Prahlad "Firedman"
Blanca Gaming issued the following statement about Team UB recently:
"This was a difficult task for Blanca’s management, and we are very disappointed that we have been compelled to sever ties with our sponsored pros. Over the years, the Company has been successful in gathering a group of young, extraordinarily talented and brand-appropriate poker professionals who have proudly sported its logos. We are truly saddened that circumstances have dictated this course of action, and we regret that we are no longer in a position to partner with our sponsored pros, or to provide them with a source of income for playing the game that they love. We appreciate their significant time and dedication shared with us, and we thank them for the loyalty and patience they have continued to show us even during the unsettling events of the past few weeks. We respect and admire them for their many accomplishments, both at the poker tables and away from them, and we will always be grateful for their valuable contributions to building the UB and Absolute Poker brands and to creating a rock-solid community at the pair of online poker rooms."
11 players are affected by this decision, namely Joe Sebok, Prahlad Friedman, Eric Baldwin, Maria Ho, Brandon Cantu, Tiffany Michelle, Scott Ian, "Hollywood" Dave Stann, Adam Levy, Bryan Devonshire and Trishelle Cannatella. They all can look for new jobs from now on.
The decision is not at all surprising, if we think back at all the events of the past few weeks. What will happen to the pros? Well, they currently are unsure, but many of them are enraged or angry at the company or the Department of Justice.
Bryan Devonshire tweeted angrily: "UB released me today, has promised return of funds. Go fuck yourself DOJ. We beg for tax and regulation and you claim we're criminal. FFFUU."
Adam Levy made fun of the problem: "I'm a free agent suckahhhs! Wombat Poker where ya at????"
But it's not just the Team Pros that are highly upset, the online poker community is also worried and angry at the company. Joe Sebok, who is usually very active on Twitter, hasn't written anything since May 2. Players were enraged by this, and kept messaging Sebok with tweets like these:
NoahSD: @joesebok Will you guarantee player funds on Cereus like @Tom_Dwan did on FTP?
dougmanct: @joesebok I'm starting a new biz. Biz plan consists of pushing elderly people into traffic. We need a spokesperson. Heard you were the best.
Buffyslayer1: @joesebok hey sell out, why you not tweeting you have 365 days of the year. taken your UB money and run?
im_broke420: @joesebok How does it feel to be the most hated person in poker?
Sebok released a blog post yesterday in reply to the accusations and questions in which he apologizes everyone whom he failed:
"I apologize to those of you who have reached out to me recently regarding UB post Black Friday as I have been unable to comment on things. Myriad legal reasons precluded me from doing so, as well as I really haven't had any answers for anyone, and I didn't want to contribute to the panic going through the community with my own speculation or possible misinformation. I just thought that would be incredibly irresponsible. Some within the playing community wanted promises and assurances and I wouldn't have been able to make or give them. It wasn't a situation of running or hiding; I just simply couldn't contribute anything of any value and didn't want to add more noise. Additionally, I didn't want to do anything whatsoever that could possibly endanger American players getting their money back, despite not knowing what those things might be."
You can read the rest of the post at Gambling911.com.
All in all, it seems like Annie Duke and Phil Hellmuth made the right decision just in time...
