Martin De Knijff

Martin De Knijff was born on October 2, 1972, in Gothenburg, Sweden, to a Dutch father and a Swedish mother. His family moved to Falkenberg when he was five, and he relocated to Stockholm in 1992 before eventually settling in Las Vegas. He started playing poker at age 15, beginning with Five-Card Draw before developing a preference for Omaha and No-Limit Texas Hold'em. He considers Doyle Brunson's Super System the best poker book. Before becoming a professional player, he worked in banking, earning him the nickname "the Banker."

De Knijff first gained attention at the 2002 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, finishing 13th for $60,000. At the 2004 WSOP, he placed runner-up in a $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em event, earning $210,100. His career highlight came in 2004 when he won the World Poker Tour (WPT) Championship (Five-Star World Poker Classic), taking home a then-record $2,728,356. He also cashed in multiple WPT events, including an 11th-place finish in the 2008 WPT Doyle Brunson Classic ($72,060). In 2014, he was runner-up in a $50,000 eight-handed event at the Aria Super High Roller, earning $404,250.

As of his last recorded cash (2008), his live tournament earnings exceeded $3,370,000, while authoritative databases show total earnings of approximately $3,897,972.

De Knijff logged 32 WPT cashes, totaling $2,967,515. He won the WPT Championship in the 2003–2004 season, earning 1,000 points and $2,728,356. Other notable results include a 13th-place finish in the 2002–2003 WPT Bellagio event ($26,664) and an 11th-place finish in the 2008–2009 WPT Doyle Brunson Classic ($72,060).

De Knijff is known for his discipline, patience, and precise reading of opponents, rarely showing emotion. This earned him the nicknames "the Iceman" and "the Knife" among peers. His strategy leans toward tight-aggressive, with a focus on bet sizing and opponent range analysis. His stoic demeanor and professional attitude at the table are widely noted.

Aside from poker, De Knijff is an avid bridge player. In 2008, he finished second in the North American Bridge Championships Blue Ribbon Pairs. He also wrote for Card Player magazine and stirred debate in the poker community by advocating that tournament sponsors reveal their identities. His live tournament cash records end around 2010, with no public results after that.

From De Knijff’s career, poker enthusiasts can learn the value of patience and discipline. His ability to stick to strategy and avoid recklessness in major events demonstrates the importance of consistent performance over the long term. His transition from traditional banking to poker also shows how skills like risk management can be adapted to the table.