BY TOM SOMACH

Was the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) a success?

Like anything else, it depends upon whom you ask.

For European poker, it certainly was.

European poker players won all three events at the just-completed WSOPE in London, England.

The first WSOPE event, a H.O.R.S.E. tournament, was won by Tom “Pokermeister” Bihl of Germany.

The second WSOPE event, an Omaha tournament, was won by Dario “Poker Mafioso” Alioto of Italy.

The third WSOPE event, a Texas hold ‘em tournament that was the Main Event, was won by Annette Obrestad of Norway.

Despite the U.S. being shut out, the head of the WSOPE, WSOP Commissioner Jeffrey Pollack, an American, was happy with how the first-ever WSOPE turned out.

After it ended, he told reporters: “In the end, the Europeans dominated here. But this is the start of a new tradition for the World Series of Poker and the European and global poker communities. WSOP Europe will provide more exciting action in the years to come and we’re confident poker greats from all over the world, and across the generations, will shine here, just as they have in Las Vegas.”

The WSOPE was an embarrassment for American poker, however.

Despite the fact that most of the previous WSOP tournaments held in Las Vegas were won by Americans, players from the U.S. got skunked at the WSOPE, going 0-for-3, and letting the world see for the first time that some pretty good poker was being played across the pond.

And wasn’t that the original idea behind having a WSOPE in the first place?

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