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Annette Obrestad
Annette Obrestad
Annette Obrestad
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Annette Obrestad (born 18 September 1988) is a Norwegian YouTuber, poker player, and Scrabble player. She is the youngest person to ever win a World Series of Poker bracelet, which she accomplished at the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE).[1] She also runs a YouTube channel called Annette's Makeup Corner where she posts makeup tutorials and reviews, specializing in eyeshadow. She began playing in-person Scrabble tournaments in 2022 and has quickly risen to be one of the top 100 players in the North American lexicon.[2]

Key Information

Poker

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Online poker

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In July 2007, Obrestad won a $4 buy-in 180 person online sit-and-go where she claims to have played almost the entire tournament without looking at her cards. She has said she peeked at her cards once during the tournament, when she was faced with an all-in bet. She did this to show "just how important it is to play position and to pay attention to the players at the table."[3] On 2 March 2008 she won first place and $20,000 in the Stars Sunday Hundred Grand, a tournament with a buy-in of only $11 but with a field of 20,000 players.[4]

World Series of Poker Europe

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On 17 September 2007, Obrestad won the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe Main Event the day before her 19th birthday.[5] By winning the one million-pound sterling (US$2.01 million at the time of the event) first prize she edged the record for a single-event payout to a female player set previously by poker professional Annie Duke when she won $2 million at the 2004 Tournament of Champions, which was an invitational event. Prior to the 2007 WSOPE, Obrestad had only cashed in four other live poker tournaments.[6] Obrestad currently holds fifth place among Norwegian poker players in the all-time money list in live tournaments.[7]

European Poker Tour

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Obrestad came close to winning her second major live title in November 2007, finishing in second place earning €297,800 ($431,184) at the 2007 PokerStars.com European Poker Tour Dublin event to Reuben Peters, after holding the chip lead throughout most of the final table.[8]

As of 2020, her total live tournament winnings exceeded $3.9 million.[6][9]

References

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Annette Obrestad

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Annette Obrestad (born September 18, 1988, in , ) is a former professional poker player, , and competitor best known for becoming the youngest person to win a (WSOP) bracelet at age 18. She achieved this by winning the inaugural 2007 WSOP Europe (WSOPE) Main Event in for £1 million (approximately $2 million), becoming the first champion of the WSOPE Main Event and establishing her as a poker prodigy. Over her career, Obrestad amassed $3,942,233 in live tournament earnings, with notable cashes including second place in the 2007 (EPT) Dublin Main Event ($416,920) and victory in the 2010 EPT High Roller Heads-Up event ($187,788). Born to divorced parents, Obrestad lived primarily with her mother and visited her father biweekly, where she developed an interest in competitive card games. At age 15, she discovered through a and began playing freerolls on under the username "Annette_15," building a substantial bankroll in online winnings before turning 18 without ever depositing her own money. She turned professional at 17, quitting school with her mother's support after surpassing her family's income through poker, and gained early fame for winning a $4 buy-in 180-player online sit-and-go tournament in 2007 without looking at her hole cards except once at the end, showcasing her ability to read opponents and play positionally. Her live poker success continued with additional strong finishes, such as second place in the 2011 Wynn Classic Main Event ($215,922), before she largely retired from professional play around 2018. In 2013, Obrestad pivoted to content creation by launching her YouTube channel "Annette’s Makeup Corner," which focuses on makeup tutorials and lifestyle videos and has accumulated over 48,000 subscribers and 6 million views as of mid-2025. She entered competitive Scrabble in 2022, competing in North American tournaments and achieving a top 100 ranking, including a fourth-place finish that earned her $750.

Early Life and Poker Beginnings

Background and Family

Annette Obrestad was born on September 18, 1988, in , a small coastal town in county, . She grew up in this modest, close-knit community, where her parents divorced when she was around four years old, after which she lived primarily with her mother. She visited her father biweekly, developing an interest in competitive card games during these visits. Details about her parents and any siblings remain private, reflecting Obrestad's preference for keeping her family life out of the public eye. During her childhood, Obrestad enjoyed typical Norwegian outdoor activities and pursued as a serious for about six years, competing fairly regularly in events. These early pursuits highlighted her competitive spirit in a low-key, community-oriented environment. Obrestad attended schools in for her primary and but did not complete high school, opting instead to focus her energies elsewhere as a teenager.

Introduction to Poker

Annette Obrestad first encountered poker at the age of 15 in 2003 after seeing a for an site while watching a , allowing her to explore the game from her home in . With her family's support for her budding interest in gaming, she quickly immersed herself in the virtual poker world, recognizing its potential as both entertainment and a skill-based challenge. Unable to deposit money due to age restrictions, Obrestad created the online alias "Annette_15"—reflecting her age at the time—and began participating in tournaments, which offered entry without any financial commitment. These free-entry events became her entry point, enabling her to compete against other beginners and hone her understanding of poker mechanics, such as hand rankings and basic strategy, entirely from scratch. Her rapid skill development was evident as she secured early victories in low-stakes online games, gradually building a bankroll starting from zero without ever making a deposit. This self-taught progression showcased her intuitive grasp of probabilities and player psychology, transforming casual play into a disciplined pursuit that laid the foundation for her professional trajectory. A pivotal moment highlighting her aggressive playing style came in July 2007, when Obrestad accepted a self-imposed challenge to win a 180-player sit-and-go tournament on while blindfolded, looking at her cards only once near the end as a to prove her reliance on position and aggression over card-specific decisions. She successfully navigated the $4 buy-in event to victory, demonstrating how her bold, instinct-driven approach could dominate opponents even under extreme constraints. This feat not only boosted her confidence but also marked a turning point, propelling her from experimental online play toward high-level competition.

Professional Poker Career

Online Poker Dominance

Annette Obrestad rose to prominence in the world during her peak activity from 2004 to 2010, primarily competing on under the username Annette_15. Starting without any deposits by winning freerolls, she built a substantial bankroll and amassed total online earnings exceeding $2.7 million across major platforms. Between September 2006 and February 2007 alone, she secured over $836,000, including $500,000 on , $200,000 on UltimateBet, and $136,000 on . Her success was marked by several high-stakes No-Limit Hold'em victories, showcasing her prowess in virtual tournaments. In August 2007, Obrestad won the $500,000 Guaranteed event, earning $117,027 after navigating a field of 3,268 entrants. Another notable achievement came in May 2010 when she claimed the Sunday 500 for $87,400, defeating 4,878 players. These wins, along with a seventh-place finish in the 2006 Main Event for $163,000, highlighted her consistency in large-field online events. Obrestad's playing style was characterized by aggressive tactics, particularly emphasizing bluffing, positional awareness, and psychological pressure enabled by online anonymity. She pioneered a super-aggressive approach that relied on reading opponents through betting patterns rather than physical tells, often forcing folds with bold semi-bluffs and continuation bets. This fearless demeanor allowed her to exploit weaker fields in high-volume play, where she frequently multi-tabled to maximize volume and earnings. During her peak, Obrestad achieved consistent top rankings on online leaderboards, reaching the on PocketFives in , a testament to her dominance among thousands of tracked players. One early highlight was her in a $4 buy-in 180-player sit-and-go on , where she played blind—covering the community cards and only peeking at her hole cards once—to win $1,167, demonstrating her reliance on position and aggression over hand strength. These streaks solidified her reputation as an phenomenon before transitioning to live events.

World Series of Poker Europe

Obrestad entered the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) Main Event in in September 2007 at the age of 18, marking her first major live tournament appearance after building her reputation online. The £10,000 No-Limit Hold'em event drew 362 entrants, generating a prize pool of £3,620,000, with the winner set to receive £1,000,000. Obrestad navigated the field over several days, showcasing aggressive play that translated her online prowess to the live setting, and advanced to of nine players held on September 16-17 at the Victoria Casino. At , Obrestad started with a middle-of-the-pack stack of approximately 1,200,000 chips, behind chip leader John Tabatabai. She steadily built her stack through calculated raises and timely calls, eliminating players like Theo Jorgensen in eighth place and Magnus Persson in seventh with key pots that highlighted her fearless style. As the table shortened, Obrestad surged ahead, entering three-handed play with a commanding lead over Tabatabai and Matthew McCullough. McCullough was eliminated in third place for £381,910 when his all-in with A-K fell to Tabatabai's pocket queens. Heads-up against Tabatabai, who earned £570,150 for second place, Obrestad began with a slight edge but faced intense pressure as stacks evened out around Hand 211. In the decisive hand, Tabatabai limped from the button, Obrestad raised to 100,000, and Tabatabai called. The flop came 7♣ 6♣ 5♥, prompting Obrestad to bet 250,000; Tabatabai raised to 750,000, and Obrestad shoved all-in for her remaining stack. Tabatabai called with 5♠ 6♦ for two pair, but Obrestad held 7♥ 7♠ for a set of sevens. The turn 2♣ ended Tabatabai's outs, and the river Q♥ sealed the victory, awarding Obrestad the £1,000,000 first prize and her first WSOP bracelet. This win established Obrestad as the youngest WSOP bracelet winner in history at 18 years old, a record that underscored her rapid rise from anonymous online player to live poker sensation. The victory garnered immediate global media attention, with outlets praising the Norwegian teenager's composure under spotlights and her defeat of seasoned pros like bracelet winners at the table. It propelled her career trajectory, opening doors to high-stakes live events and sponsorships while inspiring a new generation of young players.

European Poker Tour and Other Live Events

Obrestad made her mark on the (EPT) shortly after her breakthrough at the , entering the 2007 EPT Dublin Main Event as a 19-year-old with limited live experience. She navigated a field of 221 entrants in the €7,700 No-Limit Hold'em tournament, entering as chip leader after key hands including a double-up by cracking pocket aces with 6-7 suited and eliminating Michael Durrer in a crucial confrontation. Obrestad ultimately finished second, earning €297,800 ($429,181), her first major live runner-up finish that solidified her reputation among professional players. Her EPT success continued in subsequent years, with a 13th-place finish in the 2009 EPT Grand Final Main Event for €77,000 and a victory in the 2010 EPT £5,000 No-Limit Hold'em Heads-Up Championship, defeating 127 opponents to claim $187,788 and demonstrating her skill in formats. Beyond the EPT, Obrestad's live career featured strong showings in international tournaments, including a seventh-place finish in the 2010 Aussie Millions A$10,000 Main Event (A175,000/175,000/161,518) after reaching the final table of 746 players and a win in the series' A1,100Pot−LimitOmahaevent(A1,100 Pot-Limit Omaha event (A40,000/$36,800), highlighting her versatility across game types. She also played in the 2010 Main Event, starting strong with a midday big stack on Day 1B before exiting early on Day 2. Obrestad's live earnings accumulated to approximately $3.94 million across over 100 recorded cashes by 2018, with additional notable results including a second-place finish in the 2011 Wynn Classic $1,650 Main Event ($215,922) and participation in mixed-game events like the 2012 WSOP $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em Heads-Up/Pot-Limit Omaha. Her activity tapered off after 2010, with sporadic appearances in smaller tournaments and side events, culminating in her last recorded live cash at the of Poker. This phase of her career underscored her adaptability in Pot-Limit Omaha and heads-up play, though she increasingly shifted focus away from high-stakes live poker.

Later Career and Interests

YouTube Content Creation

After scaling back her professional poker activities in the mid-2010s, Annette Obrestad launched her YouTube channel "Annette's Makeup Corner" in 2017, marking her transition into digital content creation focused on beauty and lifestyle topics. The channel drew initial interest from her established fanbase in the poker community, leveraging her fame as a young WSOP Europe winner to build early viewership. Obrestad began posting regularly around 2018, sharing personal insights into her evolving interests beyond gaming. The content primarily features makeup tutorials, product reviews, and creative looks, with a specialization in indie eyeshadow palettes where she demonstrates multiple styles from a single product to showcase versatility and value. Popular series include in-depth hauls of new releases, swatch comparisons, and "get ready with me" (GRWM) videos that blend beauty application with casual lifestyle elements, such as her daily routines in . These videos emphasize accessible techniques for enthusiasts, often highlighting affordable or emerging brands, and occasionally incorporate challenges like recreating looks under time constraints or with limited tools. As of mid-2025, the channel had grown to over 48,000 subscribers and 6 million total views, supported by consistent uploads of around 1,000 videos. Monetization comes through ads, brand sponsorships from cosmetics companies like Menagerie Cosmetics, and affiliate links for featured products. Obrestad has collaborated with other beauty creators and indie brands for sponsored content and joint reviews, expanding her reach. In recent years, she pivoted toward broader non-beauty topics, announcing a shift to a new fashion-focused channel "Annette's Fashion Corner" amid reduced enthusiasm for makeup editing, while maintaining occasional lifestyle vlogs on and .

Scrabble Competitions

Annette Obrestad's interest in competitive emerged around 2022, marking a shift from her poker background to as a new intellectual pursuit. She began participating in North American tournaments shortly thereafter, debuting at events like the 37th Annual Phoenix Tournament in February 2022, where she placed third in Division 2 with a 14-6 record and earned $250. This early entry into the North American Scrabble Players Association (NASPA) circuit quickly propelled her into regular competition across the and . By 2023, Obrestad had secured notable victories, including a first-place finish at the Lake George tournament in October with a 4-1 record and +397 spread. She also achieved a 10th-place finish at the Open in December, posting a 10-7 record and +818 spread while earning $175. Her performance continued to strengthen in 2024, highlighted by a fourth-place finish at the Crescent City Cup in January, where she recorded 14 wins and 6 losses with a +133 spread, securing her largest prize to date of $750. In major events like the Word Cup, she demonstrated consistency with a 16th-place finish in 2024 (16-14 record, +478 spread). Entering 2025, Obrestad reached new heights, winning the Phoenix Presidents Day Weekend Tournament in February with an impressive 15-4 record and +834 spread, claiming $1,100 and boosting her NASPA rating to 1856. She maintained strong contention in qualifiers for international play, including 19th place at the Word Cup in August (16-15 record, +126 spread) and a 12th-place finish at the 4th Annual Midwest Major in October (9-8 record). These results positioned her among NASPA's top 100 players, ranked around 99th overall with a TWL rating of 1733 as of late 2024. Obrestad's approach to Scrabble draws on her poker experience, particularly in maintaining focus under pressure and reading opponents' potential plays, which aids in strategic tile placement and endgame decisions. She has become active in the Scrabble community through participation in live-streamed matches on platforms like , including showdowns against top players such as Agnes Kramer in 2025 and commentary for events like the Scrabble Players Championship. These engagements have helped foster her growing presence in the competitive scene.

Legacy and Personal Life

Achievements and Records

Annette Obrestad holds the record as the youngest player to win a (WSOP) bracelet, achieving this at age 18 in the 2007 WSOP Europe Main Event, where she earned £1,000,000 (approximately $2,013,733). This victory also marked her as the first woman to win a WSOP Main Event. In her early online career under the screen name "Annette_15," she amassed approximately $2.77 million in tournament earnings on platforms like , establishing her as one of the top female players during the late . A notable highlight was her 2007 win in a $4 buy-in, 180-player sit-and-go, where she played "blind" by covering her hole cards and only peeking once, demonstrating exceptional skill and intuition. Obrestad received the 2007 European Poker Award for Performance of the Year for her WSOP Europe triumph. She was ranked No. 23 on Bluff Magazine's list of the 40 Greatest WSOP Champions in 2009. In 2024, she was nominated for induction into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame, recognizing her pioneering contributions as a female poker prodigy. Her total live poker tournament earnings stand at $3,942,233 as of late 2025, placing her 634th on the all-time money list and second among Norwegian players. Combining live and verified online results, her poker career exceed $6.7 million. Transitioning to since 2022, Obrestad has risen rapidly in competitive play, achieving a North American rating of 1733 by early 2025 and securing top-10 finishes in events like the February 2025 tournament in , where she ranked 8th. She competed prominently in the 2024 Crescent City Cup and the 2025 Canadian Classic, including a high-profile streamed showdown against top player Agnes Kramer. As a Norwegian competitor, she has earned strong placements in Scandinavian regional tournaments, contributing to her status among the region's elite by 2025. On , Obrestad's channel "Annette's Makeup Corner," launched in 2018, has garnered over 48,000 subscribers and more than 6 million total views by mid-2025, focusing on beauty tutorials and personal vlogs. In July 2025, she announced she was stepping back from makeup videos due to lack of inspiration and began transitioning to a -focused channel, Annette's Fashion Corner.

Public Image and Net Worth

Annette Obrestad first captured global attention as a teenage poker sensation in 2007, when media outlets portrayed her as a prodigy after her victory in the inaugural Europe Main Event at age 18, emphasizing her aggressive style and unprecedented success in a male-dominated field. By the 2020s, her public persona had evolved significantly, with coverage shifting to highlight her as a multi-talented content creator and Scrabble competitor, reflecting a transition from high-stakes poker intensity to diverse pursuits like YouTube vlogging on makeup and lifestyle topics. Obrestad's net worth is estimated at approximately $3–4 million as of 2025, primarily derived from her poker tournament earnings exceeding $3.9 million, revenue from her YouTube channel, and various sponsorship deals. She has participated in select charity poker events, including the 2012 Joe Hachem and Shane Warne Charity Tournament and Phil Hellmuth's Agrace HospiceCare fundraiser, though details on ongoing philanthropic efforts remain limited in public records. Residing in , , , Obrestad maintains a balanced lifestyle post her peak poker years, focusing on fitness, content creation, and personal well-being, as evidenced by her dedicated social media accounts promoting healthy living.

References

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  51. https://www.instagram.com/annetteobrestad/?hl=en
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