Annette wins WSOPE

The inaugural World Series of Poker Europe has drawn to a close at the Casino at the Empire in London’s Leicester Square, and the Main Event has been won by a new star-in-the-making.

18-year-old Annette Obrestad from Norway outlasted the 356 other competitors, including the cream of world poker, to win the £10,000 No Limit Hold’em Main Event.

Annette, who is something of an online MTT phenomenon, and plays online as Annette_15, bought into the tournament and has now recorded her first signiifcant live win.

Annette defeated John Tabatabai in heads up play when she flopped top set against her opponents two pair. Tabatabai takes home £570,150 for second place.

Obrestad’s win capped a series that saw European players – make that young European poker players – shut out veteran American professionals by winning all three WSOP bracelets up for grabs.

“I never expected to win,” said Obrestad, who turns 19 in just one day. “I’m speechless. I really don’t know what to say.”

“In the end, the Europeans dominated here,” said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. “But this is the start of a new tradition for the World Series of Poker and the European and global poker communities. WSOP Europe will provide more exciting action in the years to come and we’re confident poker greats from all over the world – and across the generations – will shine here, just as they have in Las Vegas.”

Final results:
1. Annette Obrestad, £1,000,000
2. John Tabatabai, £570,150
3. Matthew McCullough, £381,910
4. Oyvind Riisem, £257,020
5. Johannes Korsar, £191,860
6. Dominic Kay, £152,040
7. Magnus Persson, £114,030
8. Theo Jorgensen, £85,070
9. James Keys, £61,540