For many poker players, it’s the ultimate fantasy: stepping away from the daily grind, circling the globe, and playing poker wherever the cards are dealt. In 2025, that dream became a full-blown reality for Dutch recreational player Koen Roos—and it may have earned him a place in the record books.
Roos achieved an astonishing 50 tournament cashes in 50 different countries within a single calendar year, topping The Hendon Mob’s Flag Hunter standings and eclipsing the previous benchmark of 48 set by Dominick French in 2024. Now, he’s hoping the feat will be officially recognized as a new world record.
From Cambodia to Ecuador and countless destinations in between, Roos’ journey naturally raises a few questions: how did this even happen, why take on such a challenge, and what is life really like when poker becomes your passport?
PokerNews caught up with Roos to uncover the story behind one of poker’s most unique accomplishments—and to find out whether a year of non-stop, card-fueled travel is as glamorous as it sounds.
From Home Games to a Global Obsession
Like many players, Roos’ poker story began casually. Friends noticed he was spending far too much time gaming online, and an intervention of sorts followed.
“I was at a friend’s place, gaming all the time, and his sister and brother-in-law said, ‘We need to get you from behind the screen,’” Roos recalls. “So we started playing poker for tiny stakes. It became a home game group, €5 tournaments that lasted until seven in the morning because we were having so much fun.”
Those kitchen-table sessions soon expanded into local café tournaments, where Roos realized his informal education had paid off. “We were playing €10 and €20 tournaments and thought, ‘We’re beating these guys pretty hard,’” he laughs.
A trip to Holland Casino sealed the deal. In his very first official event, Roos finished third, earning €3,300 after a three-way deal. “That was huge money—I was still in high school,” he says. The hook was set.
The Spark That Lit the Flag-Hunting Fire
For years, Roos enjoyed poker mostly within the Netherlands. The idea of flag hunting—earning tournament cashes in as many countries as possible—developed slowly, before crystallizing after a chance meeting with poker legend Casey Kastle.
“I met him by coincidence in Austria,” Roos says, referencing the Slovenian pro who became the first player to record 50 cashes in 50 different countries before his passing in 2024.
Inspired, Roos began targeting less common poker destinations. “I went for niche countries. I got Monaco and Norway in 2024, then planned a vacation to New Zealand. I thought, while I’m there, I should get Australia too.”
What started as a curiosity soon became a mission.
Going All In on the Record
An IT consultant by profession, Roos realized that 2025 offered a rare window of opportunity.
“In consultancy, January is often quiet if your project ends in December,” he explains. “My manager said, ‘You can just take January off.’ I’m single, no pets—so I thought, if I’m going to do it, it’s now.”
Planning the route was a puzzle in itself. “I made a priority list. Monaco and Norway only happen once a year, so they matter more than somewhere like the UK,” he says. Complicating matters, many smaller tournaments are announced only weeks in advance.
With January free, Roos decided to jump in headfirst. “I had to go all in early and see where it took me.”
That leap landed him in East Asia, where momentum built fast. Cashes in Japan, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and South Korea—plus wins in Vietnam and Taiwan—all came within a whirlwind 20-day stretch.
“When you cash, most people go to sleep,” he says. “I’m back in the hotel searching for flights, figuring out where I can go next.”
Life on the Road
The pace never really slowed. Costa Rica followed, then a steady stream of European flags. For much of the year, Roos balanced poker with remote work.
“My project only needed me in the office on Mondays,” he explains. “I’d fly out Monday or Tuesday evening, play nights and weekends, and work from the hotel room.”
Midway through the year, still on track for the record, he committed fully—taking a three-month sabbatical and heading to South America.
The grind, both mental and physical, was relentless.
“It’s exhausting,” Roos admits. “But I had a good run, which helps. Outside Europe, I only missed three countries. Once you’re committed, you don’t really have a choice. If there are two more days of tournaments, you’re playing.”
Some stops were especially tough. “Paraguay was brutal—five hours by taxi to get there, eight hours by bus to leave. I bubbled once and soft-bubbled twice. Getting the flag in the last event was such a relief.”
Memories, Milestones, and What Comes Next
Despite the challenges, Roos looks back on 2025 with a wide smile.
“Monaco and the Bahamas are huge, perfectly run events,” he says, “but Iceland had six tables and amazing vibes. People were just happy you were there.”
Sometimes, it wasn’t even about poker. “I love New Zealand,” he adds. Cashes there and in Australia fell within a 12-month span rather than a single calendar year, meaning his total could potentially reach 52 for Guinness World Records purposes.
He also relished crossing paths with fellow flag hunters. “I ran into Dominick French in Ecuador without even knowing he was playing there. That was cool.”
As for the future, Roos isn’t done—just more selective.
“My long-term goal is 100 total flags over the next ten years, mostly during vacations,” he says.
After a year like 2025, betting against him would be a risky move indeed.
