by Hillary LaClair, Senior Editor
It was a record-breaking night at the 2008 World Series of Poker in more ways than one. Poker fans watched Peter Eastgate, the youngest world champion take home $9,152,416 after playing the largest big blind in the longest Main Event in the history of the Series.
Just 22 years old, Eastgate battled Ivan Demidov, Scott Montgomery, Ylon Schwartz and Dennis Phillips, David Rheem, Kelly Kim, Craid Marquis and Darus Suharto for a grueling 19 and one half hours (22 hours including breaks). In July, these players had to compete in a tournament field of some 6,800 players (the second largest in history) and wait 117 days to return to Las Vegas for the final table.
Craig Marquis finished 9th with $900,670, followed shortly by Kelly Kim who finished 8th and took home $1,288,217. Next to be eliminated was David Rheem with $1,772,650, Darus Suharto with $2,418,562, Scott Montgomery with $3,096,768, Ylon Schwartz with $3,774,974 and Dennis Phillips with $4,517,773 leaving Eastgate and Demidov to go heads-up at the Main Event.
Demidov began the heads-up match showing a great deal of aggression with his starting 57,725,000 in chips against Eastgate’s 79,500,000. He was able to take three shots at Easgate, knocking his chip lead down and taking 73,645,000 for himself. This was mostly achieved by taking small pots. Eastgate came back with a vengeance, however, betting $2 million before the flop with Queen High. Demidov called with Jack High, and the flop showed Eight of Hearts, Eight of Clubs and Five of Clubs. The turn showed an Ace of Spades, and Eastgate bet an additional $2.5 million to which Demidov called. Each player checked on the river with a Four of Diamonds. Eastgate took the pot, putting him back into the chip lead.
In the next hand, Demidov raised $1.75 million before the flop and Eastgate called. The flop was dealt at Nine of Diamonds, Eight of Spades and Four of Clubs. Both players checked. The river showed the Three of Clubs and Eastgate bet $2.75 million. Demidov called. The river showed the Jack of Clubs, Demidov mucked, and Eastgate’s chip stack was up to 81,025,000.
The next hand was a record-breaker, giving Eastgate the largest pot won so far in a WSOP heads-up tournament. Demidov raised before the flop, and Eastgate called. The flop was dealt as Ace of Diamonds, Jack of Hearts and Three of Spades which forced both players to check. The Jack of Diamonds came up on the turn; Eastgate responded with a $3.25 million bet. Demidov called, and the river showed the Queen of Clubs. Eastgate made an additional bet of $6.95 million. Demidov called after some thought, but then mucked his cards when Eastgate revealed the Ace of Clubs and the Queen of Hearts. Eastgate held 86,325,000, winning $13 million in a single hand.
As the two players continued to duke it out, the tournament surpassed the longest Final Table record in WSOP history, reached in 2005 and clocked at 14 hours and 10 minutes of actual game play. In this time, it was announced that level 39 produced the greatest big blind in the history of the Series, at $1 million. This was the first time that big blind had ever reached seven digits.
It doesn’t end there, however, as the Russian youths broke their own record of the largest pot! Demidov began the hand raising $2 million before the flop and Eastgate called. The flop was dealt – King of Diamonds, Ten of Diamonds and Seven of Clubs. Each player checked to see the Jack of Diamonds on the turn. Eastgate bet 2.5 million and Demidov raised to $8 million. Eastgate paid to see a Three of Spades on the river and checked. Demidov bet an unprecedented $12 million. Eastgate called and won the $44 million pot with a Diamond Flush over Demidov’s Ace High.
The final hand showed a King of Spades, Three of Hearts and Two of Diamonds on the flop. Eastgate bet $1.25 million and Demidov called. The turn showed a Four of Clubs, Demidov checked. Eastgate bet $2 million and Demidov raised to $6 million. A Seven of Spades fell on the river. Demidov went all-in, Eastgate called and won with Straight over Demidov’s Two Pair.
Demidov, although he didn’t win, took home a generous second place prize of $5,809,595 – making Eastgate the youngest WSOP champion, breaking the record set by Phil Hellmuth in 1989.
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