Seat 1: Kevin Vandersmissen, 22, Sint Pieters-Leeuw, near Brussels, Belgium – 4,512,000
Former construction worker Vandersmissen has been playing poker for 2.5 years, the last year as a full-time pro. He specializes in online NLHE cash games but is also keen to learn Pot Limit Omaha so he can play more events during this summer’s World Series. His aim is to win a WSOP bracelet. His best result to date was €150,000 in a €3k tourney in Barcelona last December and since turning pro, he has won over $440,000. Vandersmissen is good friends with Belgian Team PokerStars Pros Matthias and Christophe De Meulder along with the other two Belgian finalists. He aims to be the first Belgian poker player to win an EPT but doesn’t know what he’d do with the prize money; he says he already has everything he wants! “The money is just a bankroll boost” he said.