WSOP Europe Main Event Champions: From Teenage Sensation to Hellmuth's Unique Double

Throughout its history, WSOPE has witnessed the emergence of new stars and the reaffirmation of legends, with a legacy studded with unique records and unforgettable victories.

Annette Obrestad: The Youngest Champion in History

The inaugural event in London in 2007 delivered one of the biggest shocks in the game's history. Norwegian Annette Obrestad, just 18 years old, triumphed in the first WSOPE Main Event, defeating a field of 362 entries to claim a round million-pound victory.

She sealed her success just a day before her 19th birthday, becoming the youngest WSOP bracelet winner ever. Obrestad also remains the only woman to have won a WSOP Main Event (whether in Europe or Las Vegas), instantly catapulting her to global celebrity status.

Phil Hellmuth and His Historic Achievement

If you're looking for a name synonymous with records, it's Phil Hellmuth. Once the youngest WSOP Main Event winner, he now has a record 17 WSOP bracelets and is the only player to have won bracelets in five different decades.

"The Poker Brat" made history in 2012 in Cannes, becoming the only player to achieve a Main Event victory in both WSOP (1989) and WSOPE (2012). For Hellmuth, it was his 13th bracelet and this unique double remains one of the standout milestones in poker history.

Phil Hellmuth epitomizes the prestige of WSOPE, confirming his attendance at the Prague festival in 2026. He's planning to play nearly every tournament and aims for his 18th bracelet.

Highlights and Records from Final Tables

The WSOPE Main Event has always been a stage for dramatic moments. The second edition made more WSOP history.

John Juanda claimed the Main Event in 2008, earning his fourth bracelet after a grueling 22-hour final table marathon. The heads-up against Stanislav Alekhin lasted over seven hours, with 242 hands played. Incidentally, this was the same number of hands it took to form the final pair from the final nine players.

2008 also saw Ivan Demidov achieve a unique feat, reaching the final table of both the WSOP Main Event in Las Vegas and WSOPE in London in the same year, finishing as runner-up at WSOP and third at WSOPE.

Adrian Mateos launched his stellar career at WSOPE, winning the Main Event in 2013 in Enghien-les-Bains. At just 19, he secured his first bracelet, becoming the youngest male WSOP champion.

In 2023, the largest Main Event so far (with 817 entries) saw former professional basketball player Max Neugebauer take home the trophy and a prize of €1.5 million, the highest winner's payout in WSOPE history.

Overview of WSOP Europe Main Event Winners (2007 – 2025)

Since its inception, the series has traveled through various cities — from London to Cannes, Berlin, and Rozvadov. A new chapter awaits WSOP Europe in 2026.

After eight years in Rozvadov, Czech Republic, the festival will move to Prague, where King's Casino at the Hilton will host Main Event with a guaranteed prize pool of €10 million. Phil Hellmuth has confirmed his participation, aiming for his 18th bracelet, along with Annette Obrestad's return to live tables.

*The tournament did not take place in 2014, 2016, and 2020.

Sources: WSOP, Wikipedia, Mirror, PokerNews