I remember him talking about this after the event, but he just did an interview or article with All-in last week and touched on the subject some more.

The comment section is interesting on this one as to who the backer is that stiffed him.

http://www.pocketfives.com/articles/...pay-me-590878/

Sorry if this was posted, the article is new and I didn't see anything on the first couple of pages.

I just love this line.. "Demidov still didn't do well at the WSOP, winning only $40,000 in the events leading up to the Main Event"

Now tell the truth, how many of us would have been thrilled to win that much?

Wasn't his backer Maxkatz?

Considering how many events they play and that a lot are 5k/10k buy-ins, it's very possible those "Winnings" didn't make up for his buy-ins.

I mean if he happened to play the 50k HORSE, he certainly lost money.

How did the backer get 100% of the proceeds in his hands so as to deny Demidov his 20%?

Was Demidov not paid directly by the WSOP?

That's what I was wondering. I thought in another thread people were saying that WSOP refuses to split payments with backers directly and only pays the winners.

nope

pretty sure it was standard for the Russian staking groups to just take 100% of the winnings and then give the horses cash when they get back to Russia. only problem with that is, you gotta trust the staker to no blast it off in areas before you get your cut. i assume Ivan trusted this guy and a lot of other things went into the situation than what the public knows.

really ****ty situation. glad Ivan seems to have come out ok from it all.

Can I pm you my other guess or is this super secret info?

i think its relatively well known around the circuit. but for some reason, i dont think demidov has ever come out and said "its xxxxxx". not sure why, but i assume there is a reason.

His backer was Sergey Rybachenko.

Call him a poker player but he looks pretty KGB to me. Poor Ivan, dealing with the wrong Russians...

Ivan obviously kept quiet, because if threads like this came out years ago he pretty much knew he wouldn't get paid. The fact he touched again on it now tells me he is resigned to the fact that he will not see it now, and just doesn't give a fk anymore.

And lol at all you people in the know keeping this guys name under wraps, why???

Some quick Google searches found this form 2008, a cut and paste from PS or FTP chat. (Assuming, Rybachenko= mrcall912)

Posted 17 Nov 2008 · Report post

mrcall912: hi Roland, Ivan got 2nd place, so now
i've got 4,5 mln to blow)))
Roland de Wolfe (Observer): mr call im ready for u
Roland de Wolfe (Observer): yes i know
Roland de Wolfe (Observer): u will do it too
Roland de Wolfe (Observer): 90% u broke by wsop
Roland de Wolfe (Observer): make sure i get some
chinese action
Roland de Wolfe (Observer): where do i see u next
mrcall912: we'll play Bellagio in December, then
PCA and Australia
Mike Matusow: rolande u idiot u there
La Key U: comonmike
Mike Matusow: what
Mike Matusow: sorry
Mike Matusow: talking too some idiot that knows
nothing
Mike Matusow: on msn
Mike Matusow: driving me nuts
Mike Matusow: sorry
Mike Matusow: illplay faster
Roland de Wolfe (Observer): mr call when i see u
next
mrcall912: told ya Roland
mrcall912: Bellagio december, than PCA in
Bahamas and Ausiie millions
Roland de Wolfe (Observer): k
(Mike had called him names and went off on him at the very 1st then he found out he was Ivan's backer cause he got real nice to him and saying he was sry)

Mike Matusow: can we play side games in aussie
and bahamas i need money
mrcall912: sure we will
Mike Matusow: j/k
Mike Matusow: im sorry for being idiot
Mike Matusow: just got mad

He did this interview on Calvin Ayres websites (Sergey Rybachenko) last July 2014. He says he was his backer himself.

"I believe you used to play in some huge games, is that right?
I used to play for huge stakes. A few years ago when I sponsored all of the Russians when Ivan Demidov got second place in the Main Event I was his sponsor but then I went almost broke. I am on my way back now…but these are not like the games I used to play in before."

Presumably 'on his way back' with Ivan's money. Guys a scumbag considering this interview was only done last July 2014. 10 short months ago.


*not sure if I am allowed to link outside websites so I just quoted the piece. Google it.

Wow, guy comes off as crazy degen lol

Makes you wonder how much of those $15m was actually his.

Oh and some of those hands at HSDB are pure gold, stuff like open-limp calling AQo OTB in a heads-up game etc lol

http://www.highstakesdb.com/profiles/mrcall912.aspx

Poor Demidov.. I remember watching him play war3 professionaly in 2003/4/5

I was in a cab with him about 5 years ago and he was telling me about this. If I remember correctly, his backer not only asked him to hold onto 100% of the $, but he was never reimbursed for other buy ins he played leading up to that, and he was stuck paying the taxes on the money he never got. I always wondered if this ever worked out, it was a new development for him that he might not get paid when he was telling me about it.

because you tend to live a little longer when you mind your business

this is INSANE. guy wins over $1m (his share) and gets effed in the a for the taxes on it? jjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjjeeeeeeeeeeeeessssssssuuuuuuuu usssssssss that's beyond nuts. hopefully he got something here?

He got nothing.

I can't imagine getting 2nd in the main event and not getting anything. Idk how Ivan seems so calm about it, from what I have read anyway.

I really want to see the pictures of them packing the $6 million into suitcases, someone please find it.

Pretty disgusting story, filthy russian mobster scum types

i have zero evidence but my guess is some sort of audit happened or is about to happen and some people want some money hidden

Taxes on income is a flat 12% in Russia. Terrible in many ways, but taxes are not one of them.

ive learnt a lot of people are scummy when it comes to money, even small amounts like $30.
So theres no way i would have let them walk off with my cut. Same for the taxes as well

Sorry for Ivan but thats what i woulda done.

but did the WSOP literally pay them in cash? Or was it wired to their bank account? Surely they dont let people just walk off with bundles of money?

So it disnt matter if he even won the main event he was never grtting laid lol.. Mayb money from sponsors was about it.. Sad situation and id prob kill somebody