It's Tough At The Top

When he hoisted stacks of cash and the WSOP Main Event gold bracelet over his head this past November at just 22 years old, Peter Eastgate showed a world of promise.

He followed up his Main Event triumph with a win at a 2009 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure prelim, but although he's already played a handful of events at the WSOP this summer, Eastgate has yet to even cash - never mind getting a sniff at more WSOP gold.

Claus Nielsen, a former poker pro turned Eastgate's business manager and President and COO of his charitable organization Friends of Eastgate, told PokerListings there's a good reason for that.

"I don't think Peter is playing his game," he said, walking through the hallways at the Rio. "It happens to a lot of players that find success. They change their game and try to prove to everybody they are a champion on every hand they play."

Nielsen thinks Eastgate needs to tighten up his game a little, stop trying to outplay everybody and just let the chips fall where they may.

"I think if he starts playing his game, Peter will be successful again," he said. "Right now he's just not doing that."