Koen Roos Honored with The Hendon Mob Award for Epic Poker World Record

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Stories
Beus Zsoldos
My journey in the world of poker (and later casino, sportsbetting) started more than 20 years ago, when I first attended a low-stakes live tournament. I’ve never looked back since, and have been active in several fields, including being a poker player, a live tournament director, writing online and offline articles about poker, and managing the localization of one of the world's largest online poker rooms. Poker is my home ground, I could never imagine doing a job that is not a part of it. I hope someday I’ll have more time to play live; that's something I've missed in the past few years. A game where luck meets skill - what would be more interesting?
Koen Roos - The Hendon Mob Award 2025
Koen Roos won The Hendon Mob Award – 50 cashes in 50 different countries in 5 different continents

Have you ever dreamed of traveling the world, playing your favorite game, and getting paid for it? That is exactly what Dutch poker pro Koen Roos did in 2025. His incredible journey recently reached a new peak when he officially received The Hendon Mob Award for setting a mind-blowing world record in “flaghunting.”

While most players chase the biggest prize pools, Roos focused on a different kind of glory: cashing in as many different countries as possible. By the end of his run, he didn’t just break the previous record – he absolutely shattered it.

What is The Hendon Mob Award for Flaghunting?

For those new to the term, “flaghunting” refers to the small national flags that appear next to a player’s name on The Hendon Mob (THM) database every time they cash in a new country. The Hendon Mob Award was presented to Roos during “The Festival” in Bratislava at Banco Casino to recognize his legendary 2025 season.

Roos managed to secure 50 cashes in 50 unique countries across five different continents. Even more impressive? He did all of this in just 11 months! He officially claimed his 50th flag on November 13, 2025, in Serbia, surpassing the previous record of 48 flags held by Canadian pro Dominic French.

A Closer Look at the Record-Breaking Stats

Roos didn’t just show up to these events; he dominated. Throughout his journey to earn this extraordinary achievement, he maintained a staggering consistency that most pros would envy.

Category2025 Achievement Stats
Total Cashes52
Unique Countries (Flags)50
Final Tables38
Tournament Wins10
Total EarningsOver $111,000

The Journey to 50 Flags

The road to The Hendon Mob Award took Roos everywhere from the glitz of Monaco to the poker rooms of Vietnam and South Korea. His final record-setting cash came from a third-place finish in a No-Limit Hold’em tournament in Belgrade, Serbia.

While the Global Poker Awards in Las Vegas were canceled for the year, the GPI and THM teams made sure Roos got the spotlight he deserved. Receiving the award in person at the Banco Casino was a fitting tribute to a year spent living out of a suitcase and grinding at the tables.

Whether you are a casual player or a high-stakes grinder, Koen Roos’ story is a reminder that there are many ways to win in the poker world. Sometimes, the most valuable things you can collect are the experiences (and flags) found along the way. Hone your skills in one of the sites we reviewed for you , and start your own poker journey!

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