Peter Eastgate becomes youngest-ever World Series of Poker Champion

Eastgate won $9.15 million for the title, while Demidov, 27, took second place and earned $5.8 million.

Backed by a throng of fans and friends from Denmark who chanted in Danish, Eastgate won shortly after 2:30 a.m. ESPN will televise the event at 5 p.m. today.

Eastgate drew a straight on the day’s 102nd hand to take home the title. It was only the second hand that a player called all-in. Eastgate He came into the play as the chip leader, lost the lead early, but battled back. Before the final hand, Eastgate held a 7-to-1 chip lead over Demidov.

Eastgate eclipsed a 19-year record held by 1989 champion Phil Hellmuth, who was 24 when he claimed the crown of World Poker Champion.

PREVIOUSLY: Heads Up play surpasses 100 hands; $1 million in blinds

Peter Eastgate of Denmark continued to lead the World Series of Poker’s Main Event, some 3 1/2 hours after heads-up play began at the Rio, edging closer to the title of World Poker Champion.

Eastgate, 22, attempting to become the tournament’s youngest-ever champion, has 120.450 million in tournament chips. Ivan Demidov of Russia had 16.450 million in chips as the players headed to a break. Demidov took the chip lead about a dozen hands into play before falling back, losing several large pots to Eastgate. Just before 2 a.m., Eastgate took a pot worth 44 million in chips to pad his lead.

Blinds paid by the players each had are currently $500,000 and $1 million, marking the first time a player had to pay $1 million on a blind in the World Series of Poker. Also, the heads up portion of the final table had surpassed 100 hands.

Eastgate also made the first all-in call just before the break, but Demidov folded his hand.

PREVIOUSLY: Eastgate extends chip lead

After winning a large pot of more than 20 million in tournament chips, Peter Eastgate of Denmark has extended his World Series of Poker final table lead over Moscow’s Ivan Demidov.

Eastgate has more than 100 million in chips. Demidov has 36.6 million.

PREVIOUSLY: WSOP chip lead goes back and forth

A little more than 90 minutes into heads-up play Monday night at the World Series of Poker at the Rio and the players are closer to each other in chip counts then when they began.

Peter Eastgate of Denmark had a roughly 24 million lead in tournament chips over Ivan Demidov of Russia when play at the final table began. However, 11 hands in, Demidov passed Eastgate for the chip lead, winning a 20 million tournament chip pot. He led, 73.450 million to Eastgate’s 63.450 million.

At roughly 20 hands in, the players were essentially tied, 68.9 million in chips for Demidov to 68 million in chips for Eastgate. At the break, which came around midnight, Eastgate had regained a 10 million lead in tournament chips.

With blinds currently at $400,00 and $800,000 each pot is worth well over $1 million.

EARLIER: Play begins at World Series of Poker final table

Heads-play between Peter Eastgate of Denmark and Ivan Demidov of Russia began about 30 minutes behind schedule Monday night at the World Series of Poker. The first cards were dealt after 10:30 p.m.

The two remaining players from a field of 6,433 entries in the World Series of Poker’s $10,000 buy-in no limit World Championship of Hold’em started much different from Sunday’s final table of nine players. Eastgate and Demidov wagered more than 10 million in tournament chips on the opening hand. Sunday’s action was marked by slow play during the first few hours.

Eastgate began the night with 80.3 million in tournament chips while Demidov had 56.6 million. The players were introduced by fight announcer Michael Buffer, who revised his famous “Let’s Get Ready to Rumble,” boxing call to, “Let’s Get Ready to Shuffle Up and Deal.”

The winner will collect $9.15 million while the runner-up wins $5.8 million.