BY TOM SOMACH

A teenage girl is the winner of the first-ever World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) Main Event.

Annette Obrestad, 18, of Sandnes, Norway, has shocked the poker world in more ways than one–not only is she the first female ever to win the Main Event of a WSOP or WSOPE, she is the first teenager ever to win a WSOP or WSOPE event of any kind.

In fact, the teen is the youngest person ever to win a WSOP or WSOPE event.

Her Main Event victory, which took place in the wee hours of Monday morning at the Empire Casino in London, England, was the culmination of the week-long third and final event of the inaugural WSOPE.

She won a final Main Event showdown against runnerup John Tabatabai when her trip sevens beat his two pair.

For her big win, Obrestad earns one million British pounds, equal to about $2 million U.S., and a coveted championship gold bracelet.

Coming in second in the WSOPE Main Event and earning 570,150 pounds or about $1.1 million was Tabatabai of London, England.

Finishing third and earning 381,910 pounds or about $765,000 was Matthew McCullough of Cherry Hill, N.J., USA.

Ending up fourth and earning 257,020 pounds or about $515,000 was Oyvind Riisem of Bergen, Norway.

Taking fifth and earning 191,860 pounds or about $385,000 was Johannes Korsar of Uppsala, Sweden.

Finishing in sixth place and earning 152,040 pounds or about $305,000 was Dominic Kay of London, England.

Coming in seventh and earning 114,030 pounds or about $230,000 was Magnus Persson of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Ending up in eighth place and earning 85,070 pounds or about $170,000 was Theo Jorgensen of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Finishing ninth and earning 61,540 pounds or about $125,000 was James Keys of Bury St. Edmunds, England.

The WSOPE Main Event, a no-limit Texas hold ‘em tournament with a buy-in of 10,000 pounds (about $20,000), had 362 entrants and a total prize pool of 3.62 million pounds (about $7.25 million).

The top 10 percent of the tournament field–36 players–finished in the money, with the No. 10 finisher earning 41,630 pounds (about $85,000)=A0 and the No. 36 finisher earning 27,150 pounds (about $55,000).

(E-mail Tom Somach at tomsomach@yahoo.com.)