The World Series of Poker (WSOP) has its youngest ever Main Event Champion with Dane Peter Eastgate taking the bracelet and the US$9.15 million first prize.
22 year old Eastgate from Odense, Denmark beat Russian Ivan Demidov after a grueling 5 hour heads up battle that was played out on a purpose built set at the Rio All Suites Hotel and Casino.
A large crowd had gathered to watch the final table starting with 9 players and finished with just Eastgate and Demidov. In total the final table lasted a lasted a massive 13 hours.
Visibly happy, Eastgate noted it was a “very tough final table”. Commenting on the nature of his victory he said that he was very fortunate that his “hands held up when other players were all in”.
A disappointed Demidov felt he couldn’t get into the head up play saying he “found it difficult to catch a hand”. However he wanted to express his gratitude to all his supporters. He said “Thanks every one who came to cheer for me, I am surprised that so many people came to cheer for me”.
Demidov won US$5.8 million for his second place finish and will add this to his 3rd place finish in the World Series of Poker Europe in which he won £334,850.
Eastgate's $US9.15 million first prize from a total of 6844 players was the second largest Main Event Prize ever after 2006 WSOP Main Event Champion, Jamie Gold won US$12 million from a total of 8773 players.
The WSOP is the most prestigious poker tournament across the globe with 50 different events on the schedule including the Main Event. All events in this year’s WSOP took place in the summer with the Main Event taking a break until November once the final 9 players had been decided.
Eastgate is Denmark’s first ever WSOP Main Event Champion and now joins players from the US, Ireland, Australia and Ecuador to be crowned the poker champion of the world.
2008 WSOP Main Event Final Table
1st - Peter Eastgate (Denmark) $9,152,416
2nd - Ivan Demidov (Russia) $5,790,024
3rd - Dennis Phillips (USA) $4,503,352
4th - Ylon Schwartz (USA) $3,763,515
5th - Scott Montgomery (Canada) $3,088,012
6th - Darus Suharto (Canada) $2,412,510
7th - David Rheem (USA) $1,769,174
8th - Kelly Kim (USA) $1,286,672
9th - Craig Marquis (USA) $900,670
