Poker player

Espen Jørstad

Norway

Espen Jørstad is a Norwegian professional poker player who won the 2022 WSOP Main Event for $10,000,000, becoming the first champion from Norway. A former brewing scientist turned Twitch streamer, he has amassed over $18 million in live tournament earnings and is the all-time Norwegian money leader.

WSOP bracelets: 1

Early Life and Education

Espen Uhlen Jørstad was born in May 1988 in Levanger Municipality, Norway. He earned a master's degree in brewing science from the University of Copenhagen and worked at a brewery before pursuing poker full-time.

Online Poker and Streaming Career

Jørstad began streaming on Twitch in 2016 under the alias "uhlenpoker" as a sponsored Unibet Poker pro, later rebranding to the group channel "overbetexpress." On PokerStars he plays as "Hymn2ninkasi," and on online poker as "COVFEFE-19," primarily focusing on cash games. He qualified for the 2022 WSOP Main Event through a $1,050 satellite on online poker.

World Series of Poker Breakthrough

Jørstad reached his first WSOP final table in 2020, finishing fifth in a $400 Fifty Stack event during the WSOP Online. In 2021, he placed sixth in the WSOP Online Main Event for $603,058. He won his first WSOP bracelet in 2022 by partnering with Patrick Leonard to take down Event #55: $1,000 Tag Team, earning $74,042 each.

2022 WSOP Main Event Championship

In the 2022 WSOP Main Event, Jørstad navigated a field of 8,663 entries—the second-largest in WSOP history—to reach the final table. He defeated Adrian Attenborough in heads-up play, sealing the title with a full house (Q♦ 2♠ on a board of 4♥ 2♥ 2♣ 8♠ Q♣) after a shove on the 19th hand. For the victory, he received $10,000,000, becoming the first Norwegian Main Event champion.

Later [High Roller](/term/high-roller) Success

Since his Main Event win, Jørstad has continued to excel in high-stakes tournaments. Highlights include:

2024 Triton Poker Series Monte Carlo: 3rd place in the $200,000 Special Triton Invitational for $2,255,000.
2024 EPT Prague: 1st place in the €25,000 Super High Roller Warm Up for €277,500.
2025 EPT Barcelona: 4th place in the €100,000 Super High Roller for €524,400.
2025 WSOP Paradise: 31st in the $100,000 Triton Main Event for $185,000.

As of June 2025, Jørstad's total live earnings exceed $18,852,000, placing him first on Norway's all-time money list. He is also a GTO Wizard Ambassador.

Playing Style and Legacy

Known for a balanced and aggressive approach, Jørstad combines cash game experience with strong tournament instincts. He is regarded as one of Norway's greatest poker players, inspiring a new generation of Scandinavian players.

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