The Dutch poker grinder Robert van Twillert, who dreamed of being the WSOP trip winner, just made it a crazy reality. He literally outlasted a massive field of over 40,000 entries just for the chance to splash around in Las Vegas.

If you’ve been following the 2026 WSOP , you’ve definitely seen him. Known online as “The Little Dutch Guy”, he quickly became the most recognisable guy in the room during the opening week. Whether he was dragging huge pots, snapping selfies, or blowing up the WSOP LIVE app, he left a massive impression on the whole poker community.

But honestly, the craziest part of his story happened before he even touched down in Sin City. This WSOP trip winner had already pulled off the ultimate poker grind.

How the WSOP Trip Winner Shipped His Vegas Package

Van Twillert didn’t just buy his way into these massive fields. He earned his seat grinding ONK Poker back in the Netherlands. It was an absolute marathon where thousands of players battled for the ultimate poker dream.

The whole qualification process was insane, pulling in over 40,000 entries across a bunch of gruelling stages. After surviving the bloodbath of the preliminary rounds, van Twillert made it to the ONK Poker Final with a massive Las Vegas package on the line.

Proving he is an absolute beast on the felt, the WSOP Europe satellite winner shipped the whole thing. He locked up his spot on the team heading to the 2026 World Series of Poker.

Looking back on shipping the package, van Twillert summed it up perfectly:

“They pick a team, and of course, you have to pick me!”

Rubbing Elbows with Poker Royalty

For many satellite qualifiers, just walking into the Paris casino is enough of a thrill. But van Twillert completely embraced the crazy Vegas lifestyle.

His super positive vibe, constant banter with fans, and hype posts on the WSOP LIVE app made him the absolute breakout star of the first week. He wasn’t just there to play cards; he was there to put on a show.

The Dutch grinder even got to mix it up with some of the biggest end-bosses in the game. He crossed paths with 17-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth and even got a fist-bump from the wildest guy in poker, Czech high roller Martin Kabrhel .

While most rookies are terrified to speak at the tables, Robert van Twillert was cracking jokes and soaking up every single moment of his epic run.

The Poker Results Were Sick, Too

Don’t get it twisted, though – this trip wasn’t just about taking selfies. The WSOP trip winner came to play, and he found some serious success on the felt.

Event	Result	Prize
$550 WSOP Mystery Millions	307th Place	$2,160
Daily Deepstack Tournament	Runner-Up	Massive ROI Score

In the WSOP 2026 Mystery Millions , he was an absolute wrecking ball. He bagged up nearly a million chips and comfortably cruised into the money.

Later on, he jumped into a Daily Deepstack event and nearly shipped the whole thing, finishing second. Cashing twice during your first-ever trip to Vegas? That is the definition of an absolute heater.

Turning Jet Lag into a Massive Edge

You want to know the funniest part about his run? While most European players complain about jet lag destroying their focus, van Twillert used it to crush the Americans.

Since there was a massive time difference, he realised that right when the Vegas locals were getting exhausted late at night, his body felt like early morning. He was totally fresh while everyone else was falling asleep at the table!

Of course, this wasn’t just luck. His poker journey actually started way back in 2008, at the tail-end of the Poker Boom. He has spent years studying old-school strategy books, such as Doyle Brunson’s Super System, to build his edge.

More Than Just a Poker Vacation

By the time van Twillert packed his bags and headed back to the Netherlands, he had lived out every poker player’s ultimate fantasy.

He met legends, stacked chips, cashed in huge events, and proved that a dedicated recreational player can still spin up a satellite ticket into a massive Vegas story.

After beating 40,000 players just to get there, the WSOP trip winner delivered one of the best feel-good stories of the summer. And trust me, now that he’s tasted the WSOP action, he will definitely be back for more!