The International Pool Tour was a professional sports tour created in 2005 by Kevin Trudeau and hosted by Rebecca Grant.[1] It aimed to elevate pool to the level of other modern sports. Closely modeled on the PGA Tour, the IPT offered the largest prize funds in pool history in its first year. The tour attracted the top pool players in the world. It differed from the many nine-ball tournaments, as all IPT events were eight-ball matches.[2] The company was based in Hinsdale, Illinois.[3]
Many pool enthusiasts were initially skeptical, but the first event was successful, and at the time was the biggest tournament in billiards history.[4] However, by the end of 2006, the tour was in serious financial trouble, and was forced to stop staging major tournaments.