It is not uncommon for an online poker room to have professional players representing them on the virtual felt as well as in a live setting. Pros bring action and fun to the game as well as bring player traffic to online poker platforms. For decades, PokerStars has been one brand that has seen plenty of pros represent them, helping to build the platform to what it is today. While ambassadors have always been a staple, it seems several are now no longer with the company. Just a short time ago, it was revealed that Chris Moneymaker, along with several others, are no longer associated with the brand.
Leaving the Site
After 17 years of representing PokerStars, Chris Moneymaker is no longer going to serve as an ambassador for the brand. This was surprising news. In late December, Moneymaker took to Twitter to tell the world he was leaving the site. He plans on being home more and playing poker a little less. We will see how that goes, as he will most likely be back at the felt.
Moneymaker pointed out he was happy to work with PokerStars and he is sad to leave, but the time is right to do so. PokerStars put out their own video, also posting it on Twitter. The poker room said farewell to the pro and thanked him for all that he had done for the industry and the site itself.
The poker pro is truly the epitome of a rags to riches story. He won the World Series of Poker Main Event in 2003, after qualifying for the event via satellite. The win pushed the online poker world into a new time, with the game seeing more action than ever before. Every player saw Moneymaker’s win and felt that if he could do it, so could they. He went on to have a successful career and will always be known for the big WSOP win.
More Pros Leaving
At the same time as Moneymaker announced his departure from PokerStars, others have decided to leave as well. Kalidou Sow, a live French player, along with Mikhail Shalamov, an online player from Russia, are no longer going to associated with the brand.
Celina Lin also announced she was leaving the brand. As part of Team PokerStars, and a PokerStars Pro, Lin has been with the company since joining the site in 2010. She is considered one of the best in Asia and was the last player to represent Team Asia.
Also making the list of pros leaving the brand, was a group of streamers known as OP-Poker. This team included Eva Reberc, James Mackenzie and Nick Walsh. All of these players left the site at the end of 2020, which placed a little bit of extra sadness on a year that has been quite difficult overall.
It is unclear if PokerStars will be looking for fresh faces to represent them or if they will take a break for a bit regarding their ambassador status.
