Despite finishing in second place in the just-completed 2008 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, Ivan Demidov may be the hottest poker player on the planet right now.

Just weeks ago, he finished in third place in the Main Event of the World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) in London, England.

It’s the first time in history anyone has ever made the final table of nine players at the WSOP Main Event and the final table of nine players at the WSOPE Main Event, in the same calendar year.

Of course, the WSOPE has only been in existence for two years, so there hasn’t been much opportunity to achieve poker’s version of the Daily Double.

Nevertheless, Demidov’s accomplishment is nothing short of mind-boggling.

There were 6,844 people entered in the 2008 WSOP Main Event, and Demidov beat out 6,842 of them.

There were 362 people entered in the 2008 WSOPE Main Event, and Demidov beat out 359 of them.

Between the two tournaments, there were 7,206 people entered and Demidov beat out 7,201 of them.

Amazing!

For coming in second in this year’s WSOP Main Event, Demidov, 27, of Moscow, Russia, earned $5,790,024.

The payout brings his career poker tournament earnings to $6,498,176.

He earlier won $664,781 for winning this year’s WSOPE Main Event.

During the Cold War, Russians were known as “Reds” because of their affinity for communism.

A generation later, Demidov is one red hot Red!

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)