IPT 2007 - 7 Open Events

[Str8PoolMan]

He wants to OWN POOL like Vince McMann OWNS wrestling.

John

A scary thought. Let's hope he doesn't turn pool into the farce that wrestling is.

 

[TheOne]

Well I don't either. The IPT Open events are open to any person who qualifies for them. The US Open in tennis is the same way as is the US Open in Golf. In fact, not only do you need to qualify to be in the US Open in golf but you need to be able to make the cut in order to play in the main tournament as well. And women can play in the golf US Open if they make it.

Even if the Behrman US Open is truly open to any male with $500 (parapeligics included) the prize money is still WAY UNDER what the IPT offers when the entry fee is compared to the prize fund.

When I was in Taiwan, I played in a tournament where they had flights throughout the week, mini-tournaments with sixteen players each to qualify for the main tournament on the weekend. You paid $10 for the minis plus table time if you lost and you could play in as many minis as you wanted to. No prize money, the winner of the mini got to advance to the main tournament. The main tournament had a fixed prize payout. The pool room ran dozens of minis each night for five nights. I don't speak Chinese so I couldn't exactly get any info about how the players felt about the system but as I was there for two nights it seemed to me that the minis filled up each time with ease.

So the cost of getting to the main tournament was totally dependent on the skill of the player, luck of the draw AND how much they were willing to spend trying. Exactly how it should be. Players should be willing to contribute to the system and be willing to earn a spot and not just buy their way in.

There are players in this country who are called Professionals that don't deserve that title in a million years. These are people who have about as much talent as your average APA 7. They are called professionals because they bought their way into an organization called the United Poolplayers Association. They didn't have to qualify to earn the right to be called professional players.

Neither did some of the players on the current IPT roster. They "bought" their way on through good personal marketing. Within two years though each and every player on the IPT's Touring Pro top 150 will have earned the right to be there without question and will have the compensation that goes with that status.

Wouldn't it be less fair for the IPT to hold qualifiers where they are charging $100 per man and taking 1000 players of whom 970 have no chance to be competitive on the IPT than to charge $1000/$1500 and get 30 players who can be competitive and a few who aren't but have money to burn?

There is not a player alive who can buy their way onto the IPT as it is now set up. They must EARN it by beating world beaters. Why should that honor be cheapend?

John

You just did! ANyway keith said "wasn't open like the Eurotour" I was merely correcting his analogy as the IPT isn't open like the Euro TOur, I stand by that. I don't know where the women, wheelchairs, china etc came from but I'll take your word for it.

Again I don't know where the $100 came from either but tell me why holding one qualifier with 50 spots available for $5000 would cheapen it either? I'm not suggesting it I just don't see what you are getting at, are you trying to saying the IPT are holding all these qualifers for the players benifits and they don't really want all that revenue? They are simply trying to bring honor and status to the pool world and the money is just an unwanted by product, come onepocket!?

PS
What do you think the IPT could improve on?

 

[unknownpro]

Well I don't either. The IPT Open events are open to any person who qualifies for them. The US Open in tennis is the same way as is the US Open in Golf. In fact, not only do you need to qualify to be in the US Open in golf but you need to be able to make the cut in order to play in the main tournament as well. And women can play in the golf US Open if they make it.

Even if the Behrman US Open is truly open to any male with $500 (parapeligics included) the prize money is still WAY UNDER what the IPT offers when the entry fee is compared to the prize fund.

When I was in Taiwan, I played in a tournament where they had flights throughout the week, mini-tournaments with sixteen players each to qualify for the main tournament on the weekend. You paid $10 for the minis plus table time if you lost and you could play in as many minis as you wanted to. No prize money, the winner of the mini got to advance to the main tournament. The main tournament had a fixed prize payout. The pool room ran dozens of minis each night for five nights. I don't speak Chinese so I couldn't exactly get any info about how the players felt about the system but as I was there for two nights it seemed to me that the minis filled up each time with ease.

So the cost of getting to the main tournament was totally dependent on the skill of the player, luck of the draw AND how much they were willing to spend trying. Exactly how it should be. Players should be willing to contribute to the system and be willing to earn a spot and not just buy their way in.

There are players in this country who are called Professionals that don't deserve that title in a million years. These are people who have about as much talent as your average APA 7. They are called professionals because they bought their way into an organization called the United Poolplayers Association. They didn't have to qualify to earn the right to be called professional players.

Neither did some of the players on the current IPT roster. They "bought" their way on through good personal marketing. Within two years though each and every player on the IPT's Touring Pro top 150 will have earned the right to be there without question and will have the compensation that goes with that status.

Wouldn't it be less fair for the IPT to hold qualifiers where they are charging $100 per man and taking 1000 players of whom 970 have no chance to be competitive on the IPT than to charge $1000/$1500 and get 30 players who can be competitive and a few who aren't but have money to burn?

There is not a player alive who can buy their way onto the IPT as it is now set up. They must EARN it by beating world beaters. Why should that honor be cheapend?

John

The U.S. Open is open to ANYONE with $500. Barry would love to have as many females there as possible, lol! Some of the guys in the wheelchairs play jam-up in pro tournaments.

unknownpro

 

[Nostroke]

The U.S. Open is open to ANYONE with $500. Barry would love to have as many females there as possible, lol! Some of the guys in the wheelchairs play jam-up in pro tournaments.

unknownpro

Where do you get this info?

Unless Barry has changed his mind since September, for his US Open, it is well known that it has never been open to women. If it were you could bet on Ga Young Kim, Julie Kelly, Kelly F or Karen Corr having played in one before they were in the WPBA- not to mention some lesser known names. This year i dont think the WPBA has the power to bar players from any tournament given the IPT situation.

 

[onepocketchump]

A scary thought. Let's hope he doesn't turn pool into the farce that wrestling is.

To you it's a farce. To millions of fans who tune in every other day it's their choice of entertainment.

I really think that KT would like to see billiards become a combination of wresting, boxing, poker, and golf.

Wrestling for the drama and the trash talking hype, poker for the high stakes internal pressure, boxing for the skill and heart, and golf for the prestige and status.

Pro Wrestlers are celebrities who are mostly quite articulate and neat people. The have fame and influence because of promoters like McMann (sp).

I doubt that KT wants to fix matches or script the player's interactions. I am sure that he encourages a bit of drama and trash talking because it's good tv. So far, from what I have seen on the KOH series they do a pretty good job of building up the players and conveying the depth of the game. I have been quite impressed with the production so far and the fact that they were able to set the stage for the viewer as to what these guys are playing for.

If the viewer is not involved then he is not committed. I think that KT is building towards a tour where a strong fan base built from (yet) non-poolplayers will eagerly tune in to LIVE broadcasts to see how their favorites are doing. Millions more watch golf and tennis regularly than actually play it.

John

 

[onepocketchump]

You just did! ANyway keith said "wasn't open like the Eurotour" I was merely correcting his analogy as the IPT isn't open like the Euro TOur, I stand by that. I don't know where the women, wheelchairs, china etc came from but I'll take your word for it.

Again I don't know where the $100 came from either but tell me why holding one qualifier with 50 spots available for $5000 would cheapen it either? I'm not suggesting it I just don't see what you are getting at, are you trying to saying the IPT are holding all these qualifers for the players benifits and they don't really want all that revenue? They are simply trying to bring honor and status to the pool world and the money is just an unwanted by product, come onepocket!?

PS
What do you think the IPT could improve on?

Unless the EuroTour has changed the way it operates it is not open to any player who is not a European citizen.

One qualifier for $5000 a spot would achieve the goal of getting 50 players to purchase 50 spots. It would not get the widespread exposure for the IPT nor convey the same honors that having many smaller qualifiers would do.

I never said that the qualifiers are for the player's benefit, don't put words in my mouth. The qualifiers exist to give all players a path to the pros that must be earned through jam-up play.

The IPT could improve on the local involvement. The IPT should hire one person per state to be the IPT coordinator/salesman/evangelist for that state and make sure that every poolroom and bar with a pooltable knows about the IPT and has it on the TV screens when it broadcasts. They need to be doing more grassroots stuff to get the pool fanatics more excited and have them get their non-poolplaying friends watching.

John

 

[ScottW]

Yah, the bits on the TV episodes where the announcer guy keeps going on about "anyone can participate" - but really, not everyone has $1k, $1.5k - even half - to blow on a chance in a tournament qualifier - and for most people, it'd be a snowball's chance in Hell.

I'd mentioned this some weeks/months ago - I think it'd be a Fine Idea (but I don't know how feasable it would be) to have a more "amateur" tour, affiliated with the IPT. Think of it like major league baseball and the "farm" teams, where up-and-comers get on these teams, and then the major league teams will pull individual players up to the majors at times.

Have a bunch of regional tour events, that (really!) anyone can play in - for a decent price (say, $50). Set winnings accordingly. Keep track of rankings nationally. Move folks up to the main IPT tour based on their performance, and tour slot availability (perhaps dedicate X number of tour spots each year to the top amateur tour players). Maybe even offer prizes to top finishers, like paid trips to watch main tour events in Vegas and whatnot.

THAT would really get pool cooking as far as John Q. Public goes.

I chat with locals occasionaly about the IPT and the one thing everyone says is "there's no way I'll ever get to participate". The IPT as it stands now is way out of reach of the majority of the pool playing public.

 

[onepocketchump]

Yah, the bits on the TV episodes where the announcer guy keeps going on about "anyone can participate" - but really, not everyone has $1k, $1.5k - even half - to blow on a chance in a tournament qualifier - and for most people, it'd be a snowball's chance in Hell.

I'd mentioned this some weeks/months ago - I think it'd be a Fine Idea (but I don't know how feasable it would be) to have a more "amateur" tour, affiliated with the IPT. Think of it like major league baseball and the "farm" teams, where up-and-comers get on these teams, and then the major league teams will pull individual players up to the majors at times.

Have a bunch of regional tour events, that (really!) anyone can play in - for a decent price (say, $50). Set winnings accordingly. Keep track of rankings nationally. Move folks up to the main IPT tour based on their performance, and tour slot availability (perhaps dedicate X number of tour spots each year to the top amateur tour players). Maybe even offer prizes to top finishers, like paid trips to watch main tour events in Vegas and whatnot.

THAT would really get pool cooking as far as John Q. Public goes.

I chat with locals occasionaly about the IPT and the one thing everyone says is "there's no way I'll ever get to participate". The IPT as it stands now is way out of reach of the majority of the pool playing public.

So is the PGA and the World Series of Poker for most people at $10,000 per entry. Still, last year there were something like five people in the top 16 at the World Series of Poker who got in for less than $100.

Whoever wins the APA singles, the VNEA Singles and Masters, the BCA Singles and Masters and the ACS Singles and Masters divisions should have spots in at least one IPT event per year. The IPT should have a few spots open for local tournament series.

For example if a poolroom were to host a tournament series where they took out $5 per player and ran the tournaments for 12 weeks with just 16 players per week they would have nearly enough pay one entry fee into an IPT event. The idea is that grassroot players could have an inexpensive shot at getting on the IPT's 150, much the same as poker players can take those shots as well. For all I care make it $10 and fork over the extra $5 to the IPT. One tournament per state would equal $4000 a week going to the IPT and another $48,000 in 12 weeks with more players gunning for the IPT on a weekly basis. Total to the IPT would be $98,000. If the entry fees per tournament were $20 so that there would be payouts at each tournament, the total outlay for a player who played in all 16 weeklies would be $320. The weeklies could restrict their tournaments to A players, no pros, no roadies or just make them open. Some poolrooms could support having two or three of these tournaments a week.

Approxiamately 260,000 people already pay weekly into a national system. This would work. It could run concurrent with the established qualifiers and bring a lot of local rooms into the fold.

John

 

[TheOne]

Unless the EuroTour has changed the way it operates it is not open to any player who is not a European citizen.

Yes you are correct in that the Euro Tour is open to any nation, any sex as long as they pay their entry. No matter where I have played the Euro Tour is univerally regarded as the highest quality tour in the world bar none.

 

[onepocketchump]

Yes you are correct in that the Euro Tour is open to any nation, any sex as long as they pay their entry. No matter where I have played the Euro Tour is univerally regarded as the highest quality tour in the world bar none.

Well, check your history Craig and you will find that the Eurotour was not always open to anyone but European Citizens. Bustamante was not allowed to play on it when the EuroTour began.

Don't forget that I lived in Germany for ten years and sponsored a few players including Ralf Souquet.

The highest quality in what? Depth of players? Organization? Payouts? Frequency?

I remember quite a few players complaining about how difficult it was to get anywhere on the EuroTour because the top 16 were (are?) seeded into further rounds and got (get?) free entry into each event. I don't know if it is still that way but that was hardly fair or "top" quality.

If they have evolved beyond that into an open tour with a fair shot then great. Just goes to prove that any tour can be improved with time to do so.

I doubt though that the EuroTour is the highest quality tour on Earth when it comes to payouts or the top 20 would be liberally sprinkled with American, Asian and Filipino names. Just a thought.

John

 

[Dr. Dissent]

I think this thread only disproves the myth that the IPT will be a tour funded entirely by the players. The numbers just don't add up and will never add up, considering the huge payouts promised.

For the next 2-3 years, KT will be taking the financial hit himself by paying out the vast majority of the prize money (not to mention tournament and broadcasting expenses) from his own pocket such that this tour can get off the ground.

You are wrong. This is a tour that Kevin wanted or intended to be funded by Players. The only thing is that Kevin's plans have failed..... miserably....

Kevin Trudeau will not have to put money from his pocket. The money will come from "Natural Cures"; thus by tax year end, the company will be reporting huge loses instead of financial gain. Kevin would still receive his huge salary, and keep HIS money in HIS pocket.

People, the IPT will fail. They will not get any U.S. financial support or sponsorships (other than his own company). There is no way it can be successful but Kevin will certainly find some fool who will take the bait and purchase the tour, probably from Europe, where it would have a slight chance of survival. Rumour has it that Kevin already wants to sell the tour. (Was it for 50 or 70 million?).

Where are all those optimists that said Kevin Trudeau was going to save the Pool World? He's already trying to bail out.

Write this on a piece of stone......the IPT will fail.........

 

[jjinfla]

Oh you are too smart for the rest of us. I wish I had it figured out like you do.

Save the pool world? I don't think that was his intention at all. Make money for himself and his friends most likely. Have a tax write off - possibly. A way to tweak the Government's nose - most likely. And have fun in the process.

But it is still the best thing the pool players have going for them.

If you read the June issue of Pool & Billiards you will have seen an article in there about the possible sale of the IPT. They will be making an important announcement about the IPT (so says the article) at the players meeting before the tournament in Vegas. I suspect it will be about the sale or merger of the IPT. And how it will move overseas where the big money is.

This is so top secret that the magazine had this news several months ago.

But KT sure is crazy. Starts up the IPT, spends 5 to 10 million dollars from his company, makes a lot of money for his employees, and the pool players, and then he sells the IPT for 60 million.

Yep, he sure is crazy, like a fox.

Jake

 

[Dr. Dissent]

Oh you are too smart for the rest of us. I wish I had it figured out like you do.

Save the pool world? I don't think that was his intention at all. Make money for himself and his friends most likely. Have a tax write off - possibly. A way to tweak the Government's nose - most likely. And have fun in the process.

But it is still the best thing the pool players have going for them.

If you read the June issue of Pool & Billiards you will have seen an article in there about the possible sale of the IPT. They will be making an important announcement about the IPT (so says the article) at the players meeting before the tournament in Vegas. I suspect it will be about the sale or merger of the IPT. And how it will move overseas where the big money is.

This is so top secret that the magazine had this news several months ago.

But KT sure is crazy. Starts up the IPT, spends 5 to 10 million dollars from his company, makes a lot of money for his employees, and the pool players, and then he sells the IPT for 60 million.

Yep, he sure is crazy, like a fox.

Jake

Jake, if you read all the posts about the IPT you will see lots of posts indicating the KT was the "saviour" of Pool. Many have glorified KT and have made foolish remarks about how he was spending so much money from his own pocket, how the US players would finally receive what they are due, plus all the other "boloney" about how great this all is, etc., etc.

Those of us that don't believe this BS, have been trying to open "people's minds and eyes" as to not believe everything "good" that is being said of the IPT.

Kevin doesn't give a hoot about the Pro US players; he cares about his own pocket and how to bulk-up his bank account without giving its due share as a tax-payer.

Now Kevin will sell-off the dreams of all the US players, sending the tour to Europe, where it will definitely cost money to the US players, something "everyone" thought it would not happen anymore.

Once again the US players will be deceived. KT has been selling "Dreams" and I cant believe people are falling again to this old scheme....

and thanks for calling me smart, and acknowledging I have it all figured out.....

 

[jjinfla]

You mean to tell me that you don't think that KT is the next Mother Teresa?

What a profound thought.

The only thing funnier than people preaching how corrupt KT is is people trying to convince people that wrastling is fixed.

Have a good day.

I have to go play pool.

Jake

 

[Dr. Dissent]

I had a vision alright!

Jake, if you read all the posts about the IPT you will see lots of posts indicating the KT was the "saviour" of Pool. Many have glorified KT and have made foolish remarks about how he was spending so much money from his own pocket, how the US players would finally receive what they are due, plus all the other "boloney" about how great this all is, etc., etc.

Those of us that don't believe this BS, have been trying to open "people's minds and eyes" as to not believe everything "good" that is being said of the IPT.

Kevin doesn't give a hoot about the Pro US players; he cares about his own pocket and how to bulk-up his bank account without giving its due share as a tax-payer.

Now Kevin will sell-off the dreams of all the US players, sending the tour to Europe, where it will definitely cost money to the US players, something "everyone" thought it would not happen anymore.

Once again the US players will be deceived. KT has been selling "Dreams" and I cant believe people are falling again to this old scheme....

and thanks for calling me smart, and acknowledging I have it all figured out.....

OK, OK, I was wrong again, the tour will be sent to Asia instead of Europe but I was right about Kevin selling-off player's dreams, and bulking up his bank account.....

Wow, I'm really good at this!