The online poker rooms were jam-packed over the last week.
Full Tilt, PokerStars and UB all awarded millions of dollars last Sunday, and throughout the week Cole South, Brian Townsend and Patrik Antonius took turns winning hundred thousand dollar pots in the high stakes cash games.
There were a few stories that didn’t make the front page of PokerListings.com, however, and as part of our Poker News in Brief feature we’ve compiled a list below.
This week we’ll take a look at Isabelle Mercier’s latest promotion, two poker sites switching networks, UB teaming up with an MMA promoter and more.
No Mercy Cash Games on BetClic
It’s been months since Isabelle “No Mercy” Mercier signed with BetClic, but the room is offering its first major promotion involving the famous French-Canadian.
All this month Mercier will host her own “No Mercy” cash game table on BetClic with stakes ranging from €.12/€.25 No-Limit all the way up to €2/€4 No-Limit.
BetClic will also offer No Mercy Magic Hands where any player that makes a straight flush on the Mercier tables is entered into a special Sit ‘N’ Go with up to €2,000 up for grabs.
The No Mercy cash game tables can be found under the private tab of the BetClic lobby.
SportsBook.com, PlayersOnly.com Move to Merge Network
PlayersOnly.com and SportsBook.com are leaving the Cake Poker network in favor of the Merge Poker Network.
Jezette Enterprises, which owns both sites, made the announcement on Wednesday citing the chance to give players a better platform on which to play.
“This is an industry changing deal and we are delighted to have an agreement with Jazette Enterprises,” said Anthony Taylor, CEO of Merge Gaming.
The migration, which is scheduled to occur by mid-April, 2010, will see Jezette move all its brands onto the Merge Gaming Network.
PlayersOnly.com and SportsBook.com will join sites such as Carbon Poker, Poker Nordica and ACED on the Merge Gaming Network.
Meanwhile the Cake Poker network recently added a number of new rooms including the signature room of Phil Laak – Unabomberpoker.com.
Honeybone Finds Gold in Auckland
Established Kiwi poker pro James Honeybone won the SkyCity Auckland Anniversary Championships this weekend.
He outlasted 121 players including poker pros Dan Sing and Martin Cardno to win the NZ$36,030 prize for first place.
Honeybone finished fifth at APPT Korea in 2007 and also made an $84,970 score at the Ongame Network Poker Classic in Barcelona in 2005.
The win in Auckland catapulted Honeybone into ninth place on the all-time New Zealand tournament money list with $161,806.
TSN, PokerStars Launch TSN Poker Club
Canadian sports broadcaster TSN has teamed with PokerStars.net to create a custom built poker environment for poker players.
"Poker's popularity in Canada continues to grow and the TSN Poker Club gives poker players of all levels a chance to get into the action and win exclusive prizes," says Geoff Fardy, Canada Country Manager, PokerStars.net.
The club will allow members to enter a series of free-to-play tournaments with prizes like poker tables and snowboards, all while learning the game of poker.
PokerStars.net and TSN will launch the club with three daily tournaments from now until July 31.
UB Teams Up with MMA Promoter
UB has entered into an exclusive sponsorship deal with the Bellator Fighting Championships.
The agreement will see UB logos in upcoming Bellator fights while UB will advertise for the fighting brand in its poker client lobby.
"We’re super excited to tie the new UB logo to Bellator—the hottest MMA success story of 2009—and are proud to partner with them in their sophomore year," said Paul Leggett, chief operations officer of Tokwiro, the owner/operator of UB.net.
The Bellator Fighting Championship began last year with headline bouts involving MMA stars Hector Lombard, Eddie Alvarez and Joe Soto.
What a blow to the gambling industry,I know many lost lots of money.Hope they can make the system more effective.
i hate you so much
One of the biggest fish on Pokerstars is a player called ansar. His river bets are ALWAYS for value but he is a calling station too. Just value bet him and fold to his raises and you will take his $$.