WSOP.com has announced that 2012 WSOP Main Event champ Greg Merson will represent the company as brand ambassador.
Today marks the first anniversary of WSOP.com’s launch in Nevada, making it a fine time to name a well-recognized pro such as Merson to promote the brand. Merson has snared two WSOP bracelets, both coming in 2012 when the 26-year-old took the poker world by storm by winning more than $8.5 million in WSOP’s most prestigious and heralded event.
Merson was previously a pro at IveyPoker, the training website run by 10-time WSOP champ Phil Ivey. However, the two parted ways a few months ago without fully explaining the details or reasons behind the split.
Right after Merson left the Ivey League, he was seen wearing WSOP patches at a number of live events including WSOP tournaments that were underway in Las Vegas. The Maryland native also took to social media to criticize the World Poker Tour and its scheduling of an event at a nearby casino that conflicted with WSOP tournaments.
Merson confirmed at the time that he was indeed a WSOP.com sposored pro, but an official announcement from the company was never released until yesterday. The reasons for the delay are unknown, but the timing of a public statement near today’s 1-year anniversary date suggests perhaps a marketing strategy to call further attention to WSOP.com.
WSOP.com Head of Online Poker Bill Rini called Merson a terrific ambassador for the game of poker
who provides the well-known brand with a respected, experienced voice to help shape WSOP.com moving forward
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That anticipated forward movement comes at a time when WSOP.com rules the Nevada online poker market over both Ultimate Poker and Real Gaming. Currently, WSOP.com enjoys a 3 to 2 advantage in cash player traffic over its chief rival, UP.
In New Jersey, WSOP.com trails the Party Borgata Network by a 5 to 4 ratio, but enjoys twice the traffic of the third-ranked All American Poker Network. That market will likely look much different once PokerStars is approved and launches, with some estimates suggesting late October for the industry giant’s arrival.
Merson is seen as a pro that many can relate and perhaps look up to. A recovered drug addict, he has made no secret of his previous problems in that regard. The likeable pro has shown that obstacles can be overcome on the way to winning poker championships through dedication and perseverance.
