World Poker Tour

Andreas Walnum

Birthplace
Bodo, Norway

Birthday
March 15

Total Winnings
$1,151,715

It's hard to say what it is about green felt, but some people simply feel more comfortable in front of it. Andreas Walnum is one of those people. From the time he was eleven years told until he turned 18, Walnum spent most of his time bellied up to a stretch of green felt. However, instead of pushing chips around and squeezing his cards, he was running the table in game after game of pool. The young Norwegian discovered he had a knack for the game and won multiple medals in the European pool championships. Soon, though, his gambler's instinct took over and he went in search of the green baize of a poker table.

At home in his native Norway, he had no casinos in which to hone his new poker skills. Though he found a couple of poker clubs, he eventually found he could practice a lot more online. Over time, he became a powerhouse and would win and lose $100,000 at a time. The son of a nurse and a video store owner soon found himself earning more money than his parents and seeking out some of the bigger tournaments in the world.

While his early attempts at making it big on a world stage didn't turn out the way he wanted, Walnum finally hit his stride at the World Poker Tour's Festa al Lago event in Season V.