Swedish poker player Erik Hellman had moderate success in the 2012 World Series of Poker leading up to his journey through the Main Event, with two cashes totaling $19,000. Going into Day 6 of the 2012 WSOP Main Event, he was in fourth place with 4,715,000 in chips, putting him first among European players left in the event. Although he was relatively unknown prior to the 2012 WSOP Main Event, he was in position to be the first poker player from Sweden to make the Main Event final table since Erik Friberg finished in eighth place in 2006. However, he finished in 28th place for $236,000.

Early in the Main Event, Hellman battled with American poker pro Brad Booth in a number of hands. The most notable hand between the two saw Hellman attempt to squeeze three other players out of a pot by 3betting from the big blind with J-8 of hearts during Level 10.

Booth called Hellman’s half-pot bet on a flop of 10-9-3 and the two went heads-up. The turn did nothing to improve Hellman’s hand, as the six of spades appeared, and he checked to Booth, who check backed. The seven of spades on the river gave Hellman the nut straight and he fired out a healthy bet of 13,400. When Booth called, Hellman’s stack grew to 285,000.

On Day 4, Hellman battled with Canadian Mark Demirdjian to bolster his chip count even more. On a board of 5-K-7-10-8, Hellman hit a set with 8-8 and took down a healthy pot. Demirijan bet 100,000 on the river and called Hellman’s raise to 235,000, giving him 1.8 million in chips with the blinds at a scant 5,000/10,000.

Viktor Islidur1Blom is perhaps the best-known Swedish poker player, but with a strong showing in the 2012 WSOP Main Event, Hellman could entrench his name in the Swedish poker world. Currently residing in London, Blom is a Team PokerStars Pro. He drew considerable attention by playing anonymously at the highest stakes available in 2009, taking part in some of the largest pots in online poker history.