteen, he can have the opportunity to win an Open World Championship? What programs have they got that will give players the opportunities to play in future World Games, and hopefully soon, Olympic Games? Indeed, where were they when the game was really struggling and we badly needed help? Funny, we didn’t hear from them, but now that the hard yards have been done, they want to come along and show everyone how it should be done.
As you all know and have experienced, we have a wonderful and long relationship with other promotion companies who are only too pleased to be associated with the WPA. They obviously can see the benefits of the relationship. I refer here to Matchroom, Matt Braun, Mr. Tu Sports, our friends in the UAE, IBC and more recently Barry Behrman. Their events are staged in conjunction with the international that our members such as APBU, BCA/UPA and EPBF put together.
Please don’t jeopardize what we have all worked so long and hard for, especially you the players. It is improving all the time. Prize money for the World 9-Ball event will be increased for next year and Matchroom is also considering an additional event for next year.
Before you make any decision, all I ask is for you to take clear consideration of the positives and the minuses in order for you to make correct judgment. There is an old saying about the grass always appearing greener on the other side of the hill, but seldom is once you reach it; perhaps this saying may be appropriate here.
There is no sound reason why IPT should snub the WPA. I believe it to be the case at present because of some bad advice they may have been given. Everything would be easier and more beneficial to all concerned for them to work with all of us. It would eliminate any possible disciplinary action on those who break rank. I promise you that if everyone sticks together and supports each other; insist that IPT work together with the WPA, the future will never have looked so bright. The most damaging thing anyone can do to any sport is to cause disharmony and disruption.
You people are powerful and hold the key for the future to our sport. Use it together; we have all worked too hard to get to where we are today. Let’s not risk losing all of this simply because someone who has a lot of money comes along and makes grand promises, and may be gone again as quickly as he came. Let’s encourage ITP to work together with us for everyone’s benefit.
In closing, I thank you for your time to read this letter, and I urge you most sincerely, that before anyone makes a hasty decision to turn to IPT, at least speak with your WPA representative body before doing so. Or if anyone would like to discuss this any further with me, then I am more than happy to be available to you, please make contact at an address below. The future has never looked so good.
With best wishes
IAN ANDERSON
WPA President
Pool-Billiard Asociation (WPA):
19 August, 2005
To All Players and Federations
I write to you as both a former professional billiard player and as the President of the World Pool-Billiard Association. It has taken me some time to compile this letter, but I felt it was important that it be written, given the recent announcements within our sport. All I ask is for you to take a few minutes to read it, and give consideration to what is being said.
You have all most likely seen or heard about the latest news announcing new events which are being organized by a new promotions organization in the USA, the International Pool Tour, or more commonly referred to as IPT. No doubt these new events will all sound great to you as pool players, but I do ask you to sit back and give very serious consideration to what this may all mean to both yourself and the long term future of the sport.
Like many others before, IPT sees itself as its own authority and does not wish to be under the scrutiny of any legitimate body, such as the WPA. This decision of theirs is cause for concern in itself. Why wouldn’t they want legitimate sanctioning by the world’s only legitimately recognized international organization for pool? This is a good question to consider. Because at the end of the day the sanctioning doesn’t cost them anything; it is for free because the sanctioning fee comes from the added prize fund.
When you consider the amounts of money being bandied about, the amount that the WPA would receive may seem like an awful lot of money for a pool organization to get, but the truth is that all of the money goes back into the sport. The main bulk of this money would most likely be put back in the form of one or two extra tournaments each year, or used to boost up prize money to already existing events.
With reference to a Questions and Answers release from IPT: First of all let’s take a look IPT’s first event. It’s being hailed as the “World 8-Ball Championship”. That’s great isn’t it? Here is an event being played between two Americans and that is supposed to constitute a legitimate world championship, at least according to IPT ! And who’s contesting this “world championship” event – two players whose better playing days are probably sometime behind them. I have no objection to a challenge type match between these two contestants, but really, to try and claim it as a world championship event is insulting.
So where does that leave the WPA World 8-Ball Championship in comparison to the IPT event? Who is the real champion? Well according to IPT it sounds like it must be the winner of their event. “As of right now, in my opinion, there is no world 8 Ball champion.” I’m pleased in this quote it was clarified as being the writer’s opinion, because I’m sure that is not how everyone else feels. Who do you consider should be recognized as the true world champion? Should it be the winner of a challenge match whose player selection was made according to the ‘old pals act’, or Efren Reyes who won the WPA World 8-Ball Championship last year, in a contest that featured 63 other leading players from more than twenty countries worldwide. They were players who had to qualify to earn a start in the event.
In all articles associated with IPT, the subject of “huge” money is inevitably raised. Their proposed tour certainly sounds exciting, and is indeed a worthy amount of money being talked about. But comments like “I am not doing this to make money.” have to be queried. It may be true that Mr. Trudeau doesn’t have to make money on this venture, but there is no doubt in most minds that this really is his objective – to make money. And nobody can begrudge him of that, if he is willing to invest in the sport then he is entitled to earn a return.
But surely he is doing it to make money; he hopes to make money by selling the matches to pay-per-view television. Anyone who believes he is simply doing it because he can afford to and he wants to put all this money into the pockets of pool players he doesn’t even know, those people must still believe in Santa Claus. You will no doubt have seen the $199 entry fee per tournament and the $899 membership fee.
1.The IPT also differentiates itself from all other tours with the fact that our events will be produced for television to a higher level of professionalism than any other event. The production quality of the events will be superlative. No one can compete with the production values that the IPT events will have. The amount of television coverage that IPT events will have will dwarf any other tour's television coverage exposure.
The paragraph above is certainly some claim. The WPA World 9-Ball Championship goes out to 80 countries with an audience of some 500,000,000 people. Imagine how many people must be watching IPT’s event if it is going to dwarf everything else !
If you bother to read the Q & A article in full, you will notice a number of incorrect statements and claims; far too many to address in this letter.
In simple terms, what I am trying to say to you is this: We have all seen these sorts of ideas and promises before. Mostly they don’t get any further than just being an idea, usually because they are unable to raise the necessary funds to develop their ideas, but in fairness to IPT it doesn’t appear as though money will be the problem.
The main concern is that if this project is allowed to develop under IPT’s structure, the future of the sport as we know it today could be in jeopardy. What assurances are there from IPT as to how long they intend to stay in the business? Sure, we will hear it is long term, but what assurances are they giving other than some verbal promises. You surely wouldn’t expect to hear them say, “Well, we’ll just try it and see what happens. If it doesn’t work and we can’t earn any money, then we’re outta here”. But this may well be closer to the truth.
Their reasons for not wanting to sanction with the WPA is a great concern for us. If you were really intent on developing the sport properly, why wouldn’t you want the world governing body to sanction the event, which would make their events legitimate – especially when they want to call it a “world championship”.
Is their reason because they wouldn’t want the WPA to receive so much money? Money that we have said we would be putting back into the sport by one way or another. Some of the money could be used to help administer the sport more professionally. As you would all know, the work done by the WPA is done on an honorary basis and this seldom can be as good when compared to being able to pay for your help.
The WPA was set up in 1987 in an effort to make the games of pocket billiards have a more international flavor. Pool was happening within the USA, Japan and some countries of Europe. With the forming of the WPA, a true world championship was able to be held, bringing together players from all different countries to compete.
Just three continents were the foundation members of the WPA, and today we have six, every continent is a member.
From these humble beginnings, with only a few tournaments for players and where the members were obligated to stage the world championships for men and women we have now reached a stage where our calendar is almost full every year. This has only been achieved because of the existence of the WPA, by bringing everyone together. All our memberships work closely together to co-ordinate events to prevent clashes and to give all players a better chance of playing in as many events as possible.
Unlike organizations such as IPT, the WPA has a number of responsibilities far beyond what most players would realize. Importantly, we are not here for the short haul, but rather the long. We are committed to the long term development of the sport; not just pack up tomorrow if something happens that we don’t like. We are a non-profit organization and whatever money we make, we are obligated to invest it back into the sport one way or another.
We have to invest in the future, to make sure that the sport keeps going and growing by developing the young, probably the most important investment we can make. We have to help with such other activities as Artistic and Disabled disciplines. We have to help develop and train referees and other official’s criteria so that when a competition takes place and we need officials, we will have competent people to do the job. We need to recognize and endorse player coaching programs.
We have to make and amend policies to maintain our Olympic recognition, something which I’m sure you would all be aware is important to us. Many a nation receives benefits as a result of WPA’s membership to the IOC. Fortunate players from these countries are already receiving great assistance from their governments and National Olympic Committees and this number is growing all the time. And for any of you that may not count this as being so important, just ask the thoughts of players who took part in the recent World Games.
So it’s all well and good for someone to come along now and tell everyone what they’re going to do, and that they don’t want to work with anyone because they are so great; but I ask what is IPT going to do for the future of our sport? What programs have they got planned that will allow the opportunity for a youngster to be trained so that when he reaches that ripe old age of sixteen, he can have the opportunity to win an Open World Championship? What programs have they got that will give players the opportunities to play in future World Games, and hopefully soon, Olympic Games? Indeed, where were they when the game was really struggling and we badly needed help? Funny, we didn’t hear from them, but now that the hard yards have been done, they want to come along and show everyone how it should be done.
As you all know and have experienced, we have a wonderful and long relationship with other promotion companies who are only too pleased to be associated with the WPA. They obviously can see the benefits of the relationship. I refer here to Matchroom, Matt Braun, Mr. Tu Sports, our friends in the UAE, IBC and more recently Barry Behrman. Their events are staged in conjunction with the international that our members such as APBU, BCA/UPA and EPBF put together.
Please don’t jeopardize what we have all worked so long and hard for, especially you the players. It is improving all the time. Prize money for the World 9-Ball event will be increased for next year and Matchroom is also considering an additional event for next year.
Before you make any decision, all I ask is for you to take clear consideration of the positives and the minuses in order for you to make correct judgment. There is an old saying about the grass always appearing greener on the other side of the hill, but seldom is once you reach it; perhaps this saying may be appropriate here.
There is no sound reason why IPT should snub the WPA. I believe it to be the case at present because of some bad advice they may have been given. Everything would be easier and more beneficial to all concerned for them to work with all of us. It would eliminate any possible disciplinary action on those who break rank. I promise you that if everyone sticks together and supports each other; insist that IPT work together with the WPA, the future will never have looked so bright. The most damaging thing anyone can do to any sport is to cause disharmony and disruption.
You people are powerful and hold the key for the future to our sport. Use it together; we have all worked too hard to get to where we are today. Let’s not risk losing all of this simply because someone who has a lot of money comes along and makes grand promises, and may be gone again as quickly as he came. Let’s encourage ITP to work together with us for everyone’s benefit.
In closing, I thank you for your time to read this letter, and I urge you most sincerely, that before anyone makes a hasty decision to turn to IPT, at least speak with your WPA representative body before doing so. Or if anyone would like to discuss this any further with me, then I am more than happy to be available to you, please make contact at an address below. The future has never looked so good.
With best wishes
IAN ANDERSON
WPA President
