Poker only started taking off all over Scandinavia after laws regulating the game were relaxed in Norway and Sweden in early 2014. Since then, new tournaments have been sweeping across Scandanavian countries, producing remarkable poker players with something to prove.
With Scandinavia keeping an eye on the recent talent, it’s easy to see why online casinos in Norway are becoming so popular. Alexandra Nereng, one of the members of beste norske casino and an online gambling enthusiast, believes in the future of online gambling. But perhaps these famous gambling men and women are bringing a little of the spark back to physical casinos.
Let’s take a look at some of the most notable players.
6 of the Best Scandinavian Poker Players
Felix Vincent Stephensen, Norway
Total earnings $5,838,463
One of Norway’s best players, Felix Vincent Stephenson, won most of his total earnings in the 2014 World Series of Poker Main (WSOP).
His seeming lack of any previous professional experience didn’t hold him back in 2014, nor moving forward, as he racked up wins in the 2015 Norwegian Championship Nationals Main Event, as well as the Turbo tournament in Barcelona during the European Poker Tour (EPT).
Annette Obrestad, Norway
Total earnings $3,942,233
Annette, under the alias “Anette_15”, began playing poker online at the tender age of fifteen. Since she was not of legal age, her early online career is not well documented. She was the youngest player to win a WSOP bracelet in 2007, taking home $2 million from the event.
Obrestad is the second highest-earning Norwegian poker player.
Martin Jacobson, Sweden
Total Earnings $17,016,497
Jacobson sits on top as Scandanavias highest earner currently. He won most of his fortune in the 2014 WSOP, collecting $10 million from a single event. This win is the 5th largest single payout at an event ever in the history of professional poker.
Jacobson isn’t new to professional poker. He’s been competing on the world stage since the 2000s and is already heading into the annals as of the world’s best.
Peter Eastgate, Denmark
Total earnings $11,131,450
The Former World Champion has been retired since 2010 and is currently still the all-time money leader for Denmark.* Eastgate’s most notable win was in the 2008 WSOP. At only 22 years on, he was, at the time, the youngest to win the title.
Gus Hansen, Denmark
Total earnings $10,158,251
Gus “The Great Dane” Hansen comes in a close second as Denmark’s highest earner, yet he is an all-around favorite. Hansen is famous for being aggressive and erratic, which probably accounts for his huge wins and devastating losses throughout his career.
Hansen has won a WSOP gold bracelet, yet he has already been inducted into the World Poker Tour Walk of Fame since he is only one of three players to win three WPT events.
Patrik Antonius, Finland
Total earnings $12,013,263
Antonius has excelled in global circuits over the years and is still Finland’s money leader. Finland is a popular place for both physical and digital gambling, with the country having some of parhaat nettikasinot (“the best online casinos”) available to it’s players, alongside poker tables and physical casinos. Once a hopeful teen tennis star, Antonius turned to professional poker after an injury ended his career.
He has raked up his earnings through various worldwide tournaments, including finishing 2nd in the WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic in Las Vegas in 2005. Besides being a poker pro, Antonius is one of the most successful online cash game players.
Memorable Mention
Thor Hansen
Total earnings $2,949,644
Thor Hansen, a Norwegian legend, had an incredibly long-spanning professional career. His Hendon Mob page dates back to 1987, long before the world of online poker came to life. Hansen’s success included winning 2 WSOP bracelets.
Hansen played his last game in the Norwegian Open in March 2018. He died in December of the same year.
Thor Hansen reminds us that we can’t judge great poker players solely on earnings. He will always be known as one of the greats in Norway and beyond.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a promising poker player or a fan, It’s an exciting time for Poker players from Scandinavia. Have you tried online casino Norway? Perhaps you could be the next poker Norsk player?
Author’s bio: Alexandra Nereng follows up the booming of the Gambling field and popularity of gaming so she is creating a lot of content about gambling to impact the growth of good quality gambling sources.