Recently, Annette Obrestad made the list of eight nominees for the Women in Poker Hall of Fame. This was the same Norwegian girl from almost two decades ago who reportedly won a 180-entry online MTT event, barely looking at her cards.
A few days before her 19th birthday, later, she defeated a 362-entry field, winning the WSOP Main Event title in Europe. She became the youngest player to win the WSOPE bracelet and broke the record for the biggest single-event prize money in the female players’ category, a feat that has inspired many to explore online poker free options.
With several sponsorship deals and over $3.9 million in tournament earnings, Annette Obrestad is one of the most successful females in poker. Today’s casino news walks you through her career journey and the impact of her accomplishments on the industry.
Annette Obrestad: The Poker Prodigy’s Unforgettable Rise
Annette Obrestad hails from a small town in Norway called Sandnes. She was born into a card-playing family on September 18, 1988. She used to play games with her parents as a kid. When she was 15, she loved poker and wanted to play in online casino sites. So, she signed up under the screen name Annette_15 and began playing freeroll online poker free tournaments. However, she couldn’t make any deposit because she wasn’t legally allowed to play.
Annette Obrestad soon turned her Freeroll to $9 and started playing real money. At 18, she already had poker accounts on different sites and had accumulated six figures. A few days after her 18th birthday, she also began playing live tournament poker.
With this significant result, she decided to drop out of school to pursue poker fully. She aimed to become one of the best female poker players. Live games were the most profitable events, so she attempted them.
Annette Obrestad Makes Million Dollar Wins and Sponsorship Deals
Annette Obrestad entered the live tournament scene through an Ultimate Bet live tournament – UltimateBet, Aruba Poker Classic, in September 2006. She participated in the $ 5,000 buy-in Championship Event and cashed $12,415. In March of the following year, she was in Monte Carlo for her first major tournament, the EPT Grand Finale.
She competed in the EPT €500 No Limit Hold’em, a 300-entry event. She ended up in 5th place, winning €15,830. She continued playing, putting in more effort for bigger wins.
WSOPE Main Event Win
Annette Obrestad traveled to London in 2007 for the WSOPE series. She joined the Main Event, competing with elite players on September 10, eight days before her 19th birthday. She surprised everyone when she won the event to claim the first prize, 1 million Pounds (about 1.2 million USD).
She became the first female to win a WSOP Main Event. This win immediately drew the attention of some mainstream poker media, setting her up for numerous sponsorship deals.
She was motivated to claim the EPT Championship Event a month later.
EPT Championship Event
Annette left for Dublin in October for the EPT. The Main Event had about 221 participants. She bought in and eventually finished second, winning 297,800 euros ($323,314). Then, she played in tournaments at PartyPoker, the Premier League series, for months until 2009.
EPT Grand Finale and Notable Performances
In April 2009, Annette Obrestad was back in Monte Carlo for the EPT Grand Finale, a $10,000 event with 935 entries. After long hours of gaming, she finished 13th, winning €77,000 ($86,607). Months later, she placed third in the Late Night Poker $10,000 Finals in Cardiff, taking home $65,000.
In January 2010, she kicked off the new year with a first-place A$40,000 ($36,918) prize in the 160-entry Aussie Millions Poker Championship Event. At the A$1,000 Pot Limit Omaha, she showcased her skill in various poker formats, leading to another win.
Continued Success and Transition
In August 2010, she appeared in episode 8 of The Poker Lounge in Cardiff, where she easily finished first in the 6-entry $20,000 event, earning $120,000. She then prepared for a heads-up game in London.
In September, Annette Obrestad competed in London for the EPT Heads-Up, winning first place in the 64-entry event for 120,000 Pounds ($154,414).
In 2011, she claimed $215,922 at the Wynn Classic Main Event in Las Vegas. This marked her last major live win. In 2012, after Black Friday, she secured a sponsorship from Poker Royalty. In 2016, Venetian Las Vegas signed her as a Sands Poker Room ambassador.
She continued as a tournament ambassador until 2018, when she shifted focus to her YouTube channel, Annette’s Makeup Corner, now with over 48,000 subscribers.
Annette Obrestad: Impact on the Poker Gaming Industry
Annette Obrestad’s 2007 WSOPE Main Event win positively affected young online poker players. Her victory created a new perspective, expanding the game. She demonstrated that everyone has a chance in the game with the right skill. Several young players began to flock to the online poker scene, aspiring to be like her.
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