ESPEN UHLEN Jørstad: from geek on wow to star of storms poker

Meeting with a sponsored poker player and stream star, after being big geek on World of Warcraft and badly in his skin.

During the Unibet Uk Poker Tour that I was playing in Brighton a few months ago, I got to know a character, almost too nice to be honest.

I had never met him, and I just knew him of a Unibet press release which announced him as a new ambassador of the room.

He instantly made me feel comfortable at the table.He told me about life and asked me a lot of questions.I ended up losing my concentration and playing anyhow, because I was more interested in what he told me.

So I really wanted to know if he was really polite or if it was a tactic to see if I knew what I was doing.

And here is how I got to know the Norwegian Espen Uhlen Jørstad, his philosophy and his incredible story better.

You are really a nice person.Is it just something that is part of your role as an ambassador for Unibet?

No way !(laughs) I was already like that before my contract.I always liked to animate the table a bit.

Why are there no more players trying to do the same to give themselves an advantage?

Poker is rather on the decline, and if everyone is sitting with their headphones, hoods and glasses, this decline is not ready to stop, because it removes the full dimension of poker poker.

I have the impression that many professional players are approaching poker as if it were a job like any other.For me, it is missing out on everything that makes the poker exceptional.

I found you rather stylish and elegant, but I read on your blog that you were a "big bacon" obsessed with World of Warcraft.How did you transform yourself?

When I was a child, I think video games were a way to escape reality.I was 14 years old, I was overweight, the girls were not interested in me, I had trouble socializing...In short, I was not one of the most popular kids.And at that time, being accepted by "cool" kids was the most important.

Now I understood that many people are looking for an escape when things are complicated in life.At least, my escape was 15 -hour sessions in World of Warcraft, and not drugs or alcohol.

I may seem to have confidence in myself today, but basically, I am still this big and anxious kid.I work there every day!

As much you seem very open and confident around the poker tables, it is not really the case outside.Why that ?

When I was a kid, the only times when I trusted me when we were doing lan, because it was my only talent.When I was there, I felt respected.Outside, I had absolutely no self -confidence.

I think it's a bit the same in poker today, even if I know that I also have value outside the poker.

How did a "big anxious kid" obsessed with World of Warcraft managed to become the Unibet ambassador full of presence that I have in front of me today?

It was not easy.Everything changed when I entered the army at 18.I had to learn to manage to be surrounded by many people and to interact with strangers.

I also lost a lot of weight (18 kg), which gave me a little confidence.I think that the structure and discipline of the army have brought me a lot.

Why did you get into the army?

Completely by chance.I didn't do much.I had stopped school, I spent my time playing World of Warcraft and hanging out.

They called me to ask me if I was interested in joining the army.I felt it could be beneficial for me, so I said yes.

Who called you?

An army guy, as part of a communication operation.The Norwegian Air Force was missing soldiers, so they contacted young people by phone to try to convince them.

At the beginning, I found that it was not very professional as a way of doing.Like "Hey, do you want to spend 1 year in the army?It's in 10 days!»»

I thought it was an internet guy who was trying to make me a joke, and my friends told me not to even think about it, but in fact it was a real offer.Most guys with me were already 21 or 22 years old, because we were working on fairly complex computer tools, for air missiles.

There were a few 18 -year -olds with me, so obviously we were nicknamed "the kids".

You haven't been afraid...to die ?

It was just a year.They were not going to send me to Afghanistan.At the limit, I could just have died of cold.

What did you do when you get back?

I have become a glendent again.I moved to a larger city.I started playing poker more, but I didn't take it very seriously.I didn't know what I wanted.

I had no framework.I was young, immature, all that interested me was to be able to do what I wanted.I had no ambition, no goal.

I spent a lot of time in the gym, in UV cabins, taking care of my hair...In short, to worry me about my appearance and what others thought.I was trying to become someone else.

I always played a lot of video games, and I was going out a lot.Things did not come very well for me.

You also worked in a brewery, right?

Yes, after Black Friday.I did not give up poker.I was still playing, but much less regularly.Just from time to time to earn a little pocket money.I was a bit tired of poker.

From a player who read all the books, watched all the strategies videos, regularly followed all the WSOP, I had become someone who was just a few Heads-ups in NLHE to win a little.I no longer felt any pleasure in playing.

So I resumed my studies.My family gave me a little pressure.They were not particularly convinced by my pace of life based on poker, evenings and total lack of ambition.But the last time I had been to school, I had horrible notes and I always had the lessons.

World of Warcraft is a real drug, so I hold Blizzard responsible for the courses I have dried.

I was so immersed in there that my education suffered from it.It was not a good thing.So this time, I decided to do things well.And when I put something in mind, I do it.I attended all the courses, and my notes have skyrocketed.

I realized that scientific materials such as mathematics, chemistry and microbiology pleased me.I decided to extend my 5-year studies to do a brewing master's degree, that is to say a master's degree in food sciences specializing in the brewing of beer.

It was during my license that I passionate about beer.I realized that in addition to like to drink it, I was fascinated by chemistry, microbiology and all the scientific mechanisms that came into play.There are so many things that come into play to produce a super pint of beer.

After my master's degree, I found a job in a Norwegian brewery.I learned a lot there, but the idea of working for someone did not bother me.I wanted and need to create something to me.

I worked there for a year before resigning.I reserved plane tickets for Budapest with my girlfriend from the time.I wanted to create my independent brewery.I also had a partner, our idea was to play poker to finance our project.

And then several things have been chained.First, poker went very well and I started to find passion.Then Unibet offered me a contract that I could not refuse.We ended up putting the brewery project on pause.

I left Budapest to settle in Malta and focus on poker, Twitch and my role with Unibet.It was in February 2017.

I know your father had problems with alcohol and that he died quite young.Difficult to imagine you work in a brewery.

Yes, my father was 42 years old when he died.He had a lot of problems with alcohol and drugs, it was difficult to have a "normal" relationship with him.

He spent the majority of my childhood in prison, so I did not spend a lot of time with him.I would say that we didn't really have a link until my adolescence.

He was very intelligent and always very kind to me.Unfortunately, his addictions ended up taking over and his health declined.

I thought a lot about him when I started working in a brewery.These kinds of family history should be discouraged from working in there.

But for me, micro-breweries and independent beers, it is not a story of drinking liters and getting shabby.It is a real culture, meetings and experiences.We explore new flavors, new aromas, sensations.It's not about buying a Heineken pack for the evening.

Does your experience with your father make you think about your relationship with your future children?

To be honest, I'm not sure I want to have children.I think about it a lot because I am 29 years old and people my age are either parents, or think about it, or get married etc.

I just broke up because I didn't want it.In any case not now, and maybe ever.Maybe people will find it sad or weird, but it's just not for me for the moment.

I can't find it weird.The company turned your back on you when you were a child, it's quite logical that you do not want to comply with its expectations.

Yes thats exactly it.I don't want to be like everyone.I have always been a bit on the sidelines, and I want to stay there.Maybe I have an anti-conformist side.

Coming back to your visit to Budapest.You said you had progressed in poker.How come ?

I didn't do anything different, if not play anymore.I had the same Win Rate when I worked next to it, except that I played little.

I started streaming on Twitch after spending a lot of time watching: Dota, Hearthstone, Poker...I followed a lot of Tonkaaaap for example.It looked nice, so I got started.

At first I was very nervous.I was afraid that no one hangs.But ultimately people came fairly quickly.

I remember that the number of spectators increased every week.During the first month, I played more than ever before, because streaming had me a lot.

It gave me the motivation to get back to the grind and start studying again, because I didn't want to ridicule myself.

For someone who has suffered a lot from children's social anxiety, it seems incredible to have fun streaming on Twitch.Do you sometimes feel like someone else?

Yes every day.Before Twitch, I avoided social networks.From Twitch, I have made vlog for Unibet.

You imagine although I am not comfortable with a selfie stick.I don't even have to be taken in pictures.But too bad, I started.I see it as an opportunity to move forward, not as an obstacle.

Being super confident and comfortable in this kind of situation would be a dream.That would be great.It requires a lot of work, especially when you go from a distance like me.

But I work there and I think I will get there.

In what we see, what proportion represents Espen Uhlen JORSTAD Man and Espen Uhlen JORSTAD the brand?

This is a difficult question.My "brand", I will discover it over time.With Twitch and Vlog...I have to think about it.Today, I focus on nutrition, sport, yoga, meditation and all that.

I am convinced that what you do outside the poker is essential.Today, everyone masters the basics of poker, so you have to try to take the advantage elsewhere.

If meditation can help be in a better state of mind, then it is essential.It is in this direction that I want to take my "brand".

Espen Uhlen's Twitch channel: https: // www.Twitch.TV/Uhlenpoker