2012 PokerStars SCOOP Day 7: Six-Figure Scores For Mercier and Galfond; Deeb Wins 2nd Event

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May 13, 2012 14 min read

The stars really shined on Day 7 of the 2012 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) at PokerStars. Shaun "shaundeeb" Deeb joined Viktor "Isildur1" Blom as the only multi-event winners while "Canadians" Jason Mercier and Phil "MrSweets28" Galfond each earned six figures. Others to notch wins on Saturday include John "kleath" Leathart, Julian "MrCoco" Gardner, and Andrew "southrnctowl" Badecker. Among those making multiple final tables were Eugene Katchalov, Mike "goleafsgoeh" Leah, and the aforementioned Deeb.

PokerStars SCOOP 18 - H - $1,000 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max w/ Rebuys ($200K Guaranteed)

Two of the game's biggest names flexed their PLO muscle as Jason Mercier and Phil "MrSweets28" Galfond made the final table of Event 18-H. Mercier has two WSOP bracelets in PLO to his name, while Galfond not only has one of his own, but is also considered arguably the best PLO cash-game player on the planet.

Who went deep but came up short of the final table? Dan "djk123" Kelly (9th - $19,437), Fredrik "H@££INGGOL" Halling (10th - $11,935), John "kleath" Leathart (12th - $11,935), Ignat "0Human0" Liviu (15th - $7,843), Jason "TheHood" Gray (17th - $7,843), Michael "WatchOutFish" Benvenuti (18th - $7,843), and Rami "arbianight" Boukai (19th - $6,183).

Jason Mercier began the final table fourth in chips, but it wasn't long before he became chip leader. With the blinds at 3,000/6,000, "O.Klunssila" opened to 12,000 in the cutoff. Mercier was the lone caller on the button and the flop came down Q♠J♠6♣. A bet of 18,000 from "O.Klunssila" was called by Mercier, landing the J♦ on the turn. It was the same story as Mercier called 36,000 this time, delivering the A♣ on the river. "O.Klunssila" bet 54,000, but watched as Mercier shoved for 271,946. An immediate call from "O.Klunssila" revealed J♣8♣6♥2♥ for jacks full of sixes. Mercier, though, showed A♦A♠K♠7♣ for aces full of jacks to win the pot and take the lead.

Busting in sixth place was "Sira Al Aziz." At 5,000/10,000, Julian "MrCoco" Gardner raised to 30,000 in the cutoff. "Sira Al Aziz" potted to 95,000 from the big blind, Gardner re-raised, and "Sira Al Aziz" called all in for another 68,184 with A♥K♦K♣2♠. Gardner turned over A♣Q♠9♠8♣ and took down the pot when the board rolled out 8♦7♦4♦8♥J♣.

Joseph "subiime" Cheong exited soon after at the hands of Jason Mercier. On the button, Mercier min-raised to 20,000 and Cheong called to see a J♥8♦3♦ flop. A check-raise from Cheong eventually led to his stack of 158,498 all in and at risk with K♠J♣8♠2♣ for top two pair. Mercier tabled Q♦J♦8♣4♠ for the same two pair, but with a flush draw. The 7♦ hit the turn to give Mercier a flush and Cheong couldn't find a chop on the river as the Q♥ ended his run in fifth place.

That hand gave Mercier more than half the chips in play, but he suffered a bad beat to make things tight again. The chips went in after a Q♦J♠5♥ flop and Mercier had 5♠5♣3♣3♠ against Gardner's Q♥J♣10♠7♠. Mercier's set was run down when the J♦ turn gave Gardner a better full house than Mercier. The Q♣ river added insult to injury and just like that, we had a game.

"O.Klunssila" departed in fourth place, doing so to Phil "MrSweets28" Galfond. From the small blind, Galfond's raise to 22,700 was called by "O.Klunssila" from the big blind. The flop fell 8♦3♣2♥ and Galfond bet 22,884. "O.Klunssila" raised to 114,052 and after a little while in the tank, Galfond re-raised enough to cover "O.Klunssila's" stack. "O.Klunssila" called all in for another 74,494 with K♣9♣7♦3♦ for middle pair. Galfond tabled a leading K♠K♦9♥9♠ and had most of "O.Klunssila's" outs covered. The 4♠ turn and 4♦ river ended "O.Klunssila's" tournament.

The remaining players agreed to an even chop, leaving the required $4,000 to the winner, and also agreed on being absolutely exhausted. So with that, all of the chips went into the pot the following hand.

Mercier: 10♠5♠5♣4♠
Galfond: K♣Q♣8♦2♣
Gardner: J♥J♦9♣4♥

The board ran out 10♣8♣3♦A♦3♥ as Gardner (who held a slight lead on both Mercier and Galfond) held on with jacks to take down the tournament.

*denotes three-handed chop leaving $4,000 to the winner

PokerStars SCOOP 18 - M - $100 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max w/ Rebuys ($125K Guaranteed)

A field of 1,146 with 1,584 rebuys and 917 add-ons generated a prize pool of $364,700, nearly triple the guarantee. Among the big names to post solid showings were Bryan "theczar19" Piccioli (9th - $6,382.25), Dani "supernova9" Stern (14th - $3,063.48), Alex "skalexjung" Jung (17th - $3,063.48), and Mayu "marroca5" Roca (22nd - $2,297.61). Taking it down outright was "Fiskin1" for more than $61,000.

PokerStars SCOOP 18 - L - $10 Pot-Limit Omaha 6-Max w/ Rebuys ($75K Guaranteed)

It took 13 hours for an outright winner in the low PLO 6-max with rebuys to be declared. "Anywhat" topped the 5,783-player field for $27,199.34. Notable finishes include Kami "drkamikaze1" Chisholm (41st - $481.49) and Jon "PearlJammer" Turner (89th - $240.74).

PokerStars SCOOP 17 - H - $2,000 No-Limit Hold'em 10-Max Shootout ($150K Guaranteed)

The first of Eugene "E. Katchalov" Katchalov and Shaun "shaundeeb" Deeb's final tables came in the $2,000 shootout. They were joined by several other of online poker's finest to battle it out in a sitngo for a SCOOP title.

The first elimination came nearly two hours into the final table. With the blinds and antes at the 50/100/10 level, [Removed:277] min-raised to 200 under the gun. Jude "j.thaddeus" Ainsworth three-bet to 498 from middle position, but Andrew "southrnctowl" Badecker put in a four-bet from the cutoff to 967. Action folded through the button, the blinds, and Balaguer. Ainsworth came back over the top, five-betting to 2,200. Badecker shoved for 5,767, Ainsworth called, and the hands were revealed. It was Q♥Q♠ for Badecker holding a slight lead against the A♠K♦ of Ainsworth. The board came down 9♦6♦4♠7♠9♣ to give Badecker the pot. A short-stacked Ainsworth busted the next hand when his A♣9♠ didn't improve against the A♠K♣ of Balaguer.

Big slick also led to the downfall of Jonathan "MONSTER_DONG" Karamalikis. He min-raised under the gun to 200 and found action from Alex Balaguer who re-raised to 585 from UTG+2. The rest of the table folded around to Karamalikis who four-bet jammed for 2,813 with A♣K♥. Balaguer called with 10♠10♦ and held up through the Q♥9♣6♦J♣5♣ to eliminate Karamalikis in ninth place.

Eugene Katchalov exited in eighth place. At 60/120/15, Andrew "southrnctowl" Badecker opened to 250 in the hijack and was called by Katchalov in the big blind. The flop came down Q♦J♦4♣ and Katchalov check-called 300. The 9♠ turn was checked by both, landing the 8♦ on the river. Katchalov checked it to Badecker who bet 3,000, putting the decision on Katchalov for all of this chips. After a short trip in the tank, Katchalov called all in with K♠10♥, but his straight was topped by the flush of Badecker with A♦3♦. Shaun Deeb hit the rail next, getting it in for 1,776 with A♦J♥ against the A♣7♦ of "wizowizo." The board ran out 10♦8♥7♦A♥5♣, giving "wizowizo" aces up to score the knockout.

Alex Balaguer followed Deeb out the door. At 80/160/20, Balaguer opened to 320 under the gun and was met with an Andrew Badecker three-bet to 724 on the button. The blinds folded, Balaguer four-bet to 1,652, and Badecker shoved with the covering stack. An all-in call for 7,530 revealed A♦K♦ for Balaguer, racing with the J♣J♦ of Badecker. The board came down Q♣10♣7♦8♠4♠ to give the pot and big chip lead to Badecker. Ignat "0Human0" Liviu departed in fifth place. Action folded to him on the button and he min-raised to 320. Badecker three-bet jammed, leading to an all-in call for 2,418 from Liviu with 8♣8♠. Badecker was behind with A♠7♠, but pulled ahead when the board ran out 6♣4♣3♦5♥K♦.

Jason "jdtjpoker" Wheeler fell in fourth place, running 4♦4♣ into "wizowizo's" A♣A♠. A third ace would hit the board and Wheeler's shootout was over. Exiting in third place was "as1025." From the small blind, "as1025" raised to 385. Andrew Badecker re-popped to 1,022, leading to "as1025" four-betting all in for 8,536. Badecker called with 10♦10♣ and held against K♥Q♦ when the board rolled out 7♥4♥2♦10♥6♠.

Heads-up play began with Badecker comfortably ahead with 40,478 to "wizowizo's" 9,522. Twenty-three hands was Badecker needed to close it out. A series of bets and raises after a K♣6♠2♥ flop revealed K♠5♠ for "wizowizo," but Badecker had that destroyed with K♦6♦. The 3♠ turn was as good of a turn card as "wizowizo" could have asked for, but the 7♦ river ended it.

PokerStars SCOOP 17 - M - $200 No-Limit Hold'em 10-Max Shootout ($100K Guaranteed)

Among those to get close to that final table were Scott "BigRiskky" Clements (11th), Marton "noirduck" Czuczor (13th), Andrey "Kroko-dill" Zaichenko (14th) and Jorge "twin-caracas" Arias (17th), each earning $770. Daniel "flyingsumo" Hersvik came away as the winner, pocketing $31,950.

*denotes heads-up deal

PokerStars SCOOP 17 - L - $25 No-Limit Hold'em 10-Max Shootout ($75K Guaranteed)

The first of Mike "goleafsgoeh" Leah's two final tables resulted in an eighth place finish here worth about $2,900. Meanwhile, "nebo_blizko" earned top honors for about $24,000.

*denotes three-handed deal

PokerStars SCOOP 19 - H - $2,000 Triple Stud ($50K Guaranteed)

Team PokerStars Pro Eugene "E. Katchalov" Katchalov and Shaun "shaundeeb" Deeb made their second same final table of the day together, having earlier final tabled Event 17-H. They entered this one, though, as the two chip leaders.

"Spokey" was sent to the rail first, busting during Razz. Short stacked, "Spokey" got it in with 3x2x/8x against chip leader Eugene Katchalov's Qx4x/3x. "Spokey" caught an Ax on fourth steet to Katchalov's paired 3x, giving "Spokey" a huge edge to win the hand. However, Razz can be a brutal game. "Spokey" would only make a 9-8 low, while Katchalov went runner-runner-runner to make a wheel to win the pot.

Brian "$tinger 88" Hastings was eliminated during the next level, Stud H/L. Hastings called all in on seventh street in a three-way hand which saw each player end with these hands:

Brian "$tinger 88" Hastings: {X}{X}/7♣6♦9♣4♠/{X}
Stephen "stevie444" Chidwick: 5♥2♠/3♠6♠10♥Q♠/A♠
"GVOZDIKA55": {X}{X}/5♣2♣K♣A♣/{X}

Chidwick hit the money card on seventh street as the A♠ gave him an ace-high flush and a 6-5 low to scoop the pot and eliminate Hastings. "GVOZDIKA55" fell two hands later, committing his last chips with 7♦7♣/6♦. The pot was three-handed all the way down as well and unfortunately for "GVOZDIKA55," Shaun Deeb started the hand with 3♣7♠/7♥ so all the sevens were accounted for. "GVOZDIKA55" failed to improve, Deeb made jacks and sevens, but "PerpCzech" began on a low draw and backdoored into queens and fours to win the pot.

However, "PerpCzech" would fall in fifth place during Stud. Both "PerpCzech" and "JohnSmith" were pretty short on chips and both made straights on seventh street. "PerpCzech's" was six-high, but it was beat by "JohnSmith's" jack-high straight. That hand didn't give "JohnSmith" much momentum, though, busting a little while later to Shaun Deeb. The hands were revealed after sixth street as Deeb showed K♠10♠/8♦K♣2♣J♠ for kings, leading "JohnSmith's" A♦J♦/5♦9♠J♣K♦ ever so slightly. Deeb improved to kings up when he hit the 10♥ on seventh street, while the 3♣ offered no help to "JohnSmith" to leave three players remaining.

Katchalov led with 160,725, Chidwick was second with 128,559, and Deeb was third with 50,716 as three-handed play began. Two hours would pass before the next elimination and in that two hours, Deeb did what he's been doing all of SCOOP - dominated. Katchalov fell in Razz, getting the last of his chips in on fifth street with 9x5x/8xAx6x against Deeb's Ax4x/9x3x6x. Katchalov caught a Qx and 7x to make an 8-7 low, but Deeb caught an 8x and 10x to make an 8-6 low and win the pot.

Deeb began heads-up play with 268,764 to Chidwick's 71,236. It took Deeb 27 hands to close it out, doing so during the same Razz level. The key hand was the second to last, though. Deeb forced Chidwick to fold {X}{X}/Ax9x9xJx/Xx and leave himself with less than one small bet. What did Deeb have? He showed 7x4x/5x9x7x5x/Qx for a Q-9 low. He took it down the next hand to win his second SCOOP title of the series and third overall.

PokerStars SCOOP 19 - M - $200 Triple Stud ($25K Guaranteed)

While "PerpCzech" final tabled and finished fifth in the high buy-in Triple Stud, the Kiwi also was at the final table of the medium and not only improved on that fifth-place result, but defeated a final table that included Mike "goleafsgoeh" Leah and Adam "squee451" Sherman to win this one. Other notable results include Daniel "DazzleO" Ospina (9th - $1,249.50), Dylan "ImaLucSac" Linde (12th - $1,249.50), and Noah "Exclusive" Boeken (19th - $696.15).

PokerStars SCOOP 19 - L - $25 Triple Stud ($25K Guaranteed)

Making deep runs in the low buy-in of the Triple Stud Event was Sorel "zangbezan24" Mizzi (10th - $357.75), Amanda "ROXY24" Thomas (17th - $206.06), and Jon "PearlJammer" Turner (39th - $147.87). Topping the 1,908-player field was "Drew M Scott" for $8,348.

PokerStars SCOOP 14-H: $670 No-Limit Hold'em Ante Up Two-Day ($75K Guaranteed)

Eleven players returned for Day 2 of Event 14-H and following the eliminations for "RB79s" and "raizd", the final table was set.

Taylor "tRaMp$d0PrAy" Paur's tournament came to an end in ninth place. After losing most of his stack with A♣Q♥ to TJ "1BigAceHole" Ulmer's K♣J♦, Paur got the last of chips in with A♦10♠ and lost a race to the 9♦9♥ of "Rens02." That started a nice run for "Rens02" that led to the elimination of "Face333X." A series of preflop raises between four players culminated with "Face333X" all in with A♥A♠ against "Rens02's" 8♣7♣. Fortunately for "Rens02,", the flop came down Q♥7♥7♦ to put "Face333X" on the ropes. No ace came, ending "Face333X's" tournament in eighth place.

Seventh place was reserved for "joacowalter" after getting it in with A♣10♥ against not only the J♠J♦ of Julian "julianherold" Herold, but the A♥A♦ of "Rens02." The K♦Q♠9♣4♣9♥ brought no unlikely win for"joacowalter," leaving six players at the final table. Igor "lechuckpoker" Kurganov began the day chip leading the final 11 players, but he finished in sixth place after running 8♥8♠ into the 9♠9♣ of Herold.

TJ "1BigAceHole" Ulmer was the next to go, but not without getting it in ahead. With K♣Q♥, Ulmer looked to double up against the Q♣J♣ of John "kleath" Leathart, but the board came down J♠3♣2♦Q♠6♠ to end Ulmer's run with a fifth-place score. Julian "julianherold" Herold departed in fourth place, getting his chips in with K♣K♥ on a J♣4♦3♦ board. John Leathart held K♦9♦ and while the 5♠ turn didn't do the deed, the 7♦ sure did.

The remaining three players talked deal and agreed to terms. "Rens02" hit the rail shortly thereafter, losing majority of his stack with A♦4♣ after a 9♣4♥3♣ flop. Bryan "theczar19" Piccioli held K♣Q♣ for two over and a flush draw and got there on the river when the K♥ hit to grab a slight chip lead going into heads-up play. However, Leathart battled back and went on to win. On the final hand, it was a raise-a-thon preflop as Piccioli was all in with A♣2♣ against Leathart's K♥Q♦. The A♦J♠4♠ flop and J♣ turn were good for Piccioli, but the 10♥ river gave Leathart broadway to lock up the victory.

*denotes three-handed deal

_{*Data from this specific event obtained from PokerStarsBlog.com}

PokerStars SCOOP 14-M: $75 No-Limit Hold'em Ante Up Two-Day ($50K Guaranteed)

Randal "RandALLin" Flowers began the day 11th in chips with 22 players remaining, but fell short of the final table with a 12th-place finish for $1,168.24. Meanwhile, "Zackattak13" emerged victorious for nearly $24,000.

PokerStars SCOOP 14-L: $7 No-Limit Hold'em Ante Up Two-Day ($25K Guaranteed)

Day 1 of Event 14-L saw 49 players from a starting field of 13,223 survive to earn a ticket back on Day 2. "J_Marcos" began the day 4th in chips and went on to win the tournament for nearly $9,500 following a three-handed deal.

*denotes three-handed deal

We will be providing daily recaps of all SCOOP Day 1s and final tables, so be sure to keep it here at PokerNews to stay up to date on all of the exciting action as it occurs.

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