World Series of Poker final: Eastgate became the youngest-ever WSOP Main Event champ

Posted on November 13, 2008
Filed Under Poker |

The 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event is over and finally crowned its new champion after an epic heads-up match between Peter Eastgate and Ivan Demidov that lasted 104 hands. The Russian - Ivan Demidov, from Moscow - and the Dane - Peter Eastgate, from Odense - outlasted more than 6,800 players.

In front of thousands of fans, hundreds of journalists and with millions at stake, a 22-year-old Dane held his nerve to win poker’s biggest prize on Monday night in Las Vegas.

The 22-year-old Dane has defeated Russia’s Ivan Demidov in heads-up play, making a wheel straight on the climactic hand to clinch the tournament and $9,152,416 in prize money.

For his runner-up finish, Ivan Demidov takes $5,809,545 to go along with the £344,850 he earned for his third-place finish at the Main Event of this fall’s World Series of Poker Europe.

The duel between Eastgate and Demidov was the first time in the 38-year history of the World Series that an American was not in the final two. Dennis Phillips, a 53-year-old truck firm account manager from St Louis, was the highest-finishing US player, earning $4,517,773 for third.

Eastgate becomes the youngest-ever WSOP Main Event champ. The previous record was held by Phil Hellmuth, who was 24 when he earned $755,000 (£495,000) for winning in 1989. The Dane claims the second-largest first prize awarded in WSOP history and earns his first World Series bracelet in the process.

Here’s how the final hand played out:

Demidov and Eastgate returned from a 20-minute break with Eastgate squarely in control, holding more than $120 million of the $136.8 million chips in play.

On the first hand back, Eastgate limped in and Demidov checked his option in the big blind. The flop came K 3 2 and Demidov checked to Eastgate, who bet out $1.25 million. Demidov made the call and the turn was the 4.
Again, Demidov checked and Eastgate fired out $2 million. Demidov raised to $6 million and Eastgate opted to call.
The river was the 7. Eastgate instantly called and after a tension-filled pause, Demidov turned up 4 2 for two pair. Eastgate flipped A 5 for the wheel, how ever, taking the pot and clinching the tournament at 2:35 a.m. on Tuesday, November 11th.
World Series of Poker Main Event top nine finishers

1. Peter Eastgate, Demark,$9,152,416
2. Ivan Demidov, Russia, $5,809,595
3. Dennis Phillips, US, $4,517,773
4. Ylon Schwartz, US, $3,794,97
4. Scott Montgomery, Canada, $3,096,768
6. Darus Suharto, Canada, $2,418,562
7. David ‘Chino’ Rheem, US $1,772,650
8. Kelly Kim, US, $1,288,217
9. Craig Marquis, US, $900,670

Buy in: $10,000
Number of players: 6,844

Number of players paid: 666

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