| The IPT: | 8-Ball on American Pool tables
$5 million plus in its first year
4 1/2" pockets
Slow nap cloths
No breaking from the side rails
Winners break
No shot clocks
No jump cues |
The IPT offers the largest guaranteed prize money in the history of pool - with a purse of $5 million in the first year. It has been set up by US media mogul Kevin Trudeau - who has promised all players on the tour in 2007 $100,000 in prize money. If they don't make in table earnings he has pledged to write them a personal cheque for the difference. Therefore, Peach's tour card should propel his earnings somewhat. He is used to picking up less than £1500 for winning a UK Pro event. Peach beat Japan's Goh Takami 10-4 in the final to clinch his spot on the tour - which boasts 150 of the world's top cue talents including snooker professionals Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jimmy White. Peach has dominated the UK 9 Ball rankings for the past decade but he failed to get his IPT application in on time - forcing him to slug it out in the five qualifying tournaments for a place on the IPT. The first four were staged in the US followed by the European event this weekend. Peach missed the opening qualifier but played from event two in Atlanta. He ran six successive racks against Manchester's Tony Crosby who now resides in Florida in his opening match. He received free entries to the remaining qualifiers - a stiff $2000 per tournament - for the feat. Although he didn't make it through the USA events - he secured the final available spot in Wert's House of Billiards Club. In the past, he said the Wert club tables didn't suit his game - but after bagging his tour card there it looks likely he has a new favourite club! | 
