Gratulerer Sigurd!

Sigurd Eskeland has a brand new bracelet

Everest Poker has its first World Champion. Norway’s Sigurd Eskeland outlasted 452 players in one of the most challenging tournaments to win the coveted gold bracelet. Congratulations to this year’s Event #48 winner!

The 36-year-old father of two from Oslo took a year off from teaching elementary education to become a full-time poker pro. It’s safe to say he made a wise decision. Sigurd claimed his first gold bracelet and cashed $260,497 in the 8-game Mixed Event only six months after being named to the 2010 Live the Dream Team.

"It's the most unbelievable feeling I have ever had in my whole life," said Sigurd. "The only thing that can compare to it is the birth of my two daughters. But this is insane, the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me."

Going heads up with Steven Sung for nearly four hours at his first final table in the Series, Sigurd was the 2–1 chip leader when Alexander Wice was eliminated in 3rd place. Sung fought hard, coming within striking distance of Sigurd’s chip stack, but in the end it was Sigurd’s game to win.

In what would be the final No-Limit Hold’em stage, Sigurd raised 80,000 from the button with Ac–9s, forcing Sung to go all-in with Qd–Qs. Following a 3d–9c–4c flop and a Jc on the turn, a 2c river secured a flush and the bracelet for TheBigViking.

Sigurd previously cashed in two other Series events, including the 2008 Main Event, where he was chipleader throughout Day 3. One of the Series’ most challenging tournaments, the 8-game Mixed Event requires the player to be skilled in eight styles of poker — Omaha, Omaha 8 or better, Razz, Stud, Stud 8, 2–7 Triple Draw, Limit Hold’em and No-Limit Hold’em.

Sigurd is only the third player to return home to Norway with a coveted gold bracelet, but this is not the first time Sigurd’s card skills have made an impact on the international stage. Before beginning his poker career, Sigurd was one of the world’s top-ranked Wizards, playing in Magic: The Gathering pro tours across the globe.

Congratulations on winning your first gold bracelet, Sigurd! 

Follow the Live the Dream Team, Team Everest, and all the Everest Poker qualifiers throughout the world’s biggest poker event. Don’t miss any of our live coverage and online freerolls, we’re coming to you Live from Vegas!