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If you played in the opening event of the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP), you may have seen a three-foot-seven player, probably flashing a thumbs up or sporting a contagious grin, raking in pots, pulling bounties, and stopping for photos with poker legends.
The Netherlands’ Robert van Twillert, who goes by “The Little Dutch Guy” on social media, was a breakout star of the first week of the WSOP, thanks in part to his prolific posting on the WSOP LIVE app. But his journey to Las Vegas began nearly a year ago as he beat out tens of thousands of poker players to win a World Series package.
PokerNews caught up with van Twillert to talk about his first trip outside of Europe, one that included two WSOP cashes, an encounter with 17-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, and a fist-bump from poker main character Martin Kabrhel.
“You Have to Pick Me”
Van Twillert, who has dwarfism, began playing poker in 2008, at the tail-end of the Poker Boom when poker was at its most popular.
“I thought I was quite a good player,” van Twillert said in an interview. “I knew that I had to improve myself to come ahead of the crowd. So I started reading books, Super System by Doyle Brunson and ancient books … And then you try to incorporate that into your game, and eventually you create your own game.”
Van Twillert’s studying paid of in recent years, including with him winning two separate satellite packages to WSOP Europe in Rozvadov. And last year, he decided to try his satellite luck with ONK Poker in his home country.
After succeeding in a series of preliminary rounds that drew over 40,000 entries, van Twillert played in the ONK Poker Final with a trip to the 2026 WSOP on the line. He won the final and was selected to be on a team of players that would be sent to Las Vegas.
“They pick a team, and of course, you have to pick me!” he said. “I had to wait almost a year to get here, but now I’m finally here.”
“I Leave a Positive Impression Behind”
Van Twillert made an immediate impression at the World Series, becoming a star on the WSOP LIVE app and winning multiple daily giveaways awarded for the best-performing posts.
He even got to meet a few poker stars. “I just met Phil Hellmuth, so that was quite nice. Kabrhel was sitting behind me and he gave me a fist-bump. It’s nice to meet all the big names and be part of it. They recognize a star,” he joked.
He is probably a little quieter at the table than Kabrhel, PokerNews noted. “I can be loud,” he replied.
“It’s been great from everybody, shaking hands or taking a picture with me, high-fiving or wishing me good luck. And at the table I am also great fun. So I leave a positive impression behind.”
But van Twillert left Las Vegas with more than friends and photos. He bagged nearly a million chips in Event #1: $550 Mini Mystery Millions and finished in 307th place for $2,160. He later finished runner-up in a Daily Deepstack event for an even bigger score.
And while jet lag hurts the concentration of many poker players, van Twillert said the ten-hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean gave him an advantage over the field. “Because when everybody here is getting tired, I’m in my morning routine.”
Van Twillert, who had his WSOP journey documented in an ONK Poker vlog series, is now back home in the Netherlands with his family, but he says he’ll be back in future years now that he’s had a taste of the WSOP.
*Photos courtesy Robert van Twillert & ONK Poker via YouTube
Senior Editor U.S.