It took an event as special as the PokerStars Players NL Hold’em Championship to bring former #1-ranked player Steven ‘SvZff’ van Zadelhoff back to the Bahamas.

“I was here 11 years ago and I told people I was not going to come back for PCA because I didn’t really like the resort too much but for this one, I’m obviously coming back,” van Zadelhoff said. “It’s amazing, the whole room is buzzing. It’s so unique people are really happy…well, there’s actually some sad people but that’s good for me. Screw them, let’s win this one!”

van Zadelhoff, originally from The Netherlands and currently living in Malta, is one of online poker’s top talents. He has a World Championship of Online Poker Main Event win on his resume as well as over $8.6 million in online earnings. Now, here at the PSPC, he’s hoping to attach a new major title to his name.

“[The PSPC] would fit nicely on my resume,” van Zadelhoff said with a smile. “These titles are so ridiculous because they are almost unique. Winning a WCOOP Main is also ridiculous. But that’s how I roll, getting lucky at the right moment in my life I guess.”

The lucky he’s alluding too is a fast start on Day 1 in the PSPC. van Zadelhoff was happily stacking chips thought the day, creating an impressive chip tower and gaining momentum throughout the day.

“I got kinda lucky, I run really well,” he said. “Flopping a lot of sets and stuff like that. A couple times I flopped even better than a set, so yea, it’s nice. Easy game. It’s nice to do that in a tournament like this.”

Especially in a tournament like this. The PSPC shattered the record for the largest $25K buy-in of all time and boasts a prize pool of over $26 million. While even making the money is likely more than a day of play away, sitting with 200 big blinds headed into Day 2 feels good for the accomplished pro.

“It feels so amazing in this tournament and obviously anything can happen but it’s a good start. I’m going to focus.”

He has been focused though, not just in the Bahamas but just about every day leading up to the PSPC. van Zadelhoff has been putting in the work, grinding online even throughout the holidays.

“I didn’t really take time off, even around Christmas I don’t think I missed a day from Christmas Eve through January 2. I was very social, I did all the Christmas stuff but then halfway into the evening I just start my poker tables anyway. I sleep in and then I visit with my friends again, visit with my family again, eat a lot and then start playing again. I have trouble taking time off.”

Now that he’s here, no matter what happens in the PSPC, van Zadelhoff will be grinding the entire PCA. This includes playing the Main Event which he qualified for online. He’ll rest when it’s all done.

“I’m going back to Malta after this. I still in Malta for like nine years and study a lot and grind a lot online. I haven’t been at home for like 10 weeks, I’m really looking forward to sitting on my balcony and my gym. But you know how it goes, after a couple months it’s going to itch again.”

But just because he’s home, that doesn’t mean he’ll be taking time off. To get to the top of the tournament world takes plenty of work and ’SvZff’ acknowledges that he if he wants to continue to be the best he’s got to put in the time.

“It goes in waves, you know? When I’m at home I study a lot especially after last year, after WCOOP, you feel you have to step your game up. Because you can play so much bigger if you win a shitload of money. I mean, you cannot just do nothing if you want to play bigger.

“That’s something that’s inside of me I want to really crush higher stakes as well. It’s not easy. I’m like an old fart compared to these young kids so I feel like I have to work hard for it as well. Which is fine, I love doing that.”

Steven van Zadelhoff finished Day 1 of the PSPC 14th in chips.