Bryan Huang and PokerStars part ways

Bryan Huang made the surprise announcement on the 31st December that he would be leaving team PokerStars with immediate effect.

Although Huang is still chasing his first major title, he has had several scores in the upper five-figure or six-figure range. These cashes have helped elevate him to the number one spot on Singapore’s all-time money list.

Bryan Huang’s biggest scores are the $153,841 he won for 3rd place in APPT Macau’s Main Event in 2008 and his recent 6th place finish in the ACOP Macau Main Event; this time for $162,565.

Team Pokerstars being trimmed

It is not always clear whether a player has decided to leave a team or the team has dispensed with the player, but we can say for certain that PokerStars’ team of sponsored pros has been shrinking of late. Naoya Kihara spent 4 years as an ambassador for PokerStars before departing in September of this year.

Kihara’s exit was preceded by that of Ike Haxton due to personal differences, Eugene Katchalov and Alex “Kanu7” Millar.

Given the number of famous players who have spoken out against recent changes at PokerStars, it seems clear that this has been a factor in some of the player departures from the team.

More:Isaac Haxton Leaves PokerStars

Major changes to Pokerstars Live

2016 has been a changing of the guard in many respects. With personnel changes to the PokerStars team, and a total overhaul of the EPT brand giving rise to the replacement offerings; PokerStars Live Championships and PokerStars Live Festivals. The new brand has cut ties with the Aussie Millions, but has released some of the upcoming dates for their tour. Macau has been announced as one of those dates.

More:The effects of the shift in PokerStars Live Tournaments on the Asian Poker Scene

Article by Craig Bradshaw

Bryan Huang Full Statement