Peter Eastgate at the age of just 24 has quit poker citing a lack of motivation and that he has grown bored of the game. Eastgate won the 2008 World Series of Poker Main Event which resulted in a $9.15m payout and a cherished Main Event bracelet. He made the announcement through the PokerStars blog.

Eastgate also told The Associated Press:

“I was bored of the game, lacking motivation, did not need the money any more so saw no point in continuing. In case I return, it will be because I need an income again or because I am bored doing nothing.”

This candid explanation has led many professional rakeback poker players to speak up and one of these was Phil Hellmuth who stated:

“I think that Eastgate is smart. He’s going to step away and figure out who he is, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he came back a more confident, better person in four years,” Hellmuth said. “He seems like a levelheaded kid anyway.”

Annie Duke who has had a long poker career also commented:

“I think it’s really impressive that somebody particularly as young as he is, particularly who is so very well defined in his life by poker and the championship that he won, is willing to say, ‘Hey, you know what? I took some time off during this World Series and I realized I was happier,’” Duke said.

The news of Eastgate’s retirement was not a shock to those who knew him well especially after he announced he would only play the Main Event at this year’s World Series of Poker. Eastgate achieved so much in his short career that many rakeback players believe he will be back at some stage and as Hellmuth said he will probably come back a more mature player if he does.

For the online poker generation who grind away this refreshingly honest retirement may come as a surprise and many will be disappointed not to have the Danish poker star around on the tables any longer. If you want to play at the World Series of Poker next year then you need to start saving or winning now, a rakeback deal could be the difference between a Main Event buy in and watching it on tv.