Annie Duke: Will she stay or will she go?

A few days ago, Wicked Chops reported that Annie Duke was set to leave UB. The news wasn’t exactly a shock to anyone following online poker; UB has had more than it’s fair share of troubles over the last year or so, and Full tilt Poker seems like a more natural home for Annie for a number of reasons.

However, Annie Duke went on record (apparently) with Gambling 911 and, in no uncertain terms, denied that she’s leaving UB. Excerpt:

“Lord…I’ll tell you. It is amazing that if someone just says something on the internet all of a sudden people think it is true. The other day Wicked Chops posted that I am leaving Ultimatebet.com for another site. I can tell you that if it is true that was the first I had heard about it! I would love someone from the site that I am moving to to call me and tell me the deal I am getting to leave UB.

“I mean, look, logically why would I stick with UB through everything because of my faith in the management there and then all of a sudden leave like that? I believe in this brand and I believe in the people behind it. Paul Leggett deserves my loyalty and he has it. For life. Period.”

That’s a pretty strong statement, but Wicked Chops is standing by their story, offering Annie a dinner on them if she’s not gone from UB within the year. Excerpt from their response:

Annie, if you are not with another site by November 6th, 2009, one year from today, we will treat you to a steak dinner at the restaurant of your choice. If you’ve gone veg, we’ll take you somewhere else. Doesn’t matter. But the offer is out there. Dinner, wine, all the fixings. We’ll take both you and Joe Reitman. 1/3 of the Entities who comprise Wicked Chops Poker has met Joe and likes him too, although he’d probably like to punch us collectively in the face. Regardless, it’ll be good times.

Updates as they occur.