The price of poker has gone up on the Merge Gaming Network site Carbon Poker. In recent weeks, $100/$200, $200/$400, and $300/$600 No Limit Texas Hold’em tables were added to the USA-friendly online poker room, with a new crop of players rising to meet the occasion.
One Carbon Poker player that seems to be excelling at the new tables is “goingibiza,” who has battled “JimmyTheGimme” for supremacy of the high-stakes scene. The latter claimed a $116,000 pot with a queen-high straight, while the former struck back by scooping an $81,000 pot with a full house. The $81,000 haul occurred on September 29th, the same day as an $84,000 win by “goingibiza” after making aces-up. Also in recent high-stakes action, “goingibiza” took down a $66,000 pot with a wheel.
The three biggest pots for “goingibiza” resulted in $232,000 coming his way. While the amounts won certainly aren’t as big as the pots generated by players like Phil Ivey, Patrik Antonius, and Tom “durrrr” Dwan at Full Tilt, Carbon Poker officials are likely pleased that they’re seeing a rebirth of the high-stakes market.
According to PokerScout.com, which keeps tabs on online poker room traffic, the Merge Gaming Network is the 25th largest worldwide in terms of real money ring game players, with a seven-day average of 670. Its 24-hour peak is well over 1,100, ensuring plenty of activity around the clock. The Merge Gaming Network includes sites like Big Bet Poker, Iron Duke, Poker Host, Poker Nordica, and RPM Poker and happily takes real money bets from American players. Its traffic is on par with that found on sites like PKR and Bodog.
At the time of writing, which is in the mid-afternoon ET on Friday, the richest No Limit Hold’em tables with players seated at them on the Merge Gaming Network were $5/$10. Eight players were spread around four tables at that level, while comparatively nearly 200 were planted at $0.25/$0.50 No Limit Holdem tables. The Merge Gaming Network also had Omaha, Omaha High-Low, Five Card Draw, and Badugi games running at the time of writing.
Carbon Poker is capitalizing on the popularity of the National Football League (NFL) among its members by offering a Pick the Winner contest throughout the season. Each week, players are asked to pick the winner of one NFL game and if they’re right, they’ll take home a coupon for a special NFL freeroll. Other prizes include cash, VIP points, and a copy of Madden NFL 2011, next year’s installment of one of the most popular video game series of all-time. This week’s Pick the Winner contest focuses on two games, the Steelers/Ravens match-up in Pittsburgh and the Dolphins/Patriots Monday Night Football game in South Florida.
Carbon Poker made waves in recent months by inking a sponsorship agreement with “American Pie” actress Shannon Elizabeth. “Nadia” attended the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Ante Up for Africa event decked out in Carbon Poker gear. A representative for the site commented in a press release at the time of Elizabeth’s signing, “We’ve been on the hunt for a face for our brand who is a recognized star and also a respected member of the poker community. Shannon easily meets both criteria and offers a creative edge that we’re thrilled to have on board. We’re launching several promotions that will involve players playing against Shannon and getting to know her both inside and outside of poker.”
Visit Carbon Poker for more details.
