LAS VEGAS (AP) -- A 22-year-old poker pro from Denmark has become the youngest-ever winner of the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas.

Peter Eastgate defeated Russian poker pro Ivan Demidov early today to earn the top prize of more than $9 million and the winner's gold bracelet.

Eastgate is from Odense, Denmark. He emerged from a field of more than 6,800 players that was whittled down to nine over 11 days in July.

Eastgate says he's already heard from Phil Hellmuth, the previous youngest champion at 24 when he won in 1989.

Demidov is a 27-year-old semiprofessional poker player from Moscow. He won $5.8 million for second place, and says he's not going to cry.

Demidov says the tournament used to be mostly U.S. players. But he says the number of Europeans, South Americans and Asian players show the game is growing around the world.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)