Europeans dominated the inaugural World Series of Poker Europe, held last year, when Annette Obrestad made history by becoming the youngest winner of a World Series bracelet and the first woman to win a Main Event title, writes Rob Eddy.

John Tabatabai was second, ahead of Matt McCullough, Oyvind Riisem, Johannes Korsar and Dominic Kay, while Germany's Thomas 'Buzzer' Bihl won the H.O.R.S.E. event and Italian Dario Alioto took down the Pot Limit Omaha tournament.

This year's WSOPE runs from September 19 to October 1 but there is the small matter of the annual Las Vegas WSOP to get through first - and the Europeans are just beginning to make their mark on the other side of the pond.

Holland's Jens Voertmann became the first Dutchman to win a WSOP bracelet with victory in the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. tournament, event 22, to land the first victory for the Europeans.

Voertmann outlasted the likes of Todd Brunson, Jennifer Harman and compatriot Marcel Luske to take the title and top prize of $298,253.

And his success was quickly followed up by Italian Max Pescatori, who collected $246,509 for winning event 24, the $2,500 buy-in Half-Pot-Limit Omaha / Half-Pot-Limit Hold'em - his second WSOP title.

Russian pro Vitaly Lunkin earned his first bracelet with victory in event 27, the $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em tournament, before another Dutchman, Rob Hollink, won his first bracelet (after 18 previous WSOP cashes) after taking down event 30, the $10,000 Limit Hold'em World Championship.

There has still been more success with Italian Dario Minieri dominating event 31, $2,500 NLHE Six-Handed, pretty much from the off before securing his piece of gold and $528,418 to boot.

Stateside, there is still plenty of jewellery to play for - including the big one. But the Europeans are starting to get in to gear and maybe this year we could be celebrating a twin WSOP Main Event success.