Cottrell van Wingerden is based in Providence, Rhode Island, where he is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Political Science at Brown University. He is originally from London, United Kingdom, where he learned to play poker at local pub tournaments during a gap year as a Teaching Assistant at a primary school.

Cottrell joined the PokerNews live reporting team at the start of the 2022 WSOP and has continued to cover several tournaments throughout the year, studies permitting.

Outside of poker, Cottrell enjoys cheering on the Seattle Seahawks (or any Seattle team) and singing in an a Capella group on campus.