Karlsen led the final table from start to finish, never giving up control of the game
Norway’s Drea Karlsen has captured her first World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) ring after a commanding performance in the €350 (US$450) NLH Queens event at Olympic Park Casino in Tallinn. Karlsen walked away with €6,480 (US$7,452) and a €5,000 (US$5,750) Ticket to Paradise package, earning her a trip to the Bahamas for a major poker event later this year.
Entering the final day as chip leader, Karlsen maintained her edge throughout, eliminating six of the eight other finalists in a display of aggressive and effective poker. The event featured a 74-player field and formed part of the wider WSOPC Tallinn festival, hosted by OlyBet.
Karlsen’s recent form has been impressive. She also won a Queens event earlier this year during OlyBet’s Showdown series in Vilnius, Lithuania, suggesting that she’s becoming a regular threat in mid-stakes European events.
In the final stages of the Tallinn tournament, Karlsen dispatched several notable opponents in rapid succession, including Nadja Sutter, Saara Benlamine, Iryna Tsikhanskaya, Helina Tamm and Anzelika Urbane. Her final opponent was Sweden’s Sindy Ygborn, who had strong support from a vocal rail but couldn’t overcome Karlsen’s momentum. The decisive hand came when Ygborn moved all in with Q♦4♣ but ran into Karlsen’s 6♥6♠. The board ran out 9♣4♥K♠5♥7♥, giving each a pair, but Karlsen’s sixes held up.
With the win, Karlsen became the third WSOPC ring winner of the week in Tallinn, which is currently buzzing with tournament activity. The €1 million (US$1.15 million) guaranteed Main Event is underway, with Day 1a drawing 125 entries. Two more starting flights are scheduled, and interest continues to grow for Northern Europe’s only WSOP Circuit Main Event.
