Eastgate is one of the winningest poker players of all-time but famously announced an early retirement from the game in 2010.
“I was fed up with the game and I didn’t feel like playing anymore,” he said.
“I had a 10 month hiatus where I didn't play poker and then I felt the lust to play poker again because I still enjoy the game and there are still a lot of challenges to the game.”
The Danish pro, who now lives in London, won the Main Event for $9.1 million became a key member of Team PokerStars Pro and went on to win a notable side event at the PCA for $343k and then place second in the 2009 edition of EPT London for $843k.
Eastgate also put in an impressive title defense that him outlast 6,416 players to finish 78th in the 2009 WSOP Main Event. He’s now earned nearly $11 million in live tournaments.
The new contract with Betfair will not change his approach to the game.
“My mission is always to win and have fun at the poker table,” he said.
Eastgate also has some experience on Betfair as he played the $250/$500 No-Limit Hold’em games on the site in 2008.
“The swings were obviously enormous,” he said.
Betfair Poker also added fellow Danish pro Stefan Raffay to their team this week. The former Danish Championships winner has over $500k in lifetime earnings and will attempt to surpass that number this year.
Expect to see Eastgate and Raffay at the 2012 WSOP Main Event wearing Betfair Poker patches.
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