What, is UB.com on fire or something? It was only hours after longtime UB pro Annie Duke announced her departure from the Cereus Network site that we learned Phil Hellmuth was following her out the door. In a statement, UB management let the world know that:
The poker pro who is famous for his grand WSOP entrances is making one final exit.
Today we are announcing that UB.com and Phil Hellmuth have mutually parted ways. It has been great working with Phil over the last decade and we know we’re with the rest of the poker world when we say that we look forward to Phil’s next move on the world poker circuit. While Hellmuth is no doubt an instantly recognizable poker personality, Team UB will continue to be stacked with young, aggressive poker professionals who today’s passionate online poker players can really identify with. In fact, in early 2011, we’ll announce some big additions to Team UB. Stay tuned for more on that.
Late Thursday night, Hellmuth tweeted the following:
Making a BIG move…leaving UB. Truly lots of great memories, but it’s time to move on…Mutual decision…Looking forward to BRIGHT future!
Hellmuth also told ESPN that “I still have faith in UB and their management, my leaving UB is simply a business decision.”
Unlike Duke, who claims she has no desire to sign with any other poker outfit, Hellmuth will likely be on the hunt for a new home, that is, unless he’s already found it. Some in the poker world are speculating that, with Hellmuth having won more World Series of Poker bracelets than any other player, becoming the face of Caesars’ marquee poker property would be a good match.
And whither UB? Among those content to still call Team UB home are players like Joe Sebok, Eric Baldwin, Bryan Devonshire, Brandon Cantu, Adam Levy, Tiffany Michelle and Maria Ho. Sebok took to his own blog Thursday to announce that UB will be announce the signing of some new roster talent next week, and that he was “crazily pumped” about it.
