Peter Eastgate

Childhood

Peter Nicolas Eastgate was born on December 13, 1985, in Odense, Denmark, to English parents. Raised in the suburb of Dalum, he attended Sct. Canute's Gymnasium, where he was first introduced to poker by classmates. Eastgate later enrolled at Aarhus University to study economics, but his passion for poker led him to drop out and pursue the game professionally. His analytical mindset and early exposure to poker set the foundation for his future success.

Career

Breakthrough: The 2008 WSOP Main Event

Eastgate qualified for the 2008 WSOP Main Event through Ladbrokes Poker and entered the final table with the fourth-largest chip stack. After a grueling 15-hour, 274-hand heads-up battle against Russia’s Ivan Demidov, Eastgate emerged victorious, winning $9,152,416 and claiming the title of youngest WSOP Main Event champion (a record later broken by Joe Cada in 2009).

Post-WSOP Success

Following his historic win, Eastgate signed with PokerStars and continued to dominate high-stakes tournaments:

• 2009 EPT London – 2nd place (£530,000)
• 5,000 Side Event 1st place (343,000)
• 2010 NBC Heads-Up Championship – 5th place ($75,000)

By 2014, his total live tournament earnings exceeded $11.2 million.

Personal life

Eastgate has always been introverted, avoiding the spotlight despite his fame. In a 2018 ESPN interview, he admitted:

• "I'm not good in the spotlight. I've always been nervous about that, and I don't like the way I sound in interviews."

He also revealed struggles with sports betting losses (over $2.2 million during the 2010 FIFA World Cup), which contributed to his disillusionment with gambling.

Revenue

Eastgate’s career earnings exceed $11.2 million, primarily from:

• 2008 WSOP Main Event – $9,152,416
• EPT & PCA cashes – Over $1 million
• Sponsorships (PokerStars, Betfair) – Undisclosed but significant

His WSOP bracelet auction in 2010 raised $147,500 for UNICEF.

Interesting facts

• Youngest WSOP Champ (Briefly) – Held the record until Joe Cada (2009).
• Charitable Gesture – Donated 100% of his bracelet sale proceeds to UNICEF .
• Tony G’s Dog Collar Controversy – Poker pro Antanas Tony G" Guoga jokingly claimed he’d turn the bracelet into a dog collar, sparking debate.
• Sports Betting Losses – Lost $1.7 million betting on the 2010 World Cup.
• Final Cash (2013) – His last recorded tournament was the ISPT London Main Event.
  

Legacy

Eastgate’s calm, methodical playstyle influenced a generation of poker players. Though he stepped away early, his 2008 WSOP victory remains one of the most memorable in poker history. His charitable donation of the bracelet also highlighted his humility.