Norwegian professional player Espen Jørstad is among the most successful of his generation. The 2022 World Series of Poker Main Event winner has now made history again at the Norwegian Championship, Norgesmesterskapet, which he has been playing for over fifteen years. After many tries, he finally clinched the title that had eluded him for so long — and he did it in the Main Event (€102,000)!
“This Title Means a Lot to Me”
As he states, he has regularly participated in the Norwegian Championships since 2009. Despite numerous attempts, claiming the title had always slipped through his fingers. “It means a lot to me. I’ve been playing the Norwegian Championship since 2009, when I attended my first tournament. Since then, I’ve played many events, but I never secured a title here before. So it’s great to finally achieve it.”
Although he has already triumphed in the most prestigious tournament in the world, the feelings during this victory were surprisingly similar, he admits. “Honestly, the feeling was quite similar. Of course, at the WSOP, there is much more at stake — the prize pool is about a hundred times larger. But my approach was the same. I tried to stay calm and focus on strategy. Playing good ICM decisions, solid heads-up poker, and not thinking too much about the money or what was at stake.”
A Final Table Without Dominance
At the final table, Jørstad wasn’t among the chipleaders for long, with control firmly in the hands of carpenter and farmer Bjørge Storflor. “I didn’t have a dominant position until heads-up. And even then, I started as the underdog — the opponent had roughly three times the chip lead.” However, the situation quickly turned around.
“In the first ten to fifteen hands, I won most of the pots, and the dynamics shifted. I had a good idea of the players' experience at the final table and how they might approach each situation. Of course, in tournament poker, you also need a bit of luck.”
An Environment That Transforms a Player
Reflecting on his career, Jørstad considers one of the biggest shifts to be when he moved to London. “For me, the most important thing was getting into the right environment. A significant shift occurred when I moved to London and lived in what we called a grind house with other high-stakes players.”
The shared study sessions and discussions about the game had a massive impact on his development. “During COVID, we were all stuck in one house, and we practically did only three things — studied poker, played poker, and talked about poker. I think the best thing a player can do is surround themselves with people who have the same goals and ambitions.”
Poker as an Intellectual Challenge
Today, Jørstad sees poker a bit differently than he did at the start of his career. “Poker teaches you to think in probabilities, not black and white. Poker players are much better at this than those who don’t play.” For him, poker is now mainly an intellectual challenge.
“I see poker as a way to intellectually grow and improve at something I enjoy. I love playing poker and studying it. I no longer feel the pressure to prove anything to myself or others. I’m just happy to play and be part of this community.”
The Era of Solvers
Modern poker has significantly evolved, particularly with the spread of analytical tools and solvers among players, according to Jørstad. “Today, in poker, it’s not enough just to think about the game. If you want to play at a high level, you have to use tools and study strategy.”
Jørstad has long collaborated with GTO Wizard, a leader in poker solvers. “I think GTO Wizard is currently the best tool for studying poker. I’m glad to represent them because I believe they do a lot of good for poker. In the past, players would discuss hands with each other and try to find solutions. Today, in many cases, you simply open the solver and see the correct answer. As a result, poker is much more technical and analytical.”
Mental Game as a Natural Advantage
During big tournaments, Jørstad appears extraordinarily calm. According to him, this isn’t the result of complicated mental training. “I try to maintain healthy habits. I exercise a lot, go for walks, and spend time in silence. Sometimes, I write notes in a journal.”
Mental stability, in his view, is a natural part of his personality. “I’ve never had significant issues with tilting. Even when playing video games, I was more of a calm player. At the table, I focus mainly on strategy. I don’t think about what will happen if I win or lose that hand. I just try to make the best decision based on the information available.”
Life Beyond Poker
While poker has brought Jørstad great success, he now tries to focus more on life balance. “Right now, health and relationships are most important to me. I try to spend more time with loved ones and maintain healthy habits. I mostly avoid alcohol, eat relatively healthily, and have a balanced life. I want to spend more time with people I feel good around.”
Jørstad offers simple advice for players looking to improve. “Surround yourself with the right people. There is a known rule that you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. I think it’s very true. If you surround yourself with people who want to study, work, and improve, it will motivate you to do the same.”
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