Espen Uhlen Jørstad

Espen Uhlen Jørstad was born in May 1988 in Levanger, Norway. He later relocated to London, England, where he currently resides. Before his poker career, Jørstad earned a master's degree in brewing science from the University of Copenhagen and worked at a brewery. He began playing poker recreationally and eventually turned professional. He started streaming on Twitch in 2016 under the alias "uhlenpoker" as a sponsored Unibet poker pro, later rebranding to the group channel overbetexpress. Online, he plays under the handles "Hymn2ninkasi" on PokerStars and "COVFEFE-19" on GGPoker, primarily focusing on cash games. He has 20 WSOP online cashes and was a former Unibet Poker Ambassador before becoming a GTO Wizard Ambassador.

Jørstad's first WSOP final table came in 2020 during the WSOP Online series, where he finished fifth in a $400 Fifty Stack event. In 2021, he placed sixth in the WSOP Online Main Event on GGPoker, earning $603,058. The 2022 WSOP proved to be a breakthrough year. He first won Event #55: $1,000 Tag Team No-Limit Hold'em alongside Patrick Leonard for $74,042 each, earning his first gold bracelet. Jørstad then entered the $10,000 Main Event, having won his seat via a $1,050 satellite on GGPoker. The Main Event drew 8,663 entrants, the second-largest field in WSOP history. Jørstad made the final table and faced Adrian Attenborough in heads-up play. On the 19th hand of heads-up, with the board showing 4♥2♥2♣8♠Q♣, Jørstad held Q♦2♠ for a full house, while Attenborough called with J♣4♠. Jørstad took the pot and the championship, winning $10,000,000 and becoming the first Norwegian to win the WSOP Main Event. As a result, he also secured a free WSOP Europe Main Event seat. He has since cashed in multiple WSOP events, including a 28th-place finish in the $25,000 High Roller in 2024 ($53,169) and a 1393rd in the 2024 Main Event ($15,000). As of 2025, his WSOP statistics include 2 bracelets, 4 final tables, and 23 money finishes.

Following his Main Event victory, Jørstad continued to compete at high-stakes tournaments worldwide. In 2024, he finished third in the Triton Poker Series Monte Carlo $200,000 Special Triton Invitational, earning $2,255,000. He also won the €25,000 Super High Roller Warm Up at EPT Prague in 2024 for €277,500. At the same EPT Prague festival, he placed fifth in the €50,000 Super High Roller for €113,000 and 11th in the €10,300 High Roller for €58,100. In the €5,300 EPT Main Event, he finished 83rd for €15,000. At the 2025 PokerStars EPT Barcelona, he placed fourth in the €100,000 EPT Super High Roller for €524,400 and seventh in a €25,000 event for €76,900. Other notable results include 12th place in the 2025 Triton Montenegro $100,000 Main Event ($293,000) and 31st in the 2025 WSOP Paradise $100,000 Triton Main Event ($185,000). He also cashed in the 2025 Mediterranean Poker Party $2,200 Grand Final for $7,300. In 2026, he placed 8th in a $75,000 PLO event at Triton Montenegro for $191,500 and 16th in a $50,000 NLH event for $88,000. Jørstad has money finishes in WPT and EPT events, highlighting his versatility. As of 2025, his live tournament earnings exceed $18 million placing him first on Norway's all-time money list and 68th on the all-time money list globally. His GPI rank is 446.

Jørstad is known for a balanced, aggressive style with a strong emphasis on post-flop decision-making and emotional control. He is a student of the game, often reviewing hands and studying theory. As a GTO Wizard ambassador, he applies a game-theory-optimal approach while exploiting opponents' weaknesses. Primarily a cash game player, he occasionally ventures into tournaments, where his patient, analytical nature shines. He maintains excellent mental resilience, which proved crucial in the pressure-packed Main Event heads-up match. He has described his approach as focusing on solid fundamentals and constant study.

Jørstad enjoys skiing and football, reflecting a well-rounded athletic background. He has announced plans to donate a portion of his Main Event winnings to charity. His Twitch streaming has garnered a dedicated following, and he is respected for his insightful commentary. As the first Norwegian WSOP Main Event champion, Jørstad has inspired a new generation of Scandinavian poker players. His success underscores the importance of solid fundamentals, bankroll management, and constant study. He also has cash finishes in WPT and EPT events, further cementing his status as one of Norway's greatest poker players.