Most of the Merge Network of poker sites have been open to US players for some time, but with the exception of Carbon Poker – one of the largest poker sites at Merge. Earlier this year, Carbon announced a temporary leave from the American market to address customer service and cash out problems. To the delight of many players in the US, Carbon has just announced their return. Carbon will be again open to the American market at the end of August.
After Black Friday, thousands of poker players from Full Tilt Poker, the Cereus Network, and PokerStars flocked to other poker sites, including many of Merge’s properties. Though any businessman will tell you an influx of customers is beneficial, there can be a breaking point. Carbon experienced this, and found their systems overloaded and unable to handle the number of new players. As a result, they temporarily withdrew to strengthen their business to better service players in a move showing commitment to their current base, and to proper customer service of their newer customers.
The concerns initially felt by Carbon have been addressed, with the advent of their return. The return of Carbon is a welcome announcement, especially as Bodog Poker will be exiting the American scene at the end of 2011 to bitcoin roulette refocus on their global operations. Players may take notice of Carbon Poker’s offerings, which Carbon claims can generate as much as a 47% rakeback. Though far from the size of a site like PokerStars, Carbon does boast north of $50k in weekly tournament guarantees.
Bertrand “Elky” Grospellier, one of the world’s strongest tournament players, will be pictured on the latest cover of Card Player Magazine.
The French-born poker pro has been one of the key members of PokerStars sponsored team over the past year. He is known by many as the latest man to achieve the legendary status of a Triple Crown winner, made up of victories in the main events of 2008 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and the 2008 World Poker Tour Festa al Lago. The final jewel in the winning trio came this past summer, when he snagged a first place finish in the $10,000 seven-card stud championship at the World Series of Poker.
In total, the 32-year-old has earned more than $9,300,000 during his playing career, which places him solidly within the top twenty. And, with many years still ahead of him, the young pro has plenty of time to climb the charts. These topics and more will be covered in the latest issue of the magazine.
According to the Card Player‘s website, other drawing cards for the issue include “interviews with David Diaz, Jake Cody, who also finished off the Triple Crown this summer, Thomas Keller and Nam Le, as well as columns from respected poker minds like Todd Brunson, Roy Cooke, Steve Zolotow, Ed Miller, Jeff Hwang and Alan Schoonmaker.”