Steven van Zadelhoff

Steven van Zadelhoff was born on March 1, 1979, in Deil, Gelderland, Netherlands. He began playing poker online in 2006, adopting the screen name "SvZff" on PokerStars. Over the next decade, he established himself as one of the most successful online tournament players, accumulating over $7 million in cashes on PokerStars alone and total online earnings exceeding $11.5 million. In December 2017, he ascended to the number one spot on the PokerStake (formerly PocketFives) online poker rankings, holding the top position for a week.

Van Zadelhoff’s greatest career victory came in September 2017 when he won the WCOOP Main Event on PokerStars. The $5,200 buy-in tournament drew 2,183 entries (including re-entries), generating a $10,915,000 prize pool. Van Zadelhoff navigated a tough final table that included Joshua Herman, Bernardo Rocha, and Michael Addamo, ultimately claiming the first prize of $1,624,502. However, he had sold 84% of his action prior to the event, so his net profit was approximately $260,000.

In live tournaments, van Zadelhoff has earned over $2.5 million. His first notable live cash came at the 2007 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event in London, where he finished 11th for £40,000. Later that year, he placed 9th in the WPT Barcelona Main Event for €70,000. In 2009, he won the Spanish Poker Tour Main Event on Gran Canaria for €100,000. At the 2010 EPT Tallinn Main Event, he finished 6th for €63,000. He also won the Dom Classics in Utrecht in 2012 for €75,000.

At the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, van Zadelhoff has multiple cashes. In 2017 he cashed in the WSOP Main Event (491st, ~$25,000). At the 2019 WSOP, he placed 11th in the Millionaire Maker event for nearly $100,000. Later that year, he finished 5th in the EPT Barcelona Main Event for €210,000, and runner-up in the Battle of Malta Main Event for €220,000 after a heads-up deal. His consistent live results place him 14th on the Netherlands All-Time Money List and 958th globally.

Van Zadelhoff is known for his disciplined, patient style and emphasis on game theory and mental preparation. In a 2020 interview with PokerNews, he outlined five pillars for success: a learning mindset, proper nutrition, and continuous self-improvement. He stresses the importance of making mistakes and learning from them to foster growth. He advocates for a diet rich in unprocessed foods—meat, vegetables, eggs, and fish—with healthy fats like olive oil, claiming that optimal nutrition is crucial for brain function and avoiding fatigue, stress, and anxiety. He also maintains a strong work ethic, regularly studying the game and reviewing his own play. Van Zadelhoff currently resides in Malta and continues to compete in both online and live events, sharing his journey on social media under the nickname "Poker Viking."

Van Zadelhoff splits his time between Malta and Las Vegas, often spending several months in Vegas during the World Series of Poker. He was inducted into the Dutch Poker Hall of Fame in 2017. He is active on Twitter as @svzff and occasionally posts on YouTube and Instagram, offering insights into his poker strategies and lifestyle.

Van Zadelhoff has been active on multiple platforms, sharing his poker journey under the nickname "Poker Viking." He uses Instagram and YouTube to provide insights into his strategies and lifestyle, aiming to educate and inspire the poker community. His online presence complements his live and online tournament successes, making him a recognizable figure in the poker world.

In a 2020 interview with PokerNews, van Zadelhoff detailed five pillars for success: a learning mindset, proper nutrition, continuous self-improvement, discipline, and mental preparation. He emphasizes the importance of making mistakes and learning from them, as well as maintaining a diet rich in unprocessed foods to optimize brain function. He also stresses the value of a strong work ethic, regularly studying the game and reviewing his own play to identify areas for growth.