WSOP Winner

It took over four hours of feverish heads-up competition but we have a winner at last: Peter Eastgate from Denmark has become the youngest ever World Series of Poker main event champion. He is 22 and he has just earned himself $9.1 million dollars as well as a place in the record books.

The tournament itself also provided a few new entries for fans of sporting lists: the final table was the longest ever; it had never had two guys from outside the states go heads up for the bracelet; and it was the first time the blinds had reached one million.

In the midst of all of these firsts, it must have been deeply reassuring for the traditionalists to see the customary placing of the prize pool on the table. Not that the sight of all of those crisp bundles of a hundred dollars bothered the two players: they both displayed intense concentration throughout the battle.

It was obvious that these two players had been weaned on the internet game. Here were two young men on the verge of a life-changing moment but they managed to maintain their emotional neutrality, even in the post-game interviews. They were consummate professionals, if a little inexperienced at handling the media.

Despite his relative youth Eastgate had the maturity to praise all of the other members of the November 9 and acknowledged that when he put his money into the middle, his hands held up. That is not to suggest he is a lucky winner but he would probably agree the deck was kinder to him in the final session.

If there was one hand that might have produced a Russian champion, it was the one highlighted by Demidov in his interview. It was a cheap one and the flop was 5-7-4. Demidov was first to act and checked. No more free cards, thinks the Dane: 1,150,000 to go. Demidov check-raised to 2,125,000. Eastgate called.

The turn was an 8.

The Russian checked, Eastgate ponied up four and a quarter mil. Again Demidov check-raised to 14 million. After a long time and some intense staring, the Dane called.

The river was a 3.

Both players checked and both revealed a 6 for the straight – but the Russian, with a 8, had flopped it. He had to accept a chopped pot but, all things considered over the four hours, I think the Dane would have held on regardless.

The Russian made few mistakes all night but came up against a hand every time he bluffed, or made second best. The final hand was an example of the latter.

The players had seen a cheap flop and were looking at 2-K-3. Demidov checked and was happy to pay 1,250,000 to see the turn. It was a 4. It was another check-raise for when Eastgate bet 2 mil, the Russian made it 6 and freed nearly half his stack into the pool. Eastgate called.

The river was a 7.

Nothing else could occur apart from Demidov pushing and Eastgate calling. The former had 2-4, two pair and the latter had A-5, for the wheel.

It was over. We have a record breaker from Denmark. He says he is going for eleven bracelets. He has plenty of time to get them.

WSOP 2008 Main Event Heads Up

Peter Eastgate – DEN - $9,152,416

Ivan Demidov – RUS - $5,809,595