Swedish poker prodigy silently taking WSOP Main Event by storm

Niklas Astedt is not known for being a man of many words.

The soft-spoken Swede has quietly amassed a fortune exceeding $48 million in online cashes during his illustrious poker career. He’s not on social media – as far as anyone can tell – and it’s clear he’s more accustomed to the virtual felt rather than sitting under the hot lights of a featured televised table.

Yet, when asked about the significance of potentially winning the esteemed World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event, his response was bold and direct.

"It would just be f***ing awesome," he said with a huge smile.

Ladies and gentlemen...The 2024 @WSOP Final Table has been REACHED.

Coverage of the Final Table begins Tuesday at 3 P.M. PT on PokerGO.

We made it. ??

??: https://t.co/n60YEAMvlg pic.twitter.com/vSo9hPYuDy

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) July 15, 2024

Astedt secured his spot at the Main Event final table on Sunday night on the Strip at Horseshoe Las Vegas and is now one of just nine players remaining from a staggering 10,112 participants, marking the largest live poker tournament in history with the eventual winner taking home a cool $10 million. The final showdown begins on Tuesday.

Astedt, who will begin the final table with the third-largest stack (94.2 million), has an opportunity to add a Main Event title to what is already considered by many as one of the greatest professional poker résumés of all time.

At 33, Astedt has achieved what many can only dream of in the world of online poker, amassing mountains of cash across various platforms.

Playing under the moniker "Lena900," he has dominated online tournaments, holding the top spot on the PocketFives rankings for a record 97 weeks, according to his Wikipedia page, and earning the title of “Player of the Year” in both 2018 and 2019. His success in live events, though less frequent, is equally impressive, with over $1.2 million in live earnings and notable finishes at European Poker Tour events. The 2024 WSOP Main Event marks his third cash in the event, adding to his impressive tally of 60 WSOP cashes. But he has yet to win a WSOP bracelet.

Despite his online dominance, Astedt said he’s not making any changes to how he prepares or plays the game in a live format. His approach is one of confidence, rooted in years of honing his craft rather than last-minute adjustments.

“I don’t do anything different and I’m not trying to do anything different for a moment like this,” he told Casino City on Sunday during a break in the action. “This is all about my years and years of experience playing poker.”

Representing Sweden, a country with a modest 19 WSOP bracelets to its name, Astedt is keenly aware of the legacy he’s building.

“It’s cool. I’m happy to represent Sweden. I’m proud to be playing for my country,” he said.
And he said he draws inspiration from fellow Swede Martin Jacobson, who won the WSOP Main Event in 2014 and he knows well. “I was here when he won the Main Event. I was not on the radar yet but that was incredible. I’m hoping I can keep it going and do the same as Martin.”

Astedt’s reserved nature extends beyond the poker table. He’s notoriously private, and his secrecy has only added to his mystique. As the final table approaches, he remains focused on the game rather than the spotlight.

“I’ve got used to being here with so much attention. But to be honest, I prefer not to be under the spotlight or on the featured table, if I could choose,” he admitted.

Regardless of the outcome, Astedt’s plans remain unchanged. He’s not looking to increase his participation in live events, preferring to stick to the four or five he plays annually.

When asked what he would do if he wins the Main Event, Astedt’s response was characteristically understated. “I honestly don’t know. Maybe throw a big party,” he said with another wide smile.

For a man who has achieved so much, it’s a fittingly modest celebration.

* * *

Astedt is one of five international players at the WSOP Main Event final table this year, joining the chip leader Jason Sagle of Canada, as well as Boris Angelov (Bulgaria), Malo Latinois (France) and Andres Gonzalez (Spain).

Including when previously unknown Chris Moneymaker flipped the poker world upside down with his fairytale win at the 2003 Main Event, 13 of the last 23 winners have been from the U.S. However, last year’s Main Event triumph by Atlanta native Daniel Weinman snapped a four-year run by international players winning the title.

The 2024 #WSOP Main Event Final Table has been decided. Nine players remain in the hunt for the title, the bracelet, and the $10,000,000 top prize.

Play resumes Tuesday, July 16th at 1:30pm PT.

Boris Angelov ???? 52,900,000 - 33bb
Malo Latinois ???? 25,500,000 - 16bb
Brian Kim ????… pic.twitter.com/OsSVAYz1yB

— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) July 15, 2024

That was a shift from previous years when the WSOP Main Event was dominated by American players, with 92% of champions (35 out of 38) hailing from the U.S. before 2008. During the "November Nine Era" (2008-2016), when there was over two months of off time between when the final table was decided and ultimately played, we saw an international surge with four champions emerging from outside the U.S.: Peter Eastgate (Denmark) in 2008, Jonathan Duhamel (Canada) in 2010, Pius Heinz (Germany) in 2011, and Jacobson (Sweden) in 2014.

The Main Event age records are guaranteed to remain untouched. Johnny Moss holds the title of oldest champion, winning at 66 years old in 1974, while Joe Cada, who who triumphed at 21 in 2009, still holds the record for the youngest Main Event winner.

The 48-year-old Sagle, who is nicknamed “Big Bird” and is seeking his first WSOP bracelet, is the oldest player at the table. The youngest is Angelov, 27, who has over $900,000 in total live poker winnings, including 12 WSOP cashes.