Why WSOP Champion Espen Jorstad Missed the Summer Series in Las Vegas

Find out why WSOP Main Event champion Espen Jorstad decided to take a break from his poker career and how it affected his life and perspective on the game.

Why WSOP Main Event Champion Espen Jorstad Skipped the Summer Series in Las Vegas and How It Affected His Career and Perspective on Poker Espen Jorstad’s Journey: From WSOP Victory to a Break in His Poker Career Espen Jorstad is a well-known Norwegian professional who became the champion of the World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event in 2022, winning $10,000,000. After this success, Jorstad actively participated in the highest buy-in tournaments, traveling to high roller series from Cyprus to South Korea and playing in events with $100,000 and $200,000 buy-ins. However, in 2023, the two-time WSOP bracelet winner made an unexpected move: he decided to take a break and, for the first time in many years, skipped the WSOP summer series in Las Vegas. The reason for this decision was his desire to focus on other aspects of life—meditation, mental health, and personal relationships. “This year I barely played poker,” Jorstad told PokerNews. “Poker was a true all-in adventure for me for many years in a row. It was nice to take a break, focus on myself, pay attention to my health, fitness, and relationships.” A New Perspective: Rethinking Success and Life Beyond Poker For Jorstad, who began playing poker professionally and full-time around 2017, the break became an opportunity to reflect on the path he had taken over the years and to appreciate his achievements—$19,000,000 in winnings and participation in the world’s biggest tournaments. He admits that when you’re constantly caught up in the whirlwind of events, it’s hard to truly grasp the scale of what’s happening: “When you’re fully immersed in the process, it’s hard to look at everything from the outside. For me, poker was almost my entire life for the last eight or nine years. I never took the time to stop and look at everything from a bird’s-eye view. Only now, after taking a break, have I started to appreciate what I have more.” Jorstad also emphasizes that he has always realized how fortunate his poker career has been. But over the past year, he’s come to an important conclusion: “I realized that poker isn’t everything. That’s probably the main lesson from the past six months to a year since I stepped away from the game a bit. There are other important things in life.” Return to the Poker Scene: New Feelings and Approach to the Game In the summer of 2023, Jorstad did something no one expected: he didn’t even try to defend his WSOP Main Event champion title. His return to the poker tables happened only at WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas—his first poker tournament in several months. Jorstad admits that after the break, he feels a bit “rusty”: “I don’t feel the game as sharply as when you study and play every day. Now I doubt myself more often, sometimes I have to review my decisions. But at the same time, I’ve started to play more intuitively and judge myself less for mistakes.” He notes that the lack of constant study and practice affects his confidence, but at the same time gives him more freedom for a creative approach: “Now I can play without excessive self-criticism, without dwelling on mistakes.” The Role of GTO Wizard: A Modern Approach to Poker Training Despite temporarily stepping back from regular play, Espen Jorstad remains one of the most prominent ambassadors of the training service GTO Wizard. He calls this tool a “universal solution” for studying poker strategy and highlights its usefulness for players of any level and format. GTO Wizard is a training service that combines the functions of various poker calculators and simulators: from preflop solutions to postflop analysis and ICM (Independent Chip Model, a model for calculating equity in tournaments). Previously, comprehensive training required using several different programs, but now everything is in one place. According to Jorstad, “if you have GTO Wizard, you’re fully equipped to work on your game.” He emphasizes that this tool is useful for all formats: tournaments, cash games, games with ante and without ante. Jorstad himself actively uses GTO Wizard to maintain and improve his poker skills. WSOP Paradise: Return and Participation in the Champions Invitational Jorstad’s first major tournament after his break was WSOP Paradise in the Bahamas. There, he took part in a unique event—the first-ever Main Event Champions Invitational. In this tournament, 16 WSOP Main Event champions competed for four tickets to the $25,000 Super Main Event. Unfortunately, Jorstad was unable to make it among the winners. The four tickets went to Scotty Nguyen, Ryan Riess, Scott Blumstein, and Greg Raymer. For the participants, this tournament was less about the prize money and more about prestige and the right to be called the strongest among WSOP Main Event champions. Main Event Champions Invitational Winners Table Scotty Nguyen — won a ticket to the $25,000 Super Main Event Ryan Riess — won a ticket to the $25,000 Super Main Event Scott Blumstein — won a ticket to the $25,000 Super Main Event Greg Raymer — won a ticket to the $25,000 Super Main Event These players not only received valuable prizes but also the opportunity to make their mark again in the elite poker community. Quick Facts: Espen Jorstad’s Key Achievements Winner of the 2022 WSOP Main Event ($10,000,000) Second WSOP bracelet in 2022—victory in the Tag Team event together with Patrick Leonard Total poker winnings—$19,000,000 Participation in high roller series with $100,000 and $200,000 buy-ins Ambassador for the GTO Wizard training platform What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Espen Jorstad’s story is a great example of how even the most successful professionals need balance between poker and other areas of life. For PPPoker club players, this is an important reminder: don’t forget about your own health, relationships, and personal development, even if you’re at the top of your game or building ambitious plans in poker. The second lesson is the importance of regular work on your game and using modern training tools. GTO Wizard, which Jorstad actively recommends, can be a great asset for players of any level: it allows you to analyze hands, learn to make decisions in different situations, and improve your strategy. In PPPoker clubs, where tournaments of various formats are held, such knowledge and skills are especially relevant. Finally, Jorstad’s experience shows: even after big wins, it’s important not to rest on your laurels, but to seek new challenges and opportunities for growth. Participating in unique events like the Main Event Champions Invitational helps maintain interest in the game and develop professional skills. PPPoker club players should follow the example of top professionals—not only in the game, but also in finding balance between poker and life away from the tables.