Dutch poker player Koen Roos made it his mission to hit as many global events as possible in 2025
Even without the usual awards ceremony in Las Vegas, poker players are still being recognized for major achievements in 2026. Organizations such as Global Poker Index and The Hendon Mob continue to hand out honors throughout the year. One of the latest recipients is Dutch poker player Koen Roos, who received special recognition for an unusual but impressive accomplishment.
Roos was awarded The Hendon Mob Award during Day 1c of The Hendon Mob Championship Event at The Festival Bratislava, held at Banco Casino Bratislava in Slovakia. The prize celebrates his successful attempt to set a “flaghunting” record during the 2025 poker season. His goal was simple but ambitious: cash in tournaments across more countries and continents than any player had done in a single year.
Roos reached the milestone in November 2025. The record-setting result came with a small but symbolic payday, a $447 prize for finishing third in a low-stakes No-Limit Hold’em event at Grand Casino Admiral Beograd in Serbia. That cash marked the 52nd country flag he collected that year.
Throughout 2025, Roos traveled across five continents chasing tournament results. His journey included stops in the United States, Poland, Georgia, Belgium, Morocco, Malaysia, and South Korea. By the end of the year, he had recorded 52 tournament cashes totaling just over $111,000, pushing his career earnings on The Hendon Mob database to around $200,000.
Recognition for players will continue even without the traditional Global Poker Awards ceremony. The Global Poker Index and The Hendon Mob launched the GPI x THM trophy races for the 2026 season, which include multiple yearly honors.
Awards will include Male Player of the Year, Female Player of the Year, and overall Poker Player of the Year. Recent winners include Punnat Punsri, who captured the 2025 Player of the Year title, and Kristen Foxen, who claimed the Female Player of the Year award.
Additional trophies such as Flag Hunter of the Year, Money List Winner, and Most Results will also be handed out during the season. Even without a large ceremony, players who make an impact on the felt are still receiving recognition.
