Peter Eastgate has the button. With the blinds having just gone up, he raises to 2 million straight. As he has done several times already, Ivan Demidov calls.
Demidov checks to the aggressive Dane, who makes it 2.25 million to go. That's too much for Demidov; he folds.
Ivan Demidov has the button. He sets out a raise to 1,750,000 and Eastgate considers for a moment before reraising to 4,000,000. Demidov quickly folds and Eastgate wins the pot.
Peter Eastgate has the button. He completes the small blind and Ivan Demidov checks his big blind. It's another action flop - . Demidov is first to act after the flop and checks to Eastgate, who leads out for 850,000. It doesn't take long for Demidov to put in a raise to 2.55 million. Eastgate lays another one down.
Peter Eastgate has the button. He comes out strong on the very first hand with a raise to 1.5 million. Demidov calls, and we get a flop on the very first hand!
Demidov is first to act and checks the flop over to Eastgate. Never one to shy away from a pot, Eastgate makes it 1.75 million to go. Demidov calls.
The turn is the , bringing quite a reaction from the assembled gallery. Demidov checks it to Eastgate, who opts for a check of his own.
The river card is the , bringing an even stronger reaction from the house. The two players at the table, however, are stony-faced. Demidov bets 8 million, bringing a rueful smile from Eastgate. After sixty seconds thinking it through, he folds. The first blood is drawn by Ivan Demidov.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event Final Table!" shouted TD Jack Effel. He thanked everyone in the audience for coming to watch the crowning of a new champion. Then he turned the microphone over to legendary emcee Michael Buffer -- yes, that Michael Buffer -- for player introductions.
First to be introduced was Ivan Demidov, whose announced chip count is 56,600,000. Then attention was turned to Dane Peter Eastgate, who seems to ahve the larger contingent here in the stands. His chip count is 80,300,000.
"Let's get ready to shufflllllllllllllllllllllllllllle up and deal!" crooned Buffer.