IPT・国際プールツアー IPT Tour News and Updates 2006/05/27

Tournament 1
IPT North American 8-Ball Open Championship
Prize Money: $2,000,000
Players: 200 - (150 Tour Members, 50 Qualifiers)
Dates: July 22 - 30, 2006
Location: The Venetian in Las Vegas, Nevada
Entry Fee: Tour Member: $199.00
Non-Tour Member: $1000.00

Mr.Tomoki Mekari、銘苅　朝樹プロ　本選出場おめでとう御座います。
ラスベガスで頑張って下さい。日本のプレイヤーに夢と勇気を！(^_^)v

International Pool Tour News and Updates:

The International Pool Tour is proud to announce that the first day of nation-wide competition has concluded. In Cleveland, the Tournament Director there decided to finish the tournament in one day, so the International Pool Tour congratulates the first two players to qualify for the IPT North American Open 8-Ball Championship: Floyd Barger and Tomoki Mekari. These two fantastic players will be playing for more than $2,000,000 in prize money and a first place prize of $350,000! They are each guaranteed a minimum of $2,000 for qualifying and playing in the North American Open. The tournament from which they advanced drew six competitors including WPBA Pro Jeanette Lee. The four players who did not qualify in the Cleveland event will each receive a free entry fee into a qualifier of their choice for placing third through sixth place. Visit www.internationalpooltour.com for tournament details.

The tournament in Chicago (NA#5) saw its fair share of competition. There were twelve players including pool legend Jimmy Mataya, and top Midwestern players Marco Marquez, Tom Spencer, and Larry Nevel. Pro Tyme billiards owner Ed Hillar instituted a spectator dress code. He and his head referee, dressed in tuxedos, welcomed IPT Staff who visited the qualifier this morning. Still undefeated and playing tomorrow in the no-loss final match are Marco Marquez and Larry Nevel. View tournament results, pictures, and stories from this event on www.internationalpooltour.com.

Jillian's in Raleigh, NC (NA#2) hosted ten players. Steve Moore and Sam Monday are the only two undefeated players and will be playing Saturday for the first of two spots in the "IPT North American Open 8-Ball Championship." Notable players who remain on the one loss side include Louis Ulrich and Gary Abood. The four players who have been eliminated will play off on Saturday against pool legend and IPT Pro Grady Mathews. Challengers who beat Mathews will earn a free entry into a qualification tournament of their choice. All remaining players in the tournament who don't qualify will automatically win a free entry into a qualifier of their choice. Visit www.internationalpooltour.com for details about the tournament and challenge matches.

Magoo's in Tulsa, Oklahoma (NA#3) will kick off tournament play on Saturday morning. Eight players will compete in Tulsa. The top two players will join their colleagues in the North American Open. Third through sixth place finishers receive a free entry into a qualification tournament of their choice. The remaining two players will challenge IPT Pro Jim Raney for free entries, or $1000 per match for Raney! Follow the action at www.internationalpooltour.com.

The Las Vegas Cue Club (NA#4) drew seventeen players including notorious players Ron Allen, Danny Medina, and Santos Sambajon. This fantastic field of players also includes Oscar Dominguez, son of IPT Pro Ernesto Dominguez. Four of the players who do not qualify or place 3rd-6th will challenge IPT Pro John Kutcher. Check out www.internationalpooltour.com to see who will qualify for the NA Open.

The IPT Qualification System is the best method for populating major tournaments because it weeds all those who don't think that they can succeed, while rewarding those who believe in themselves. Most of the players who took the risk to enter these qualification tournaments are now being rewarded. Remember, the top two players in each tournament qualify for the North American Open. The next four players, third through sixth place finishers, each earn a free entry fee to another qualifier. And four players who place seventh or lower will have a chance to play against an IPT Pro for a free entry fee in another qualifier. This system really is the only true “open” system in which any player, man, woman, or child, can enter and win a place on this historic tour. So if you were thinking about playing and missed your chance this week, you can still sign up for the remaining qualifiers at www.internationalpooltour.com. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity.

International Pool Tour Television News:

IPT to Premiere on OLN-
The International Pool Tour has secured a major television package to air IPT’s action-packed “King of the Hill 8-Ball Shootout” series on OLN. The network will carry the six IPT shows in prime time, with the first show set to premiere at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, June 4. The International Pool Tour’s “King of the Hill 8-Ball Shootout” features the world’s greatest players competing for more than $1 million in prize money, by far the biggest purse ever offered in pool. The series will be shown on OLN over six consecutive Sundays, culminating in a two-hour finale on Sunday, July 9. Click here for the IPT TV schedule.

Other Important News-
The IPT will be hosting a live Press Conference Wednesday, May 31, 2006, in London, England at the Hard Rock Café. During this celebrity-clad Press Conference, we will be announcing our contracts detailing unprecedented live television coverage of the entire 2006 IPT Tour! We will also be making another major announcement that will rock the billiard world. These press releases, with all the details of these exciting announcements, will be sent to everyone on the email list. So if you haven't yet signed up for email updates, you can do so now at www.internationalpooltour.com.


Best regards,

Deno J. Andrews
Tour Director,
International Pool Tour
www.internationalpooltour.com