Ivan "vandir4rek" Soshnikov Wins 2014 PokerStars SCOOP $10K Main Event for $1 Million

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May 20, 2014 6 min read

This year's Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) $10,300 Main Event final table didn't have the flair or pizzazz of the 2013 edition when Viktor "Isildur1" Blom defeated Noah Boeken heads-up for the title. But Ivan "vandir4rek" Soshnikov has a million reasons not to care.

Soshnikov was the last man standing from a field 657 runners to claim the $1,048,000 top prize along with his first SCOOP watch early Tuesday morning. The Russian pro defeated high-stakes regular Peter "Se7enTr3y" Akery for the title after a lengthy back-and forth battle.

The seven-figure score for Soshnikov is by far the biggest of his career, nearly tripling the €382,050 he earned by winning the European Poker Tour Prague €10,000 High Roller last December. The relatively unknown Russian has quickly made a name for himself entering poker's biggest stage in Las Vegas later this month.

SCOOP Event #44-High: Main Event ($3M Guaranteed)

_{*Reflects three-handed deal}

Day 2 of the $10,300 Main Event began with 60 of the original 657 players returning to compete for the $1,200,000 top prize, and the field was jam-packed with big name pros. Many of them were still alive with four tables remaining, but suddenly they began hitting the rail in droves. Mike "Timex" McDonald (34th - $29,565), Phil "RaiseOnce" Ivey (32nd - $29,565), Dan "mrGR33N13" Colman (31st - $29,565), Keven "Stammdogg" Stammen (30th - $29,565) and Shannon "baseba1b" Shorr (28th - $29,565) were all eliminated within a matter of minutes, leaving the final three tables with much less firepower.

Most of Ivey's chips went to Calvin "cal42688" Anderson, who called Ivey's four-bet shove with the A♣9♦ which held up against Ivey's J♣10♣. But Anderson wasn't able to put his new chips to good use, eventually busting in 24th place. World Series of Poker bracelet winners Taylor "tRaMp$d0PrAy" Paur (24th - $36,463) and Eugene Katchalov (19th - $36,463) soon followed Anderson out the door, and the final two tables were set.

Notables Ludovic "ludovi333" Geilich (16th - $49,275), Sam "Str8$$$Homey" Greenwood (15th - $62,415), Rens "Rens02" Feenstra (13th - $62,415) and Reed "calBears123" Goodmiller also fell shy of the final table. Goodmiller landed directly on the final table bubble after shoving his last 10 big blinds from under the gun with the 8♦8♣ and running into Ben "NeverScaredB" Wilinofsky's J♣J♥. With that, the final table was set.

Sweden's "sat1337en" was one of the short stacks who snuck into the final table, but he was unable to gain any momentum, exiting in ninth place. The UK's "Better C4ll" min-raised to 70,000 from the cutoff and "sat1337en" defended from the big blind to see a flop of 9♠K♦6♥. Action checked to "Better C4ll" who fired a continuation bet worth 36,650, and the Swede moved all on for 196,016. "Better C4ll" lived up to his name, and the cards were turned up.

sat1337en: J♠9♦
Better C4ll: A♥9♥

"Sat1337en" was at risk with a weaker kicker, and the 9♣ turn and 4♠ river secured his fate as the first elimination at the final table.

Mexico's Santiago "sanpri" Nadal was the next to go. Nadal moved his last six big blinds in preflop with the A♣5♥ and Akery called with the A♦9♣. The better kicker held again, and Nadal picked up $147,825 for eighth place.

Two more short stacks went to battle moments later. Martin "M.nosbocaJ" Jacobson moved all in for 410,835 (10 big blinds) from under the gun, and "VVVILELAAA" re-shoved for 424,120 from middle position. Everyone else released, and Jacobson's Q♦Q♥ held up against his opponent's A♦J♥ to secure the double. "VVVILELAAA" was eliminated by Akery on the next hand and picked up $213,525 for seventh place.

Moments later, Phil "Grindation" McAllister min-raised to 100,000 from under the gun, and Wilinofsky moved all in for 715,929 from middle position. Action folded back to McAllister, who called to put Wilinofsky at risk.

McAllister: A♥J♣
Wilinofsky: A♣9♣

Wilinofsky needed help, but the A♦Q♦8♥K♦3♣ board sent him packing in sixth place for $279,225.

McAllister suddenly had room to maneuver but picked the wrong spot to make a move. Soshnikov opened with a min-raise to 100,000 from under the gun, and McAllister three-bet to 248,763 from the button. Soshnikov responded with a four-bet to 495,555, and McAllister five-bet shoved for 1,547,018. Soshnikov snap-called.

McAllister: 5♦5♥
Soshnikov: K♥K♠

Soshnikov's kings were well out in front and stayed that way through the 4♥2♠7♦3♣Q♦ runout. McAllister collected $350,838 for fifth place, and Soshnikov made up some ground on the chip leader "Better C4ll."

Jacobson's run ended in fourth place when his 7♠7♥ came up short against Soshnikov's 8♦8♣, and the remaining three players began deal negotiations. It took more than a half hour of discussions, which included a lot of hard negotiations from Akery, but they finally agreed on the following numbers (with $60,000 left to play for):

Soshnikov: $988,000
"Better C4ll": $890,820
Akery: $860,000

With the deal in place, it took just a couple hands for the biggest pot of the tournament to take place. Soshnikov min-raised to 120,000 from the button and was met with a three-bet to 290,660 from "Better C4ll." Soshnikov four-bet to 620,558, and "Better C4ll" shoved for 3,094,350. He discovered the bad news when Soshnikov called.

Better C4ll: 10♦10♥
Soshnikov: Q♦Q♠

Once again, the better hand held up through the 8♦7♥A♠2♣3♣ board, and "Better C4ll" exited with the $890,820 he locked up in the three-way deal.

Soshnikov began heads-up play with a sizable lead over Akery, but it didn't take long for the Brit to take control. With the blinds at 30,000/60,000 and a 7,500 ante, Akery opened with a raise to 120,000 and Soshnikov called to see a J♥8♥7♦ flop. Soshnikov checked, Akery bet 122,250, and Soshnikov reraised to 345,999. Akery called, and the 3♠ hit the turn. Soshnikov elected to take the same line; he checked, giving Akery the opportunity to bet 446,550, and Soshnikov check-raised all in, effectively putting Akery to a decision for his tournament. Akery committed his last 1,738,249, and the cards were turned up.

Soshnikov: 9♥6♥
Akery: K♠J♠

Akery had a plethora of outs to fade on the river, and the Q♦ did just that, giving Akery a slight lead over his Russian counterpart.

The two players went back-and forth for the next 78 hands before Soshnikov finally put the match away. With the blinds at 50,000/100,000/12,500, Akery limped his button and Soshnikov moved all in. Akery called off his last 1,757,492 with the K♥9♥ and needed to come from behind to overcome Soshnikov's A♦6♥, but the 2♣J♥10♦4♣A♠ board delivered the end to Akery's tournament and sent Soshnikov into the SCOOP winner's circle for the first time.

Running alongside the $10,300 High Main Event on Monday were the $1,050 Medium and $109 Low variants. More than $6 million awarded across the two events. Here's how the final tables played out:

SCOOP Event #44-Medium: Main Event ($2M Guaranteed)

Notable Finishes: Rasmus "bigoots" Sibast (12th - $24,282), Sorel "zangbezan24" Mizzi (29th - $9,105), Michael "moneyinbag" Aron (31st - $9,105), Justin "ZeeJustin" Bonomo (35th - $9,105), Ryan "HITTHEPANDA" Franklin (36th - $9,105)

SCOOP Event #44-Low: Main Event ($1M Guaranteed)

_{*Reflects four-handed deal}

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