A December to remember for poker pro Annie Duke. On Christmas Day, her long-time sweetie/fellow poker fan/actor/producer Joe ‘Ugly’ Reitman popped the question by hiding a ring at the bottom of her holiday stocking. Now, Duke has announced that she’s ended her nine-year relationship with online poker room UB.com.
Annie’s statement on her blog reads as follows:
It’s bittersweet, but I’ve decided to leave UB.
I have nothing but positive things to say about UB and my experiences with the brand, management team, and dedicated employees who work hard every day to deliver a terrific online poker experience for players like you.
I’ve sincerely enjoyed wearing the UB patch, but it’s time for me to move on.
So why am I leaving UB? In a nutshell, professional and personal growth.
I’m going to explore and pursue other business opportunities on a full-time basis. And, while I will no longer be a part of UB, I will remain a part of the online and offline poker community and am confident that we will continue to cross paths playing this amazing game that we all love.
See you at the tables – always,
Annie
Annie’s use of ‘nutshell’ in conjunction with professional growth may be an allusion to her interest in the MyMixedNuts trail-mix business. While speculation will run rampant as to which company’s patch might adorn her outfit at her next tournament appearance, Annie told Poker News Daily that she does not plan to sign with another company. Of course, that may mean she has no immediate plans, because after all, it’s a woman’s prerogative to change her mind, right?
With Annie’s exit, speculation will resume as to Phil Hellmuth’s rumored split with UB. The next time Phil makes a dramatic entrance at a tournament, will it be to the Clash’s Should I Stay Or Should I Go?
