During the PokerStars EPT Barcelona live broadcast, the commentators apparently let it slip that Isabelle Mercier is no longer a part of the PokerStars' Pro team. Rumours about the reason for the split started spreading immediately, most sources speculating that Mercier had been kicked out probably because of her poor results in recent tournaments.

However, the Swedish poker blogger Lina Olofsson (who has access to inside info from PokerStars) says this is not so. According to her, the Canadian player was one of the most popular pros at PokerStars and they never would have sacked her, so the decision to go came from Isabelle. "She's tired of what she's been doing for the past 6 years and felt it was time for change," Olofsson writes in her blog on Aftonbladet.se.

Olofsson goes on to say that many people at PokerStars were disappointed with Isabelle's decision. "That's just the way I am," Isabelle had explained. "I get restless and want to find something new."

Isabelle Mercier has not had much success in live tournaments lately compared to her visibility in PokerStars promotions. Three years ago she made a WSOP final table for $175,000 and last year she final tabled the High Roller event at EPT London for $94,000. Other than that, it's been quiet and in 2009 her only cash has been a meagre $8,000 at EPT Deauville (though online she did cash for $115k at Sunday Million in the summer). Perhaps the variance of tournament poker finally killed her spark for touring the circuit and living in hotel rooms?

Source: Aftonbladet.