Friday Poker News Link Dump

Been a busy week for the Entities. Catching up on some poker news from around the so-called "Internet."

:: Best Tao of Poker post ever? [link]

:: Like this "Poker in Pictures" post on Up for Poker. Reminds us how much we fucking love U.S. America. [link]

:: So maybe there was an attempt to get the November Nine^TM some more mainstream exposure...they just didn't want it. [link]

:: These Goldman Sachs and Lehman guys have the right idea. [link]

:: After taxes, Peter Eastgate will have earned less from the 2008 WSOP Main Event than Ivan Demidov. Go socialism! [link]

In the meantime, not sure if you've seen the below video. But basically the scenario is this: Andrew was brought on the Maurey Povich Show to take a paternity test to determine if he was the father of this child. Andrew was like, "You know, cute kid and all. But I'm not sure I wanna be a dad, especially to this chick who I just hit it with one night." Then Andrew found out he was not the father and was like, "Whew, that's a relief. That would've greatly impacted my life had I been the father. You know what, I think I'm going to dance now." Then he danced.

Wait, That's Not Peter Eastgate

Screen grab below of The Money Times article on Peter Eastgate winning the World Series of Poker Main Event.

Justin Bonomo does kind of look like one of them Northern Euros.

Peter Eastgate Signs with Poker Royalty, Is Going to Be Huge In Europe

On the heels of banking 9 mil and becoming the youngest WSOP Main Event champ in history, Peter Eastgate has signed on with Poker Royalty for representation.

According to the press release, Eastgate will rely on PoRo for "worldwide management and marketing representation across all major platforms, including media, sponsorship, licensing, commercial endorsements and appearances."

Poker Royalty recently opened a European office, which would likely spearhead these efforts, because Eastgate is going to be huge in Europe. He probably already has a best selling album in Belgium.

Read the full press release here or after the jump.

Peter Eastgate Wins 2008 WSOP Main Event; At 22, Becomes Youngest Champion

More to come throughout the day but Peter Eastgate defeated Ivan Demidov to win the 2008 WSOP Main Event.

On the final hand, Eastgate turned a wheel, Demidov hit two pair, all the money went in, and that was that.

At 22 years-old, Eastgate now becomes the youngest Main Event champion in history, breaking Phil Hellmuth's record.

For the win, Eastgate banks $9,152,416. Demidov will take home $5,809,595.

UPDATE: Interview below with Eastgate.

Peter Eastgate Dressed Like a Girl

We like this Peter Eastgate kid.

In his press conference interview today, Eastgate says that Ivan Demidov was definitely the player he was most worried about going heads-up against (feeling is mutual), what the hell that "ooga ooga ooga blah blah blah" his fans were chanting meant, and that he dressed like a woman for Halloween.

Just 90 minutes away from final table play now...

WSOP 2008 Main Event Finalist Peter Eastgate on Ivan Demidov and more...

Meh for Poker

Who would you rather?

Well, we're kind of at a loss here.

The 2008 WSOP Main Event will come down to a Russian vs. a Dane, with Ivan Demidov going heads-up against Peter Eastgate sometime around 10pm tonight.

Barring some info on either that we don't know about yet, we can say that neither of them would be categorically bad for poker.

But we're not sure if either would be categorically good for poker either.

Which, like last year when that one guy beat the other guy, they are more likely just categorically Meh for poker.

Categorically.

The good news is that neither appears to be a fluke, like the guy who won last year. Demidov finished third at the WSOP-E Main Event, cementing his poker creds. Eastgate appears to be the real deal too. If Eastgate does win, he'd break Phil Hellmuth's record as youngest Main Event champ, which would get some decent press among the so-called poker media and maybe some mainstream pubs.

But bottomline is neither is a U.S. American, a woman, or a particularly dynamic personality. Daniel Negreanu they ain't. So we can't see either moving the needle much and getting more than a few die hards excited. More likely, the winner will be greated with a collective "meh" and shoulder shrug from the mainstream public.

Outside of the soon-to-be rich Demidov and Eastgate, the big winner in this is really Poker Stars, who can promote the hell out of these guys in Europe, where poker is still booming and where these two may have some broader appeal.

For a more play-by-play recap of the action, go here or to Dr. Pauly's here.