Euro Poker: WSOP Europe Final Table Preview

European Players Dominate Final Table of World Series of Poker Europe Main Event; Betfair Offers Betting In Running

Today sees the final table of the £10,000 no-limit hold’em main event at the World Series of Poker Europe presented by Betfair. Nine players take to the felt to play for the £1 million first prize.

Continuing a theme set in the first two WSOP Europe events, the emergence of aggressive and accomplished young European players heralded a new reality for poker’s elite: the global game is no longer dominated by a handful of American pros.

“The stage has been set for European poker players to continue to shine,” said WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack. “Clearly, the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe has lived up to its name and promise in every respect.”

The final table of nine players, which starts at 2:00 p.m GMT in The Casino at the Empire on Leicester Square, have made it through a field of some of most distinguished players ever assembled in Europe. There were more than 100 WSOP bracelets between all the participants.

The final nine players are:

Matthew McCullough, 33, is a nurse and anaesthetist from New Jersey, USA. He is the only American at the table. He has £1,278,000 in chips.
Magnus Persson is 24 years old from Gothenberg Sweden. He is a student when he is not playing poker. He has £1,231,000 in chips.
Johannes Korsar is 20 years old and won his seat on Betfair Poker. He is a professional poker player. If he wins she would be the youngest bracelet winner in WSOP history. He has £1,134,000 in chips.
Annette Obrestad is a 19 year-old online poker player from Norway. She is now regarded as one of the best female players in the world. If she wins she would be the youngest ever WSOP bracelet winner. She has £697,000 in chips
John Tabatabai is 22 from London. He is has a passion for strategy games of poker, chess and backgammon. He hs £982,000 in chips.
Oyvind Riisen is 22 from Norway. He won his seat on Betfair Poker and is a professional poker player. He has £664,000 in chips.
Theo Jorgensen is a 35 year-old poker player from Denmark with two previous fourth place finishes on the European Poker Tour. He has £605,000 in chips.
Dominic Kay qualified through a freeroll on Betfair Poker. He is 30 years old from London and is a professional sports trader on Betfair. He has £490,000 in chips.
James Keys, age 21, is doing work experience at Betfair. He won his seat via a $78 satellite on Betfair Poker. He is currently studying Physics at Durham University.He has £172,000 in chips.
Phil Hellmuth, who has amassed a record eleven World Series bracelets, said yesterday, “You have nineteen of the top twenty players in the world here in London for this event.”

Betfair’s Head of Poker Ben Fried said, “Betfair has four online qualifiers at the final table. This just goes to show that it is possible to build up from relatively small stakes to play for a million pounds and the World Series Bracelet. It’s a talent meritocracy.”

The WSOP Europe final table is also making history in that it is the youngest final table ever assembled. Female Norwegian player Annette Obrestad is only 18 while Johannes Korsar is 20 years old. If either of these players wins the bracelet, they will be the youngest bracelet holders in WSOP history. The average age at the final table is only 25.

The last high-profile pro eliminated was Gus “The Great Dane” Hansen, who added £41,620, or more than $83,000, to his $3.7 million in official prize money for his 10th place finish.

In addition to the £1 million top prize, second place in the WSOP Europe main event is worth £570,150, third £381,910, fourth £257,020, fifth £191,860 sixth £152,040, seventh £114,030, eighth £85,070 and ninth $61,540.

The 10th through 36th place finishers received from £41,630 to £27,150, depending on their final position.

Punters can watch the WSOP Europe online while backing or laying players as the action unfolds.

“Betfair revolutionised the industry with the in-running betting offer for horseracing and other sports, it is a natural progression that we would offer poker betting in-running,” said Fried.

“In-running betting and the live webcast at worldseriesofpoker.com create a fantastic opportunity for more people to take an interest.”

The current favourite in the betting is Magnus Persson with the second largest chip stack although the odds are likely to fluctuate as the action unfolds.

Initial odds on Betfair are
5:1 :Matthew McCullough
9:2 Magnus Persson
5:1 Johannes Korsar
6:1 Annette Obrestad
11:2 John Tabatabai
9:1 Oyvind Riisen
6:1 Theo Jorgensen
12:1 Dominic Kay
20:1 James Keys
Transmissions described as “live” may be slightly delayed. Please be aware of this when betting in running

News Added: 16 September, 2007

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