Of the twelve ring events so far this week at WSOPC Tallinn, few performances have stood out like that of Norway’s Drea Karlsen.
The multi-talented poker player, photographer, streamer, and author stormed to victory in the €350 Queens NLH, entering the final table as chip leader and knocking out six of her eight opponents on the way to the title.
Karlsen, who only briefly lost her chip lead on the final day, quickly regained control, turning in one of the most dominant performances of the week on her way to a maiden WSOP Circuit victory. The Norwegian claimed €6,480 for the win, a €5,000 Ticket to Paradise package to the Bahamas, and earned the honor of becoming Tallinn’s reigning female champion.
With OlyBet’s Queens of Tallinn festival just around the corner, we caught up with Karlsen to reflect on the victory, her plans to defend her crown later this month, and why women’s poker is enjoying a really fantastic moment.
A Ring and a Trip to Paradise
“It feels really good, really fun,” Karlsen beams, reflecting on her tournament win earlier this week. “It’s always good to win a tournament, but of course, a ring is something extra,” says the Norwegian, who also picked up a Queens title earlier this year at OlyBet’s Showdown series in Vilnius.
Karlsen topped a talented field on her way to victory at an entertaining final table, collecting €6,480 for first place. But she says the added bonus came from the WSOP Circuit’s €5,000 Ticket to Paradise, which includes a tournament buy-in and complimentary accommodation for December’s WSOP Paradise festival in the Bahamas.
The package, offered to all ring champions in Tallinn this week, will see players receive entry to the $2,500 WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty, which kicks off this year’s festival and leads into a $60 million Super Main Event — the biggest guarantee in live poker history.
“It’s a great bonus. I just need to book my flights and I’m ready,” Karlsen says. “With the Bahamas package on top, the win feels even bigger.”
Looking to Defend at Queens of Tallinn
Despite only just being crowned the winner of the Queens event at this week’s WSOP Circuit, Karlsen has confirmed she’ll be back at Olympic Park Casino later this month to defend her crown during the Queens of Tallinn festival, which runs August 21 to 24.
Now in its third year, the four-day series was the first of its kind when it launched, and remains one of Europe’s premier all-female poker festivals. Organizers OlyBet call it one of its flagship events, and for Karlsen, it clearly holds special appeal, too.
“I’m really looking forward to Queens of Tallinn,” she says. “In the tournament I won here, the level was really high, lots of really good women players.”
“It’s so fun to see women really evolving, getting better, playing more. More ladies are getting in, so I love it.”
When asked why she always finds time for Tallinn on her hectic schedule, Karlsen is quick to answer, “I really love Tallinn. It’s a great city, it’s a great hotel here, it’s a great place.”
“I love the vibe, love playing here, nice tournaments, nice schedules, good value. I’m always having fun.”
How to Watch the WSOPC Tallinn Main Event
Momentum Behind the Women’s Game
Queens of Tallinn 2025 could hardly be coming at a better time, with women’s poker riding the crest of a wave following a summer of incredible achievements by female players at the WSOP.
The most notable, of course, was Leo Margets making the WSOP Main Event final table, the first woman to do so in 30 years. Shiina Okamoto’s insane achievement of back-to-back Ladies Event titles and Esther Taylor reaching the final table of the Poker Players Championship also made it an unforgettable summer for women’s poker.
“Women’s poker is having a really fantastic moment,” says Karlsen. “We’re seeing stronger results from women, women are getting more skilled, and I feel like there’s more space for women in poker now than ever before.”
“It’s inspiring to see what Leo Margets and Shiina Okamoto did this summer, and all the other women who are playing really well and doing really well.”
Photos by Elena Kask
Content Executive
