Final Table Bios: Seat 7, Ivan Demidov (24,400,000)
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A native of Moscow, Russia, Demidov was once a mathematics student at Moscow State University with a flourishing side career as a professional video gamer. He was introduced to online poker through a friend, who transferred him $50 on PokerStars so he could get started. Demidov was more of a casual player before he saw his fellow countryman Alex Kravchenko returned home from the 2007 World Series of Poker with a bracelet on his wrist. His performance inspired Demidov to take the game more seriously, and after securing a backer, he made the trip out to Las Vegas for the 2008 WSOP. Demidov played twenty events and narrowly missed the final table of the $1,000 No-Limit Hold’em with Rebuys event, where he busted out in 11th place. The Big Dance, though, would prove to be Demidov’s coming-out party.
Upon his return home to Russia, Demidov played in four local tournaments—winning two of them and finishing second in another. From there it was on to the WSOP-Europe for his record-setting final table, where he competed alongside Daniel Negreanu, Scott Fischman, and eventual winner John Juanda. Since making the November Nine, Demidov has also been signed by PokerStars as one of their “Million Dollar Men.” He’ll start play today second in chips with 24,400,000.