It happens sometimes.  Yes, every once in a while, the student becomes the teacher.

 

Constant Rijkenberg, a business school student from The Netherlands, just won EPT San Remo 2009.  It isn't every day that a 20-year old picks up a check for 1.5 million euros.

 

Far from favored to win this competition, The Butcher, as he is sometimes referred to, was written off as playing too loose, being too young, too quick to call any common All In thrown at him.  An overeactionary player who was set to explode at any moment.  In fact, of the players at the final table, it was American William Reynolds who was favored by many to take it all.  But he went out in third place.  But after only five hands with the much tighter, more careful Kalle Niemi, Rijkenberg was hoisting a trophy over his head and telling a reporter that he expected to win and was not in the slightest surprised.

 

And it's precisely this level of confidence that made him quite a polarizing figure at this tournament.  Players sometimes feared him, avoided him or were turned off by his brash cockiness.  But whether he was feared or admired, he was certainly a topic of conversation amongst players, fans and the poker media throughout the tournament.  

And sure he's a little cocky.  Sure he's a little unpredictable.  But at this tournament, he was the best.  That's what poker is all about.  Everyone starts with the same chips... Man, Woman and, in this case, child.  Then we find out who pees the farthest and carries the biggest stick. 

 

ThePlayr.com would like to send a hearty congratulations to Constant Rijkenberg, a member of ThePlayr.com Team for taking home the trophy.  Today, you said "my stick is bigger than yours".