Kai Cocklin is a poker journalist and live reporting manager who has worked with PokerNews at major festivals including the World Series of Poker and the European Poker Tour. He has managed multiple live reporting teams at the World Series of Poker and trained individual reporters to develop their skills. He now oversees Somuchpoker’s editorial and live coverage, ensuring consistent quality and engaging content across the Asian poker scene.

Updated: 2026.03.10

Koen Roos is a Dutch professional poker player and a celebrated “Flaghunter,” widely recognized for setting the world record for the most poker tournament cashes in different countries within a single calendar year. Hailing from Utrecht, Roos has transformed his passion for the game into a global odyssey, earning prestigious accolades from the Global Poker Index (GPI) and The Hendon Mob for his relentless consistency and travel-heavy approach to the modern live circuit.

Career Earnings & Biggest Results

With total live tournament earnings approaching $200,000 (according to The Hendon Mob), Roos has become one of the most prolific grinders in the industry. His career is defined by volume and diversity rather than a single massive score; however, his career-best live cash of $21,033 came from a victory in a €550 No Limit Hold’em event at the 2025 European Poker Tour (EPT) Monte Carlo. In 2025 alone, he secured 52 cashes totaling over $111,000, featuring 38 final tables and 10 outright wins. His historic “Flaghunting” run saw him cash in 50 unique countries across five continents in just 11 months, officially breaking the previous world record. These consistent results across both mid-stakes and local festivals contribute to an estimated poker net worth that continues to climb as he dominates the international circuit.

Koen Roos Poker — Koan Roos – Credit: TMT

Biography & Poker Background

Originally from Utrecht, Netherlands, Roos’s journey into poker began in a local home game group where he played €5 tournaments until sunrise. This “unhealthy obsession” with gaming eventually transitioned into a professional pursuit of live tournament flags. In 2024, Roos set his sights on the world record for cashing in the most countries in a year, a goal that required him to navigate the logistical challenges of five different continents. By November 2025, he secured his 50th flag in Belgrade, Serbia, earning him The Hendon Mob Award and a Guinness World Record. Beyond his competitive nature, Roos is known for his enthusiasm for the community aspect of the game, often participating in regional tours like the WPT Prime, Unibet Deepstack Open, and various Asian poker festivals.

Play Style & Strategy

Koen Roos is often described as a “resilient and highly adaptable” tournament specialist. His strategy is built around maintaining an immense volume of play, allowing him to gain technical proficiency across a wide variety of field types and structures. He is particularly adept at navigating the “bubble” and final table dynamics, as evidenced by his staggering 38 final table appearances in a single year. While he utilizes a modern technical framework, his “Flaghunting” strategy also relies heavily on game selection and the ability to adjust to diverse regional play styles like from the aggressive fields of Southeast Asia to the more structured environments of European mid-stakes. Roos is also a skilled Open Face Chinese (OFC) player, recently winning the €250 OFC Pineapple event at the 2026 Festival Bratislava.

Recent Attendances