I joined the Somuchpoker team in January 2025 as Head of Live Poker. With a strong background in client relations, I bring a fresh perspective and a customer-focused approach to everything we do. For me, delivering an outstanding customer experience is the top priority. It’s not just about running smooth and professional live poker events – it’s about making sure every player, partner, and guest feels truly valued and appreciated.My goal is to elevate Somuchpoker’s live events to a new level, combining operational excellence with a human touch that sets us apart in the global poker scene.

Updated: 2025.11.29

Tom Verbruggen is a Dutch professional poker player and “Life of Poker” ambassador who has established himself as one of the most dominant forces in the Asian tournament circuit, specializing in High Rollers and large-field side events.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

With over $813,000 in total live earnings, Verbruggen is steadily climbing the Netherlands All Time Money List according to The Hendon Mob. He is currently in the midst of a spectacular career run (2024–2025), collecting trophies across Taiwan, Malaysia, and South Korea.

His most notable recent victories include winning the Poker Dream 18 Malaysia Single Day High Roller in August 2025 for ~$34,000, and taking down a High Roller at the Jeju Poker Festival 2025 earlier in the year for $55,380. He also finished as the runner-up in the Players Series Taiwan Superstar Challenge (August 2025) for a massive ~$52,800 score.

His breakout performance in the region came at the APT Taipei Poker Classic in 2024, where he won the Mini Main Event for TWD 2,710,930 (~$84,300) and a Mystery Bounty title in the same series. His career-best live cash stands at $103,676.

Biography & Poker Background

Originally from Overloon, Netherlands, Verbruggen has made Asia his second home and primary hunting ground. He is widely recognized in the Asian community as a “High Roller regular” and represents the media brand Life of Poker as an ambassador.

Despite his success in Asia, he remains active globally, regularly competing in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas and major European festivals like the Master Classics of Poker (MCOP) in Amsterdam.

Play Style & Strategy

Verbruggen is known for his high-volume, aggressive approach, particularly in High Roller fields where he excels at navigating elite competition. His ability to close out tournaments is evidenced by his remarkable “win rate” – securing at least five major titles within a single 12-month period (2024–2025). He is a versatile player who transitions seamlessly between massive fields (like the Mini Main) and short-handed High Roller tables.

Interview With Tom Verbruggen

(RDPT Jeju 2025, May 8, 2025)

How was your run here in the main event?

My run today is all right, I would say today I only fired one bullet. I think my highest chip count was 200K this was around break, so after level 9, then unfortunately from there I went slowly or surely downhill, so I only bagged 93K which will be 15BB. Tomorrow could be better but at least I’m in Day 2, and as one of my coaches says “you can’t win the main event in day one, so let’s go for day 2”.

You had a pretty good run here in Asia, can you tell me which one is your most memorable win?

I would say the most memorable were actually last year towards the end of last year was really good. I had good run at APT where I won two events in one series. Then I got second in a High Roller in Vietnam at USOP, and then I went to the inaugural player series in Taipei and I won the super High Roller there. It hasn’t been really good this year, a little bit less.

You’ve had so much success with plenty of final tables here in jeju – including the back to back to back super high roller and both superstar challenge final tables at the Poker Dream 16 we had the pleasure to report about – what is it about Jeju that brings the best out of you?

It’s nice to come here in Jeju because there are many Chinese people here and I used to live in China for over seven years, so for me it’s actually a great opportunity as well to keep my Mandarin on point. I think it’s a very beautiful casino here, very luxurious so it’s a nice place to be.

USOP high roller 2nd place in december for your biggest $103K cash to date and finally a win a week later at the PST Super high roller. Did you work on your heads up game to clinch the title more often, if the opportunity presents itself next time?

Yes, I have been working on my heads up play but maybe not yet as much as I should. This summer I’m gonna go to Vegas for WSOP for the first time. I think it’s definitely good this upcoming weeks which i will be studying to put some extra attention to the heads up play, because this is actually where the most money is going to be made.

You’ve been on the Asian poker scene since 2019, what do you like about it compared to Europe or other places in the world and where in Asia do you like to play the most?

Actually, I played one event in 2019, this was the APT in Vietnam and actually since last year I started to grind full time in the Asian circuit. I was living in China, so this was always convenient and closeby and yeah I think it’s much easier to travel here in Asia. My friends are here as well, we travel together so this is one of the main reasons for me. It’s often a nice weather here compared to Europe.

Do you have a mentor or coach? if yes how does it help you improve your game?

I mean, they’ve been extremely important for me from the start, because I only started grinding since last year. I would say they helped me a lot with confidence and with all the important things that I need to know, when going to the different tours. I would say without my coaches, I wouldn’t be where I am today for sure.