Constant Rijkenberg

Constant Rijkenberg was born in the Netherlands and grew up in Amsterdam. As a 20-year-old economics student, he was already making waves in the poker world, balancing his academic pursuits with a growing passion for the game. His early poker career was largely shaped by online play, where he developed the fundamental skills and disciplined approach that would later serve him well on the live tournament circuit. While detailed records of his online results are scarce, his transition to live events proved seamless, and he quickly established himself as a formidable competitor.

Rijkenberg's defining moment came in April 2009 at the PokerStars.com European Poker Tour (EPT) San Remo event in Italy. The tournament, a €5,300 buy-in Main Event, attracted a massive field of 1,178 players from 47 countries, with Italians making up roughly a third of the field. The event was the penultimate stop of EPT Season 6 and featured some of the best players in the world, including three former world champions and numerous top professionals. Rijkenberg, then just 20 years old, navigated through the five-day competition with remarkable poise, ultimately defeating Finnish PokerStars qualifier Kalle Niemi in a heads-up battle that lasted six hours. The final hand saw Niemi move all-in with ace-ten on a ten-high board, and Rijkenberg called instantly with pocket aces, securing the pot and the title. For his victory, Rijkenberg earned €1,508,000 (approximately $1,974,934 at the time), which was the largest prize ever awarded in a major poker tournament held in Europe up to that point. He also received a seat at the €10,000 EPT Grand Final in Monte Carlo the following week. Reflecting on his achievement, Rijkenberg said, "It's the biggest dream you can have apart from the WSOP main event - and I'm too young to play that right now." The tournament also saw notable performances from other players, including Danilo D'Ettoris, the only Italian at the final table, who finished eighth for €114,000, and PokerStars ShootingStar Benjamin Kang, who placed 29th for €21,700. A record 237 players had won their seats online via PokerStars.

Despite his on-table success, Rijkenberg became embroiled in a notorious controversy that tarnished his reputation. During the 2009 EPT San Remo, he had sold shares of his action to multiple investors, but he oversold his percentage significantly. Reports indicate that he sold between 130% and 160% of himself, meaning he had committed to giving away more of his winnings than he actually owned. In one instance, he agreed to give 30% each to four different investors, totaling 120% of his action. When he won the tournament, he owed hundreds of thousands of dollars to backers who had paid for pieces that exceeded his actual stake. This over-selling scandal was widely condemned in the poker community, with some outlets labeling him "Poker's Dumbest Criminal." The incident highlighted the risks inherent in backing and buying pieces of a player's action, and it served as a cautionary tale for both players and investors. Rijkenberg's failure to honor his obligations damaged his credibility and cast a long shadow over his career.

Following his EPT triumph, Rijkenberg continued to play live tournaments, though he never again reached the same heights. According to available records, he has a total of nine recorded live cashes, with his latest cash coming on September 24, 2015, for a modest $188. His total live earnings stand at $2,026,746, placing him 21st on the Netherlands All Time Money List and 1,382nd globally. The vast majority of his career earnings—over 97%—come from his EPT San Remo victory, underscoring the singular impact of that score. Beyond the EPT, he has cashed in a few other events, but details of these are sparse. His post-2009 results were limited, and he gradually faded from the live tournament scene.

Constant Rijkenberg's legacy is a complex one. On one hand, his EPT San Remo victory was a historic achievement for Dutch poker, inspiring a generation of players from the Netherlands. He demonstrated that a young, relatively unknown player could compete with and defeat the world's best on the biggest stage. On the other hand, his over-selling scandal serves as a stark reminder of the ethical pitfalls that can accompany poker's financial arrangements. His story is often cited in discussions about staking and backing, illustrating the importance of transparency and integrity in such deals. Despite the controversy, his name remains etched in poker history as the winner of one of the largest European tournaments of its time, and his cautionary tale continues to be referenced in the poker community.