Annette Obrestad, the Norwegian poker prodigy who won the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe Main Event in 2007 at just 18 years old, is preparing to return to the WSOP Europe stage nearly two decades after her historic victory.
Obrestad confirmed that she plans to play both the Ladies Event and the Main Event at this year’s festival in Prague, marking a rare comeback for one of poker’s most memorable early champions.
From teenage champion to long break from poker
The first WSOP Europe festival was held in London in 2007 during the peak of the poker boom. The series featured three bracelet events, including a £10,000 Main Event that attracted 362 players.
Obrestad defeated John Tabatabai heads-up to win the title and £1,000,000, becoming the youngest WSOP bracelet winner in history. The victory also made her the first female champion of a WSOP Main Event-style tournament.
Following that breakthrough, she appeared regularly on televised poker shows such as Poker After Dark, Late Night Poker, and the Premier League. She also achieved additional results, including a runner-up finish at the 2007 EPT Dublin and an Aussie Millions ring in 2010.
However, professional poker gradually moved out of focus in her life. Over the past several years, Obrestad largely stepped away from the game and has recorded only a single live tournament cash since 2018.
Life away from poker
During her time away from the tables, Obrestad built a successful YouTube channel focused on makeup tutorials and became active in competitive Scrabble.
According to records from WordGamePlayers.org, she has played hundreds of Scrabble matches and maintains a strong competitive record. The game has become an important part of her routine, as she regularly attends a Scrabble club multiple times a week.
Poker, however, never fully disappeared from her thoughts. Recently she has begun watching poker streams again and slowly reconnecting with the modern game, although she admits that many of today’s leading players are unfamiliar to her.
A return she never expected
The idea of returning to a major poker tournament was not originally part of Obrestad’s plans. When she was first contacted about attending WSOP Europe, she assumed the invitation might involve content creation or promotional appearances.
Instead, the organizers offered her a symbolic role in the Main Event: delivering the traditional “shuffle up and deal” announcement that officially starts the tournament.
The invitation convinced her to reconsider.
In addition to performing the ceremonial opening, Obrestad confirmed she will also compete in both the Ladies Event and the Main Event during the festival in Prague.
Playing for the experience
Obrestad says her main goal is simply to rediscover the rhythm of tournament poker after such a long break. In recent months she has mainly played cash games, which allow for a more flexible schedule.
Her expectations for the event remain modest.
She plans to approach the festival as an opportunity to enjoy the experience, reconnect with old acquaintances from the poker world, and meet new players along the way.
Nearly twenty years after her breakthrough victory in London, the former teenage champion will once again sit down at the WSOP Europe tables — this time without pressure, but with one of poker’s most unusual comeback stories.
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