My Take on the IPT

[jay helfert]

First of all I'll preface my remarks, by saying I only give a damn because of all the poolplayers I'm friends with. There are far more pressing concerns on the planet that trouble me much more than the future of the IPT.

That said, number one KT is no billionaire, not even close. You can't make that kind of money selling $69.95 widgets on TV. Sorry. Most of the legit billionaires in America did it thru Real Estate, Computer Technology, Oil, Entertainment and Retail Sales. He cannot and will not continue to keep the IPT afloat without investor capital or major sponsorship. He simply can't afford to.

The Qualifiers and the online sales of everything IPT related are simply a source of income. This income is gravely needed to pay the bills. Unfortunately it is not enough to sustain this tour. What we are seeing now is a reflection of that. I for one, do not think this is merely a matter of transfering funds from one account to another. It is far more serious than that. I believe they are scrambling to find the funds to pay out the $3,000,000 owed. From fairly reliable sources I am hearing that Thorsten Hohmann has not yet received his 350K from the earlier event in Vegas.

The IPT has no problem collecting $2,000 entry fees for the new round of Qualifiers for a December tournament. Yes, Qualifers in September for a tournament three months down the road. And a lot of them on tap too. Guess why? Correct! They need the money to pay off old debts, like prize money. Someone called this "Float". I call it "Save The Sinking Ship".

My hope is that all the players get paid, period. Someone else said on here that if the IPT fails, the players will probably get stiffed in their final event. He may be right. I just hope it wasn't Reno. My advice to all the players I know is simply this. Get what you can while you can, because there is NO guarantee of anything. Who can show me a written contract where KT guarantees anything? We all have seen how quickly the website can be altered.

Just call this my instinctive hunch based on everything that I have seen transpire so far. It's kind of like putting a "read" on someone in a poker game. And I have a "read" on the IPT. My business instincts tend to be pretty good, and have kept me out of trouble more than once. That is why I have chosen to no longer sponsor any players in Qualifiers, or even recommend that they play in them.

Many on here may not like me or what I have to say. I really don't care. I am and have been for years a "Watchdog" in the billiard industry. I am proud of my record for tournament promotion. Every dollar paid, every time! I have even gone in my pocket more than once to pay off prize funds. Show me one player who says I owe them money. You can't. Granted I never had a million dollar tournament, My biggest so far paid $160,000 in 1992. Not bad at the time. I ate if for 26k on that one.

I can remember way back in 1975 in Burlington, Iowa when the promoter was going South with a $25,000 prize fund. I blew the whistle on him and saved the players asses (and wallets). You can ask Jim Rempe and Larry Hubbart to verify that one. And I knew early on that Don Mackey was up to no good. He tried to hijack me. I warned the players but most went for his line of BS. And paid the price. What happened with my dear friend Barry Behrman really floored me. I have implored him to pay all he owes more than once. In the billiard industry all we have is our good name.

I hope I am wrong this time and the IPT succeeds and the players make the big bucks they deserve. But I wouldn't bet on it.

 

[CaptiveBred]

Sounds like you have a conflict of interest. Would the IPT failure be good for your promotions? Seriously, would it? I'm not all that familiar with your events or if you still run them but maybe you are one of the small tours that will lose in the long run with a IPT success.



Why are you so worked up? Whats the big deal if the IPT only has a few tournaments? Certainly is better than none... Money has already found its way into players pockets... I guess that is a bad thing, huh?


Its not like the world of pool has lost anything and can never recover from a tour failure lol The current tours are a joke so the pool world has nothing to lose...

 

[huckster]

Sounds like you have a conflict of interest. Would the IPT failure be good for your promotions? Seriously, would it? I'm not all that familiar with your events or if you still run them but maybe you are one of the small tours that will lose in the long run with a IPT success.



Why are you so worked up? Whats the big deal if the IPT only has a few tournaments? Certainly is better than none... Money has already found its way into players pockets... I guess that is a bad thing, huh?


Its not like the world of pool has lost anything and can never recover from a tour failure lol The current tours are a joke so the pool world has nothing to lose...

I have heard nothing, but good things about Jay from both the pool and poker worlds. Jay is stating these things because he is concerned over a lifetime of friends financial well being. Early on a couple of very capable players I have travelled with and backed wanted me to put them in, or offered me a piece of them in qualifiers. these guys are no slouches either they are very capable of taking home top prize. I declined and warned them to be careful. when you say the pool world has nothing to lose I think that is a bit untrue aside from expenses qualifier entries a lot of good people are giving a great effort to make this succesfull. I work and play poker for a living I plan on retiring in less than two years while still in my 30's. I might have been a semi-successfull pool player but that would not feed my family. Jay has seen it all he is giving his opinon and warning "the pool world" Very little money has found it's way in pool players pockets. I hope the IPT is succesfull and flourishes just be prepared to be stiffed in the end. I hope not but........

 

[jay helfert]

Sounds like you have a conflict of interest. Would the IPT failure be good for your promotions? Seriously, would it? I'm not all that familiar with your events or if you still run them but maybe you are one of the small tours that will lose in the long run with a IPT success.



Why are you so worked up? Whats the big deal if the IPT only has a few tournaments? Certainly is better than none... Money has already found its way into players pockets... I guess that is a bad thing, huh?


Its not like the world of pool has lost anything and can never recover from a tour failure lol The current tours are a joke so the pool world has nothing to lose...

I am not worked up and have no conflict of interest. Sorry to disappoint you. As I said I am a concerned member of the billiard community. And I feel I have a reason to be concerned.

 

[Gabber]

no check?

From fairly reliable sources I am hearing that Thorsten Hohmann has not yet received his 350K from the earlier event in Vegas.

Surely if TH or anyone else still hasn't been paid we would have heard about it by now?

Gabber

 

[CaptiveBred]

I am not worked up and have no conflict of interest. Sorry to disappoint you. As I said I am a concerned member of the billiard community. And I feel I have a reason to be concerned.

I am not disappointed, Jay. Quite the opposite. I take more pleasure in people having good intentions... You are a competitor as far as I can tell so you should address that if you are going to "warn" people about your competition. For all the average reader, who does not know you, knows, you may be just another Ian scared to lose his establishment. thats all I was saying about the conflict.

I just find it so odd that people get so passionate about the IPT in a negative way. If the IPT did cut and run, right now, it would be pretty shitty but we are still better off having had the tour than without it. People act like they would rather the IPT never existed if it does not last forever and be what everybody wants it to be.

If they make this round of payments then the pool community is another 3 million richer in cash and greatly richer in history. Players will get paid and spectators were treated to a fantastic tournament.

How can that be bad? Its bad because the IPT *may* fail???????????? Nothing lasts forever so sure, it will end someday but that does not detract from the greatness of our game that the IPT has showcased like nothing before it...


I'm sure you are right about nobody getting paid when it ends. Most businesses end that way. They close up shop when the money runs out and leave their debters hanging... No reason to treat the IPT as a special business case. I'm sure it will be around for a while longer.

Maybe you should put this whole IPT debacle into its appropriate context and take it for what it is and what it offers... Not what it isnt or how it will fail...For me, I'm off to watch the rest of the on demand IPT videos

 

[Gabber]

If the IPT did cut and run, right now, it would be pretty shitty but we are still better off having had the tour than without it.

I think people like Jay and myself want the IPT to succeed more than you do. We want this to be more than a short-term project! A pro tour with a guaranteed income for the players is what the sport needs!

If I was a billionaire and this was my tournament and the checks were not ready, I wouldn't be amused. For a 'lousy' 3 mil, I would have gone to the cashier and cashed a check for 3 mil cash and paid them all and we will go thru the details whenever! [ Don't tell me that a casino doesn't have that amount of cash on hand.]

What was KT's reaction? Was he outraged, screaming, hysterical...embarrassed?

Have we all forgotten that KT just cancelled a tournament without any reasonable excuse!

KT presented himself as a benefactor of pool. He was going to use his money to build a tour over at least 2 years that would eventually pay for itself. After 1 invitation tourny he promptly postponed the tour for 6 months [ because the ratings were so high!] and started a zillion Q tourneys!
KT,s main slogan/promise/ GUARANTEE was that in the IPT you get paid on time! Need I say more?

The only thing KT had going for him was he money. Now that that has been brought into doubt, I think we have every right to be worried.

Gabber..........

 

[jay helfert]

I am not disappointed, Jay. Quite the opposite. I take more pleasure in people having good intentions... You are a competitor as far as I can tell so you should address that if you are going to "warn" people about your competition. For all the average reader, who does not know you, knows, you may be just another Ian scared to lose his establishment. thats all I was saying about the conflict.

I just find it so odd that people get so passionate about the IPT in a negative way. If the IPT did cut and run, right now, it would be pretty shitty but we are still better off having had the tour than without it. People act like they would rather the IPT never existed if it does not last forever and be what everybody wants it to be.

If they make this round of payments then the pool community is another 3 million richer in cash and greatly richer in history. Players will get paid and spectators were treated to a fantastic tournament.

How can that be bad? Its bad because the IPT *may* fail???????????? Nothing lasts forever so sure, it will end someday but that does not detract from the greatness of our game that the IPT has showcased like nothing before it...


I'm sure you are right about nobody getting paid when it ends. Most businesses end that way. They close up shop when the money runs out and leave their debters hanging... No reason to treat the IPT as a special business case. I'm sure it will be around for a while longer.

Maybe you should put this whole IPT debacle into its appropriate context and take it for what it is and what it offers... Not what it isnt or how it will fail...For me, I'm off to watch the rest of the on demand IPT videos

You may not realize this, but I am in agreement with you. I see every IPT tournament as a plus for Pool. It is already a success in this regard. But to pin all your hopes on it, may set someone up for disappointment. There are just too many warning signs to ignore.

 

[TheOne]

I think people like Jay and myself want the IPT to succeed more than you do. We want this to be more than a short-term project! A pro tour with a guaranteed income for the players is what the sport needs!

Thats certainly my feelings, but for a lot of people they don't see it that way. A lot of people aren't that concerned, they are just fans enjoying the ride. But for a lot of players and hopefuls this is like the dream come true and we don't want it to go away.

I guess we could join the IPT hugfest and ignore the worrying signs but as with anything in life we know for absolute certainty this will achieve nothing. However if concerns are raised and discussed we have seen in the past that things can be changed for the better. Of course this isn't going to save the IPT if it really is struggling financially BUT this is just a discussion forum so its certainly not going to make or break the IPT either way.

The IPT has created a fantastic product, the events and website are first class, I love the chosen game and the format, and we'll soon have a much stronger field after just 1 year. The bad news is they still seem to be heavily reliant on revenue from qualifiers which most of us doubt can sustain the tour. There have been many worrying signs over the last 12 months, lets hope they all get resolved.

 

[JC51534]

Ipt

“Cautiously Optimistic”
I'm an optimist, but I'm an optimist who takes his raincoat.

I really hope the IPT works out.

If it doesn’t…. all you “I Told You So” people will take your bows and your keyboard wisdom and move on to your next target.

Maybe you should all get together and write a new book,
“The Power Of Negative Thinking”

 

[jjinfla]

I suppose that if I knew Mackey, Hopkins, Berhman, Williams, yourself and all the other tournament directors I too would have to think like you and come to your conclusions.

But I don't, and as a fan I have received a lot of pleasure from the IPT so no matter what happens from now on I will have been rewarded far in excess of what little money I have spent.

I just prefer to enjoy the present situation.

If the IPT goes belly up then so what? All the pool players are mature people (most of them) and they know the deal they are getting themselves involved in and are doing it with open eyes.

Afterall, they have everyone here on the web who know everything to tell them what to do. Surely they listen to all the people who tell them what to do.

If Kevin and Deno have formed a pact to screw the pool players and run away with the money then I trust in our legal system and they will enjoy adjoining cells at the greybar hotel.

But the problem I have with thinking that KT is trying to screw the pool players out of their money is that I do not see any money that he would be receiving. Are you saying that he is going to rob himself? That is what it sounds like to me. It sure looks to me like he is putting in a lot more money into the IPT than he can get out of it.

I can see if you hold a tournament and you charge all the players $200 entry fee and then when it comes to paying the players you take off, like I heard one TD did, but that is not the case here. Show me the money. Where is the money that KT and the IPT is scamming from the players?

Jay, have you joined the IPT club? I know the $29.95 is insignificant for you since you are a millionaire so you really should join just to be able to watch the videos they have on demand. Then watch the videos and pay attention to the broadcasters and the all the players in the background. You will find them all happy and very thankful for what KT is doing. At the present they are happy and all for him. Sure they have doubts, but that is based on all of the promoters that preceeded Kevin.

The camera work in these on demand videos is not excellent - it is far better than that, it is superior. It makes me feel like I am right there at the table taking the shots.

In the couple weeks that I have been a member I have received well over a hundred dollars worth of entertainment value from the club.

You are a millionaire yourself Jay, a lot of them now a days. I am just an old retiree who is enjoying life and has been thinking about getting another job since I retired back in 1994. Maybe one day when I have to start spending my IRA.

I hope you will think of me when you do join the IPT club and put me down as a referrer. That $20 will come in handy. If I get enough of them I won't have to dip into that IRA fund for some time.

Keep the faith buddy.

Jake

 

[jjinfla]

The IPT has created a fantastic product, the events and website are first class, I love the chosen game and the format, and we'll soon have a much stronger field after just 1 year. The bad news is they still seem to be heavily reliant on revenue from qualifiers which most of us doubt can sustain the tour. There have been many worrying signs over the last 12 months, lets hope they all get resolved.

Now if this was all you typed I would have said "Amen" the man had an epiphany.

Keep in mind that income to the IPT is not going to be based on what it receives in qualifier fees. Mostly it will be based on income from advertising. I believe that is the business plan.

Jake

 

[MVPCues]

“Cautiously Optimistic”
I'm an optimist, but I'm an optimist who takes his raincoat.

I really hope the IPT works out.

If it doesn’t…. all you “I Told You So” people will take your bows and your keyboard wisdom and move on to your next target.

Maybe you should all get together and write a new book,
“The Power Of Negative Thinking”

If there is a huge fold, the people who have ignored warning signs and possible problems with the tour will ofcourse blame the ones who pointed out those warning signs. There may be a few people who stand up and simply say "I Told You So" as you put it, but I do not believe the majority of the people who do not look at the IPT through rose colored glass will be glad if a demise happens. I believe many, including Jay, who give their feelings about what they see as warning signs would prefer to be wrong for the players and the sport. There are always those who have their own interest at heart and are self seeking. I don't think Jay belongs in that group. The question is does KT?

The power of positive thinking only goes so far. If one wants to build a lasting product, he must construct a prototype and be realistic with himself and look at the problems with it and fix them. Even if that product brings to the table things that have never been achieved before, if there are inherent problems with the survivability of the product long term, they need to be addressed with a cold, calculated, and objective approach. If they are not addressed for fear of being branded as a negative thinker and allowed to be ignored, then the vision of success is shortsighted.

Kelly

 

[Purdman]

First of all I'll preface my remarks, by saying I only give a damn because of all the poolplayers I'm friends with. There are far more pressing concerns on the planet that trouble me much more than the future of the IPT.

That said, number one KT is no billionaire, not even close. You can't make that kind of money selling $69.95 widgets on TV. Sorry. Most of the legit billionaires in America did it thru Real Estate, Computer Technology, Oil, Entertainment and Retail Sales. He cannot and will not continue to keep the IPT afloat without investor capital or major sponsorship. He simply can't afford to.

The Qualifiers and the online sales of everything IPT related are simply a source of income. This income is gravely needed to pay the bills. Unfortunately it is not enough to sustain this tour. What we are seeing now is a reflection of that. I for one, do not think this is merely a matter of transfering funds from one account to another. It is far more serious than that. I believe they are scrambling to find the funds to pay out the $3,000,000 owed. From fairly reliable sources I am hearing that Thorsten Hohmann has not yet received his 350K from the earlier event in Vegas.

The IPT has no problem collecting $2,000 entry fees for the new round of Qualifiers for a December tournament. Yes, Qualifers in September for a tournament three months down the road. And a lot of them on tap too. Guess why? Correct! They need the money to pay off old debts, like prize money. Someone called this "Float". I call it "Save The Sinking Ship".

My hope is that all the players get paid, period. Someone else said on here that if the IPT fails, the players will probably get stiffed in their final event. He may be right. I just hope it wasn't Reno. My advice to all the players I know is simply this. Get what you can while you can, because there is NO guarantee of anything. Who can show me a written contract where KT guarantees anything? We all have seen how quickly the website can be altered.

Just call this my instinctive hunch based on everything that I have seen transpire so far. It's kind of like putting a "read" on someone in a poker game. And I have a "read" on the IPT. My business instincts tend to be pretty good, and have kept me out of trouble more than once. That is why I have chosen to no longer sponsor any players in Qualifiers, or even recommend that they play in them.

Many on here may not like me or what I have to say. I really don't care. I am and have been for years a "Watchdog" in the billiard industry. I am proud of my record for tournament promotion. Every dollar paid, every time! I have even gone in my pocket more than once to pay off prize funds. Show me one player who says I owe them money. You can't. Granted I never had a million dollar tournament, My biggest so far paid $160,000 in 1992. Not bad at the time. I ate if for 26k on that one.

I can remember way back in 1975 in Burlington, Iowa when the promoter was going South with a $25,000 prize fund. I blew the whistle on him and saved the players asses (and wallets). You can ask Jim Rempe and Larry Hubbart to verify that one. And I knew early on that Don Mackey was up to no good. He tried to hijack me. I warned the players but most went for his line of BS. And paid the price. What happened with my dear friend Barry Behrman really floored me. I have implored him to pay all he owes more than once. In the billiard industry all we have is our good name.

I hope I am wrong this time and the IPT succeeds and the players make the big bucks they deserve. But I wouldn't bet on it.

Jay, you are correct. There is a hudge differance between KT and Barry. Barry had a hurricanc blow thru and then 9-11 just before the 2001 US Open. All KT has is a bunch of lies or mis stated truths. I don't think either one of them has a clue about honesty and integrity. At least Barry had some excuse. I can't find one for KT.
JMHO Purdman

 

[TheOne]

Now if this was all you typed I would have said "Amen" the man had an epiphany.

Keep in mind that income to the IPT is not going to be based on what it receives in qualifier fees. Mostly it will be based on income from advertising. I believe that is the business plan.

Jake

Amen, YOU finally had an epiphany! You finally noticed that most of my IPT related posts are neutral. I'm not a hater or a hugger, I just comment on events good or bad. I'd reccomend it

As Ive been saying for sometime I beleive the IPT will either fall on its sword or blaze a trail onto our TV screens and be around for decades to come. It all depends on what comes first a) The IPT get enough sponsors to cover costs b) KT gets fed up with losing REAL money.

 

[billb]

It certainly is a possibility that this tour MAY NOT work out. That being said, it is a possibility that it MAY work out. I understand that certain people within the industry have seen promoters come and go...some good, some bad (the promoters). What KT is trying to do is a good thing for pool. You cannot deny that. If players, whomever they may be, do not like the payout format, tournament format, rules, directors, referees, fans, equipment, dates and times or whatever else, they are free to go find another $3,000,000 tournament to play in. If I don't like my bank, I am free to switch banks. I do not have to justify it to anyone. I simply change and go about my business.

Someone on here said that they have the interest of the players at heart. I believe it when people say that. Do not think I am calling anyone a liar, but isn't $3,000,000 in any form good for the players. Whether it is cash in hand when they are eliminated or check is in the mail. What other options do the players have is my question? I feel people are not giving this thing a chance. For every negative comment that is made, you probably only hear one positive comment. Most of the players seem to have a lot of positive comments. Much of the negative feedback is from those on the outside. All I am saying is give it a chance. Why should it be given a chance? Because that is their best option (and some may view it as their only option). One thing is for sure, KT isn't making a profit from entry fees. Look at the money paid out versus the monies taken in. This is speaking strictly entry fees. As far as I know, that is the biggest expense paid from the players to the tour so far. Sure, they have had travel expenses and such, but none of that money has been paid to KT.

If a golfer who is trying like crazy to keep his PGA card doesn't like the way the PGA does things, he can go back to the Nationwide Tour or anyplace else he wants. He does not have to stick around. Why would he want to...because it is the major leagues of golf from a player ability stand point, but more importantly to that golfer, from a financial standpoint.

Give this thing a chance.

 

[Purdman]

“Cautiously Optimistic”
I'm an optimist, but I'm an optimist who takes his raincoat.

I really hope the IPT works out.

If it doesn’t…. all you “I Told You So” people will take your bows and your keyboard wisdom and move on to your next target.

Maybe you should all get together and write a new book,
“The Power Of Negative Thinking”

You my friend do not understand what is going on or who you are dealing with. KT has been defrauding and stealing from people his entire business career. Mostly ignorant sick folks who can't afford the medicine they need. Now he is preying on pool players and fans. These are the known facts. I would love to see become respectable and watched by the masses. Ain't gonna happen here. He has spent his entire life ripping people off, you think he is gonna change now? Maybe you should write a book called "IGNORANCE IS BLISS" !
JMUHO Purdman

 

[Kevin Lindstrom]

Not trying to be negative

Jay, have you joined the IPT club? I know the $29.95 is insignificant for you since you are a millionaire so you really should join just to be able to watch the videos they have on demand. Then watch the videos and pay attention to the broadcasters and the all the players in the background. You will find them all happy and very thankful for what KT is doing. At the present they are happy and all for him. Sure they have doubts, but that is based on all of the promoters that preceeded Kevin.

In the couple weeks that I have been a member I have received well over a hundred dollars worth of entertainment value from the club.

Keep the faith buddy.

Jake

I would be curious to see how many of the public playing pool players have spent or contributed money towards the IPT in the form of membership or have bought the KOTH DVD's or whatever other promotional items that can be purchased, in comparison to how many are looking for the free-be "YouTube" video coverage of these events.
Most of us know how most of the pool playing public is when it comes to spending money.

 

[jjinfla]

Amen, YOU finally had an epiphany! You finally noticed that most of my IPT related posts are neutral. I'm not a hater or a hugger, I just comment on events good or bad. I'd reccomend it

As Ive been saying for sometime I beleive the IPT will either fall on its sword or blaze a trail onto our TV screens and be around for decades to come. It all depends on what comes first a) The IPT get enough sponsors to cover costs b) KT gets fed up with losing REAL money.

Actually I do agree with you for the most part. This whole IPT thing is just a big lark for me. I enjoy the discussion and all the possibilities posed by people. Some are based on fact while some have no basis in fact. Trying to sort them out is fun. I certainly don't think that I have any control over what KT does. All I do is comment on what I believe is happening, or like to see happen. Yes, I prefer to be positive rather than negative.

In the meantime while we are all killing time here the IPT and their staff are busy starting up another 100 qualifiers. Ten this week. I wonder if anyone knows what a massive undertaking that is. I really don't, but I can imagine how time consuming it can be. And how much work is involved.

It just seems to me that the more people criticize the IPT the more the IPT gets accomplished. Everyone surely has to agree that the IPT has accomplished a hell of a lot. It just keeps chugging along.

Now with this check fiasco the IPT gave people a lot of ammunition for lodging complaints. And the complaints will grow until they get verification from each and every player that they received their checks. And even then there will be complaints I am sure.

So now everyone sits and waits to hear confirmation that the IPT players who post here have received their checks. Perhaps they should just keep that info to themselves and drive everyone nuts.

Jake

 

[TheOne]

Actually I do agree with you for the most part. This whole IPT thing is just a big lark for me. I enjoy the discussion and all the possibilities posed by people. Some are based on fact while some have no basis in fact. Trying to sort them out is fun. I certainly don't think that I have any control over what KT does. All I do is comment on what I believe is happening, or like to see happen. Yes, I prefer to be positive rather than negative.

In the meantime while we are all killing time here the IPT and their staff are busy starting up another 100 qualifiers. Ten this week. I wonder if anyone knows what a massive undertaking that is. I really don't, but I can imagine how time consuming it can be. And how much work is involved.

It just seems to me that the more people criticize the IPT the more the IPT gets accomplished. Everyone surely has to agree that the IPT has accomplished a hell of a lot. It just keeps chugging along.

Now with this check fiasco the IPT gave people a lot of ammunition for lodging complaints. And the complaints will grow until they get verification from each and every player that they received their checks. And even then there will be complaints I am sure.

So now everyone sits and waits to hear confirmation that the IPT players who post here have received their checks. Perhaps they should just keep that info to themselves and drive everyone nuts.

Jake

my understanding of the qualifiers is that the players submit payment online which is automated. Then at some point in time somebody at the IPT probably closes the entry, and does the draw which is viewable online. If the website was built well this could all be done in 1 click (the draw is made, an email is sent to the pool hall with the link to the draw etc). The pool hall are in control of inputting their own data and updating the results. The real pain will be dealing with people and their problems, always the case!

With regards to the cheques I don't doubt for a second that everyone will receive their cheques, thats not the issue here. I think what has upset and concerned people (and many players btw) is that one of KTs big promises was payments on time after the event was finished, he scoffed at the idea of anything less. We have since seen a number of PR blunders regarding slow payments and a book full of excuses.

A lot of the people who are calling them out now originally gave them the benifit of the doubt. I thought they deserved a break in vegas after having to make people wait so long given the show they put on and the fact that Deno couldn't make it. I know Jay waited quite sometime for his cheque before making it public. This in itself should be proof that mnay people hare really do want the IPT succeed and are not looking to gloat if it fails, who would that benifit?