Germany’s Jan Heitmann can be found under the user name Erdnaseon PocketFives and joined our online poker community back in 2006. With 58 players remaining at the Day 6 dinner break of the 2012 World Series of Poker Main Event, Heitmann was in fourth place with a stack of 5.8 million. He was the top non-American in the tournament in terms of chip count and is part of the Germany poker community. Heitmann finished in 26th place in the Main Event for $294,000.

In 2006, Heitmann put himself on the poker map after taking second in the Main Event of the European Poker Classics in London for $127,000. The tournament drew a field of 253 players and Heitmann fell heads-up to England’s John Kabbaj.

In January 2012, just months before his run through the WSOP Main Event, Heitmann took 38th in the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure Main Event for $41,000. Two weeks later, he won a €300 No Limit Hold’em contest during the CAPT Seefeld Open for $16,000. According to the Hendon Mob, Heitmann had nearly $500,000 in live tournament earnings heading into the 2012 Main Event in Las Vegas.

Online, Heitmann placed 72nd in the 2007 PokerStars World Championship of Online Poker Main Event for $14,000. That tournament, you’ll recall, featured Vanessa Rousso coming out on top and earning a spot on the PokerStars pro roster.

In a hand during Day 6 of the Main Event, Heitmann scooped 1.1 million in chips after winning the side pot against Jamie TheNewRobbins and Mohammed Siddiqui. On a flop of 9-3-3, Heitmann tabled pocket jacks, while Robbins, who was all-in, flipped up pocket sixes. Siddiqui held A-K of clubs for two overcards and a backdoor flush draw.

The queen of spades on the turn kept Heitmann out in front for what would be the chip lead, but Robbins spiked a third six on the river and scooped the main pot. Heitmann claimed the side pot and continued his march in the $10,000 buy-in poker tournament. We can’t help but think the hand was a major disappointment for Heitmann, who remained stoic and forged on.