WSOP Main Event Champion Crowned

[MJPerry]

After the furore surrounding the now-infamous ‘November Nine’, it is finally over. It’s been three months since Dean Hamrick’s AJ didn’t improve against the QQ of Craig Marquis, and now Peter Eastgate, 22, of Denmark has been crowned the youngest ever WSOP Main Event champion – that’s one record that Phil Hellmuth won’t be getting back.

Dennis Phillips started off the final table with a narrow chip lead over Ivan Demidov, 26,295,000 to the Russian’s 24,400,000. However, Demidov showed the mettle that netted him a WSOPE Main Event third-place finish to quickly take the chip lead from Phillips. Soon Phillips found himself with a fraction of his former stack, barely 8,000,000 before him.

Much to everyone’s surprise, it wasn’t shortstack Kelly Kim who was first to go. Two Plus Two favourite Craig Marquis suffered an ice-cold deck with his set of sevens, bested by Canadian Scott Montgomery’s AQ on a TA7JK board. Kim shortly followed, posting most of his stack in the big blind.

David ‘Chino’ Rheem, considered by many to be the only real pro at the table, finished in 7th place after his AK was outdrawn by Eastgate’s AQ. “I feel like shit, how do you think I feel?” He snapped at reporters as he exited prematurely.

Suharto overplayed his tight image, 3-betting his entire stack with A8 only to be called by Montgomery’s superior AQ, which ended up with the nut flush.
Karma came around for the Canadian as he got his money all in pre-flop with A3 against Eastgate’s 66. The AQ4A board seemed safe, especially when Phillips claimed to have folded a six. I don’t think it needs to be said what came on the river to eliminate Montgomery in fifth.

Eastgate’s run continued as he took out Schwartz, slowplaying his full house and inducing the former chess pro to bluff with his entire stack. Snap-call and sharp exit, Schwartz received nearly $4m for his performance.

In the early morning after play had continued through the night, the former chipleader Dennis Phillips was eliminated. He made his stand on a J43r board, check-raising all-in in a desperate bid to combat the relentless aggression of Demidov and Eastgate. However, Eastgate had hit the flop as hard as the average man would hit Jessica Alba and his bottom set left Phillips needing perfect cards with the T9cc. They didn’t come.

Demidov and Eastgate returned after a brief suspension of play (not quite three months this time) and played out the heads-up match. Eastgate held $80.3m over Demidov’s $56.6 but the latter’s stirling performance meant he was tipped to win.

After less than fifteen hands Demidov had won the chip lead of about $10m due to a rivered two-pair on a KJ653 board. However, blinds were a gigantic 400k/800k and the gap was not as large as it appeared.

Eastgate regained the lead, rivering a pair of nines and making an excellent $2.75m value bet. But then came the hand that almost gave us a Russian champion:

Demidov checked his option when Eastgate limped and the flop came . Demidov check-raised Eastgate’s flop bet from $1.25m for an additional $2.125m. Eastgate called and the turn bought the and Demidov check-raised again, this time from $4.25m to $14m. Eastgate again called.

The river was the which completed a flush draw as well as any straight being made with a six. Both checked and Demidov showed his hand which had been slowly destroyed by the board – his flopped nuts with 68 turned into the second nuts and then a hand that any flush could beat.

Eastgate had 64 for flopped bottom pair and a straight draw and both players chopped the pot. Later Eastgate made a great call with bottom pair against Demidov’s $7m river bet with ace high to send him over the $100m mark.

The last hand came with blinds at 500k/1m as Demidov was running low with about 17BBs.

Eastgate limped in and Demidov checked his option, both players saw a 23Kr flop. Demidov check-called a 1.25m bet.

The 4 turn saw the action kick off; Ivan check-raising a 2m bet to 6m, committing half his stack. Eastgate called and they saw a 7 river. Demidov shoved and Eastgate snap-called.

Demidov - 42
Eastgate - A5

The wheel beat Demidov's two pair and Eastgate won the $9m prize for being the youngest ever WSOP champion.

[ColdHardMetal]

I hope if I'm ever in the Main Event the last three players just hand me their chips. Ridiculous.

[tightagressive]

Dean Hammerick is from my hometown. Can't go anywhere without people asking me if I know him and "how does he feel about getting sucked out on the river for the bubble?!!?!?!?!?!"

and also just got 2nd in the HPT event in Detroit. Pretty cool, apparently a really nice guy too

[MJPerry]

The shitty thing about that particular bubble is the endorsement money lost.

[jharding666]

Good post MJ, how old was the winner?

[MJPerry]

Good post MJ, how old was the winner?

Oops, 22.

[Pinguaq]

Oops, 22.

Can you find you what his birthday is? I know everyone is saying 22, but I've seen 23 listed a couple places. I know he was born in 1986, but if his Birthday is before Nov 9, he would have been 23.

[MJPerry]

Wikipedia says he was born December 1985, that's good enough for me.

[Pinguaq]

Everywhere else says 1986, but either way I was confused. If he was born in 1986, he could not be 23 anytime during 2008. December 1985 puts him at 22 until next month.