Recently named Dutch Player of the Year for the fourth consecutive year, Tobias Peters has been enjoying an Asian poker odyssey motivated not just by money and success, but also by a peculiar goal he stumbled across in the middle of 2019.

"I found out that I just needed seven more flags to break into the top 10 list," said Peters on break in the 2020 Aussie Millions Opening Event.

Flag-hunting is a relatively obscure trend for players to amass cashes from the most countries, represented by a flag on their Hendon Mob profiles. The current leader is Casey Kastle who sits with cashes from 44 different countries. Peters, who cashed in 12 different countries in 2019, sits tied for 17th with 22 different flags.

"I thought [making the top 10] would be a nice goal. I like having goals besides money and wins."

Having notched up a series of cashes in the Philippines whilst travelling earlier in 2019, Peters set out on his quest to crack the top 10, picking up cashes in England, Russia and Denmark in October and November, all countries he had never cashed in before.

"Then I thought, why not Asia? It should be easy to go to Asia to collect some flags, because I didn't have any others besides the Philippines and Macau. So I went travelling for four months with my girlfriend, starting in Taiwan."

The trip got off to the best possible start after Peters took down the Asian Poker Tour Finale Championship Event in Taipei City for just over US$60,000.

"It was a good start and a really good flag!" said Peters. "Then I went to the Asia Poker League in Vietnam and picked up two cashes, so I got my Vietnamese flag."

Next on his list? An Australian flag.

"I came to Australia five years ago with my girlfriend, just to travel for five weeks. I played two tournaments - the bounty and the Main Event, but didn't cash in either."

The Dutchman remembers his first Aussie Millions distinctively for his Main Event bustout. Calling a shove with pocket aces on a board, his opponent turned over for a gutshot, but hit his four outer to send Peters to the rail.

"It was an ugly way." he laughed. "It was a crazy hand."

Peters hopes to banish those memories, and pick up his first Australian flag with a win, just like in the Philippines.

"That would be great, yes. After the Aussie Millions I will be in Asia for another three months so hope I'll get the Korean flag or something else, we'll see what tournaments are there."