POKER NEWS
INTERVIEWS
14.10.2022
Espen Jorstad: I would prefer to have as few material possessions as possible
Clear head, full concentration, healthy diet, meditation and modesty - this is also the reason of Espen Jorstad winning the title of ME WSOP champion, which earned him 10 million dollars. How did this win change his life?
The second largest WSOP Main Event of all time in July this year crowned its new champion, who became a Norwegian for the first time in history. His name is Espen Jorstad, but when you win a tournament of this caliber and $10 million along with it, you are quickly sought out by the media from all over the world. Despite the huge media interest and hype, Jorstad remains a fully focused and balanced person, who is already being talked about by everyone as the best poker ambassador of all time. Well, the following conversation will only confirm that there will be a lot of truth in it!
The most prestigious tournament in the world, even ten million dollars a person does not win every day, tell us how were the first days after winning? "As it happens, immediately after the win it was absolute hell. People non-stop asked for various things, interviews, advice, many sent me the history of their hands for analysis, and of course there were also those who asked for money. I had no choice and so I turned off my phone for a week and didn't turn it on at all - it was a very good decision.“
Of course, even Jorstad is only human, and even in his case, life's win should be properly celebrated. "I had two months without alcohol, without a single drop. Here, however, I really loosened up and slept less than 5 hours in two nights. After all that I was totally exhausted and even after a month I still felt like I wasn't 100% back."
The break from poker after the win lasted about two weeks, after which he was ready to go back. “A lot of people have asked me, don't you want to go somewhere in Hawaii and get away for at least a month? Well, I have a different view on the matter - while I'm on the wave, the iron must be struck while it's hot. Now people perceive me, they want my attention and my time. It won't be like that in a year or two. That's why I think now is the perfect time to work hard, build a personal brand and leave a significant mark in poker.”
For some, the biggest shock came after being asked if he had already bought something luxurious from the massive winnings. "Nothing, really absolutely nothing. And I don't even have anything on the list. I am very happy with my life and have everything I need. I consider material things to be something like a brake, sometimes they do more harm than good. Yes, I bought a few things that will increase the quality of my life, but nothing big or flashy. I would prefer to have as few material possessions as possible.“
And how will he deal with the prize of a lifetime? "I've been living in London for the last year with just one suitcase in various sublets, so I would buy some housing here. Well, I probably invest most of my money in a combination of stocks, real estate and crypto. My goal is to prepare as best as possible for the future...showing off is nothing for me. I come from a small town in Norway, you don't go there with Rolexes and Gucci shoes on expensive cars."
In addition to a couple of tournaments in Florida, where he took part in the Main Event and some High Rollers as part of the Seminole HRPO, Espen also appeared at a streamed cash event in Hustler Poker. "These cash games are not super serious games, but still, when you play something like $100/$200/$400/$800, you sharpen your attention. It was the biggest games I've ever played, but it was a lot of fun, full of recreational players and great fun. I lost $100,000 in one big hand and was mad at myself because I didn't feel like I was playing my best. I haven't adapted to the crazy style of the table game, after all I haven't played that many cash games with billionaires for whom money has literally no value. But luckily after that I won most of that amount back on the $10/$20/$40 stakes.”
The interview with Espen Jorstad took place in the legendary Binon's Gambling Hall, the cradle of the WSOP series, where legends such as Doyle Brunson, Stu Ungar and Johnny Chan were born. Could Espen be one of those? "I haven't thought about any long-term legacy yet. I definitely want to be a good and exemplary ambassador, focusing especially on health. As a poker player you sit all day, so the quality of sleep and good food is often below average. I fully felt that during this WSOP as well. The basis of my success is healthy food, exercise and meditation, thanks to which I have built a strong mind. It allows me to fully concentrate, not tilt and stick to my A-game."
While some WSOP Main Event champions have literally grabbed a lifetime win and disappeared from the public eye, Jorstad makes no secret of the fact that he wants to spend the next year as a poker ambassador, traveling around the world and sharing his experiences with viewers on his YouTube. "If the other winners don't want to be ambassadors, want to live in seclusion or just want to enjoy their winnings, that's up to them. I'm not judging anyone, and I don't think anyone has the right to demand it from them either. But I feel an inner responsibility to become an exemplary ambassador and spread the good name of poker."
It was this statement and his overall outlook on the world that helped get most of the poker community on his side when the "forgotten" 3% swap dispute in the WSOP Main Event with Alex "Pwndidi" Theologis was resolved. We informed you about the whole case here:
In addition to building his personal brand, Espen would also like to contribute to the growth of the poker community in his native Norway. "It is not easy to play poker in Norway, as the legislation is quite bad and strictly restricts any form of gambling. But after my win in the ME, some discussions took place among the legislators, and if by some miracle it was possible to use my win to influence politicians and change the whole system, it would be something incredible!"
It is no secret that Espen fully grasped his plans in the summer, when he traveled to the prestigious Triton Series stop in Cyprus. " I will try to be a really good ambassador. I plan to play almost everything, EPT London, WSOPE Rozvadov and maybe the WPT World Championship in December in Las Vegas. I will try to be wherever there is good action and of course create content from it. So I believe you have something to look forward to, see you soon!"
Source: PokerNews.com
