ESPN

Andrew Feldman

  (2:57 PM)

Hey everyone. Peter will be joining us shortly so please send in your questions and we'll get started in a moment!

Peter Eastgate

  (3:03 PM)

Hello everybody

Bob(ATL)

Do the cameras and fans cheering disrupt your play? Would you rather play in a quiet room?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:04 PM)

I'd rather play ina quiet room only because you'd get in more hands per hour. The cameras don't really bother me. I like the fans and the media, it's something I appreciate.

Marco (dallas)

How has the delay helped you prepare for this final table?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:05 PM)

It really hasn't helped me that much in terms of the game. I've tried to study some things about my opponents, but there isn't a whole lot of information out there so I haven't really done a whole lot.

Ken (Chicago)

Are you nervous at all? This is a big week for you!

Peter Eastgate

  (3:06 PM)

I'm naturally nervous becaue theres a lot of money on the line, but I'm not too anxious about the final table. I know that someone has to lose and someone has to win and when you go into something like this and you lose, you shouldn't be that bothered. That's just part of playing poker.

Jack (Chicago)

How would you handicap the final table?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:07 PM)

All of them are really solid players, but to say who is the best player and who is the worst -- there really isn't much of a huge difference. I also don't want to reveal who I think the toughest and weakest players are in my mind. They could read this!

Kevin (Houston)

Does it make it any easier knowing that if you don't win you still come out with a ton of straight cash homey?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:08 PM)

Not really. Of course you feel a little bit secure, but you can also understand how much you wouldn't win if you go out ninth. On the other hand. as I said before, someone has to lose and someone has to win, so you really can't be that nervous.

James (Oakland)

Who would you want to be next to you on your right and left at the table?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:08 PM)

That's some stuff I don't want to reveal.

Geoff (Seattle)

What would it mean to Denmark if you were to win?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:10 PM)

It would be very good. It would get poker on the lanscape. People like Gus Hansen has done a lot, but I think it would make poker boom once again. I'd like to be a great ambassador if I were to win. We have a ton of talented players in Scandinavia and I'm just one of many.

Sean (East Hartford CT)

Congrats on making the final table, I think it was you that took Tiffany michelle out...was she as rude as she sounded on the coverage, I absolutely loved when she flipped her cards over and was CRUSHED with the set, anyways unless I'm mistaken, thanks for taking what would have been a terrible champion with her attitude.

Peter Eastgate

  (3:11 PM)

Thre have been a lot of people who are berating her for the things she did on TV. I played with her for only a little and she treated me with respect so I don't think I can say anything bad about her.

Jack (Chicago)

If you had to pick one guy to win (not yourself) who would it be? you can reveal that...

Peter Eastgate

  (3:11 PM)

Obviously it would be one of the chip leaders since they are the favorites right now. I'm pretty boring, I can't really reveal that either.

Tito (Denver, CO)

Why are Scandanavian's kicking so much ass in poker these days?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:13 PM)

I had one interview with an english player and he said that English players weren't good and only focused on the bad beats they've taken.. Scandinavian players analyze the critical situaitions and are always trying to improve their game. They are being very intelligent about the game. They are improving all the time.

Pete (philadelphia pa)

was tiffany michelles poker ettiquette as bad as it looked on television??

Peter Eastgate

  (3:14 PM)

No. I believe that sometimes ESPN edits and you dont know how long that Paul Snead took during that very crucial decision. It could've been 15 minutes or 50 seconds. There's a lot that you don't see or know about and people should be very cautious about condeming her from what they see on TV because it might not be exactly as it happened.

Armand (Phoenix)

Prior to this, what do you believe was your biggest accomplishment as a poker player?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:15 PM)

Beating poker consistently and making a living out of it. Nothing specific, just living off poker for two years has been my biggest accomplishment. It's a lot of big swings. When you win you're running above expectations and when you lose you're running below. You can't focus on the short term results.

Pete (philadelphia pa)

When you bluffed demidov with the 10 9 suited, why did u check the turn when u hit the 10??

Peter Eastgate

  (3:16 PM)

I checked the turn to keep the pot small.

Brad (Gadsden,Alabama)

Pater, What do you do to get ready before you play?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:17 PM)

I try to focus on having a healthy daily ritual. One week before, since this is an early event and we're starting before noon, I try to get into a rhythm and avoid playing poker.

Todd (Watertown, MA)

What did you think of the controversial ruling in the Losev/Cantu hand that was televised? Were you nearby when it happened? Did people talk about it afterwards?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:21 PM)

It's a very very interesting situation. I was sitting at the table and I agree with him calling the floor. As to what the ruling should have been or whether it was correct, I'm not sure because although I play a lot of poker, I don't know the best ruling, I understand why Cantu had to get the right decision, but I can't comment on whether the decision was right or wrong.As to the Losev guy, he had a very cool attitude about the game. He was very aggressive and when he busted he just smiled. The way he handled himself going from chip leader to out was a very cool attitude. He was very relaxed and I think he was an awesome guy. I don't believe he did the move in question intentionally.

Pete (philadelphia pa)

how good is chino rheem?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:21 PM)

That's a very interesting question. I'd like to know that too. I didn't play that much with him. Him and Darus I played with for the first time when there were only 10 players left.

Mike (NYC)

Did you believe Dennis Phillips when he said that he knew you had a set when you slow played your aces in the hand that knocked T. Michelle out?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:23 PM)

It looked kind of genuine when he shouted that out, but on the other hand, I smooth called twice so it's not that difficult to put me on a big hand. Maybe he had a read, but it was probably due to the smooth call both times. I'm not worried that he knows a very big tell about my game.

Frank: (Pittsburgh, PA)

Has Phil Hellmuth contacted you about possibly being the youngest to win the ME?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:24 PM)

No, not yet. It would be really cool to be a young guy with a lot of money and a lot of opportunites, but on the other hand, if you won it as a 50 year old it would be quite cool as well.

Scott (Evansville)

Have you spoken to any pros about the other players?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:26 PM)

Not that much in particular. I know that some of the Danes played with Demidov at the World Series of Poker Europe and others have played with the others at the EPT, but they don't have that much informationa bout that. I can't regard their play at the Day 1 of the EPT to the final table of the main event. I'll just try to be very flexible of how they could approach the final table and take it as it comes. I don't want to make too many assumptions of what their style from what I've heard. I'm confident I'll figure it out at the final table -- just take the situations as they come.

Rico (Mexico City)

What's the best thing about being famous?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:27 PM)

you believe you have something on your mind, some message that you like to send out to other guys on how to advise them on how to be a better poker player, or something they might find interesting, it's a good thing about being famous, you can get that out. Then there's obviously the marketing value and sponsorship deals.

Duke (Los Angeles)

What's the strangest thing that's happened to you since you made the final table?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:28 PM)

I was very close to a very strange thing. The other day, I'm in NY right now, I was walking out of the sportsbar in times square and I saw a very big screen at the ESPN building with Chino Rheem and Ivan Demidov. Even though it wasn't me, it was very cool to see that.

Brian (Portland, Oregon)

If you win the Main Event what kind of ambassador will you make to the game?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:29 PM)

I really haven't thought that much about what kind of ambassador I would be. I think I'd give it a lot of thought and talk about the game. It's a very important role to fill out.

Brian (Las Vegas, NV)

How many endorsements have managed to get?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:29 PM)

Just some minor deals and the big deal with PokerStars as well for the final table.

Ivan (Moscow, Russia)

If you win, will you play the next year in Europe or North America?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:30 PM)

If I win the tournament I'll continue to be a PokerStars player and should be obliged to play the European Poker tour. I do like the EPT and I like traveling in Europe so that would be my decision anyway.

Brian Schaedlich

Umm, you got any reading advice on how to manage a big stack?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:31 PM)

It all depends on how the table is. It varies so much that specific advice on how to do this and that wouldn't work. Just use your stack to your advantage, but it really depends on the other players at your table. Of course you need to consider the payout structure and all players need to be cautious about how to give advice on how to do this or that.

Z (Astoria Queens)

Have the girls been giving you more attention lately?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:31 PM)

No.

Mark (Reno, NV)

What did you do before you played poker?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:32 PM)

I was a high school student in Denmark.

Enrico (St. Louis Missouri)

What's the first thing you're going to buy if you win it all? Please say it's a high def TV for me.

Peter Eastgate

  (3:32 PM)

There's no material that I need. I'd probably go travel somewhere. I'll probably put some money in real estate, that would be it and some other investments as well.

Brady (Newark)

Have you had many players or friends asking you to back them in events now that you've got 900K?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:33 PM)

No - thank god for that.

Bob(ATL)

How long are the blinds at the final table?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:34 PM)

The blinds are $120K/$240K and the level will last for 30 minutes more. Regular levels are 2 hours. The blinds are pretty big so the final table could go pretty fast.

Pete (philadelphia pa)

did you get a chance to play with phil hellmuth?? and does he complain and belittle everyones play even more then we see on television?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:35 PM)

Yea on Day 5. I was at the table when he did that thing where he folded the Qd-7d when he folded the open ended straight draw and the flush draw. That was pretty astonishing. The whole act of Hellmuth, and some other guys who perform, I just find it quite amusing. I'm really not intimidated by it, but on the other hand he wasn't trash talking me at all as we didn't get involved in many pots.

Jonna(Flint)

Tell us the truth, were you nervous about the delay? I mean, were you having bad thoughts like what if you died or got into a serious car accident and you couldn't play in Nov?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:37 PM)

If I died or got into a serious car accident I think it would be pretty meaningless. I haven't really been worried about that any more than I would on a typical day. I am worried about getting sick, its a minor casualtity where I could still play the final table and be healthy afterwards. It wouldn't be good to be sick at that time. I'm trying to eat well and sleep well to avoid getting sick.

ed (los angeles)

do you play cash? if so how big? if so what's been your longest drought?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:39 PM)

I'm playing cash games mainly online. Primarly $25/$50, a little below and a little above. I've lost $100,000 in a session. I'm used to playing for a lot of money and big swings. I know the value of money more than other players. I have a lot of respect for the value.

Craigs (San Francisco)

Have you had a chance to speak with any of the other final table players since play stopped?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:40 PM)

Oh yea. I've spoken to a lot of the guys like Ivan and Darus. Most of the pokerstars players because we've done a photoshoot, a commercial and other stuff. They are awesome guys so that's kind of like -- you're become too good of friends with, but on the other hand, you can't be friendly to any guy at the table because you need to look out for yourself.

Mike (Buffalo)

What do you wish was shown on the ESPN episodes that wasn't?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:43 PM)

There were a lot of hands when there were 15 players left and I had some conversations with Dennis at which point Scott Montgomery opened from UTG and I smooth called with JJ. Some other guy called on the button and Dennis raised from the small blind to $1.5 million, 1 mil more for all of us. Scott folds and I called and the other guy folded. The flop came down 8-3-2 and Dennis leads out for $1.5 million, the same bet as preflop and I called again. On the turn a 10 came, no flush draw, and he shoved for $10 mil into a 6 mil pot, maybe a little bit more. I ended up folding and he told me afterwards he had aces, but I would've liked that confirmed. It would've been good to see. There were a couple otehr big hands between Scott and Dennis and I wish I saw them right now.

Bob(ATL)

At this point in the tournament. Do you see anyone playing rags like 10,4 or 9,3? Or is everyone waiting for the premium hands?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:44 PM)

That's kind of a very strategical question and I really don't like getting into that, but on the other hand, there's a lot of uncertainty. You don't know how the deck will be acting and it's one of the key things to figure out.

Pacman (Vancouver, Washington)

What have you bought since making the final table?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:45 PM)

Nothing in particular. I've been traveling across America for three weeks. That was kind of awesome. Boston, San Fran, Toronto, Montreal, Cape Cod.

Jim(Houston)

If you were holding pocket Ace's and 3 guys went all in (preflop), would you call?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:45 PM)

I most likely would call.

Chino Rheem (Cali)

Just fold when i raise ok? I have the nuts.

Fred

Have you spoke to Gus Hansen for any advice?

Peter Eastgate

  (3:48 PM)

Yes. I've spoken to him for a couple of hours and I've spoken to a lot of competent Danish and International pros about very superficial strategies and how they would approach this. I feel pretty confident in my game. I'll play my A game during the final table and I don't think there was anything I could've done during these four months to improve my chances to win. You can't change a whole lot to secure you a win at the final table. Everyone is pretty solid and they can all win, even Kelly Kim if he gets some chips.

Peter Eastgate

  (3:48 PM)

Thanks everybody! Speak to you soon!