US SCOOPs Clear $1M in Prize Pools in Opening Weekend; Buzgon Wins Two Titles
Table Of Contents
- Buzgon & Funaro Win Big in Merged NJ/MI Market
- 2023 US SCOOP MI/NJ Merged Market Winners Thus Far
- Matt "5u1ly" Sullivan Among PA Winners
- 2023 US SCOOP PA Winners Thus Far
- What’s Coming Up?
- Remaining PokerStars US 2023 SCOOP Shared Liquidity Schedule
- Remaining PokerStars US 2023 SCOOP Pennsylvania Schedule
The PokerStars US 2023 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) kicked off this past Friday, and things heated up over the weekend when eight events played out, each offering a High, Medium, and Low level for a total of 44 tournaments.
Through those tournaments, a combined 20,948 entrants competed, and $1,180,802 in prize money was awarded, well over the $986,500 in guarantees offered. The largest prize pool over the weekend was $135K in SCOOP 07-M: $100 NLHE [Sunday Special Championship] $125K GTD, while the largest tournament by entries thus far was 2,112 runners in SCOOP 07-L: $10 NLHE [Sunday Special Championship] $20K GTD.
The 2023 USA SCOOP is offering $5 million in guarantees across liquidities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Michigan. The series features something for everyone, with 252 events across various buy-ins running from March 17-April 3, and culminating with a two-day $300 buy-in Main Event that gets underway April 2.
Buzgon & Funaro Win Big in Merged NJ/MI Market
On Sunday, March 19, one big winner was rising poker star Frank “thewholefunk” Funaro, who bested a 233-entry field to win Event 08-H: $200 NLH Turbo Sunday Second Chance, $30K GTD for $8,358.95
You might recall that Funaro won a World Series of Poker (WSOP) Online bracelet last year and made a deep run in the WPT Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open in South Florida. Now, the up-and-coming phenom can add a PokerStars US SCOOP title to his growing list of accomplishments.
Similarly, Daniel “loxonbagel” Buzgon (lead image) is no stranger to online poker success. Back in 2021, he won an NJ US COOP title, and more recently he won the PSPC Online Event #82: $100 NLH [The Closer] for $8,665.02 back at the end of January. Well, it didn’t take long for Buzgon to make even more noise by having an absolutely stellar weekend.
On opening day, he topped a 304-entry field to win Event 01-L: $20 8-Game Championship for $1,049.15, and then the following day bested a 282-entry field to win Event 04-H: $100 NLH Turbo PKO for $6,323.71. That’s two titles for Buzgon in two days – and the 2023 US SCOOP is just getting started.
As if that wasn’t impressive enough, Buzgon almost made it three for three in Event 07-H: $500 NLH Sunday Special Championship, but he ultimately came up one spot short finishing runner-up to “WadeDavenport” in the 228-entry field. Buzgon added $15,448.22 in prize money thanks to a three-way deal in that tournament.
Not surprisingly, Buzgon holds the early lead on the SCOOP Champions High Leaderboard. He also sits in third place on the Low Leaderboard.
2023 US SCOOP MI/NJ Merged Market Winners Thus Far
*Date | Tournament | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize* | |||
17-Mar | 01-H: $200 8-Game Championship, $20K GTD | 101 | $20,000 | "LuckyAngel2121" | $4,670.71 | |||
17-Mar | 01-M: $50 8-Game Championship, $7.5K GTD | 164 | $7,500 | "fancyfish948" | $1,517.18 | |||
17-Mar | 01-L: $20 8-Game Championship, $4K GTD | 304 | $5,532.80 | Daniel "loxonbagel" Buzgon | $1,049.15 | |||
17-Mar | 02-H: $250 NLH Turbo Night Fight, PKO, $25K GTD | 139 | $32,387 | "senior stinks" | $7,208.40 | |||
17-Mar | 02-M: $100 NLH Turbo Night Fight, PKO, $15K GTD | 246 | $22,582.80 | "mcleskey" | $4,333.21 | |||
17-Mar | 02-L: $30 NLH Turbo Night Fight, PKO, $7.5K GTD | 481 | $13,131.30 | "blunder88" | $2,000.74 | |||
18-Mar | 03-H: $250 NLH Kickoff Championship, $75K GTD | 266 | $75,000 | "Tank Artist" | $14,311.46 | |||
18-Mar | 03-M: $100 NLH Kickoff Championship, $40K GTD | 488 | $44,798.40 | "sandsimplosion" | $7,963.88 | |||
18-Mar | 03-L: $30 NLH Kickoff Championship, $15K GTD | 805 | $21,976.50 | "boutrous111" | $3,729.45 | |||
18-Mar | 04-H: $100 NLH Turbo PKO, $25K GTD | 282 | $25,887.60 | Daniel "loxonbagel" Buzgon | $6,323.71 | |||
18-Mar | 04-M: $30 NLH Turbo PKO, $10K GTD | 531 | $14,496.30 | "msjsnm" | $2,257.52 | |||
18-Mar | 04-L: $10 NLH Turbo PKO, $4K GTD | 888 | $8,080.80 | "ewhit26" | $1,061.68 | |||
18-Mar | 05-H: $100 NLH Turbo Zoom, $20K GTD | 294 | $26,989.20 | "maysj553" | $5,151.77 | |||
19-Mar | 06-H: $100 NLH Sunday Warm Up PKO, $20K GTD | 311 | $28,549.80 | "LetsGoGlobal" | $4,903.37 | |||
19-Mar | 06-M: $30 NLH Sunday Warm Up PKO, $10K GTD | 546 | $14,905.80 | "JAYSHIM" | $2,582.47 | |||
19-Mar | 06-L: $10 NLH Sunday Warm Up PKO, $4K GTD | 836 | $7,607.60 | "TonyBluffing" | $1,136.19 | |||
19-Mar | 07-H: $500 NLH Sunday Special Championship, $100K GTD | 228 | $107,160 | "WadeDavenport" | $16,472.17 | |||
19-Mar | 07-M: $100 NLH Sunday Special Championship, $125K GTD | 1,471 | $135,037.80 | "Jkin231" | $18,993.71 | |||
19-Mar | 07-L: $10 NLH Sunday Special Championship, $20K GTD | 2,112 | $20,000 | "aszaszin3636" | $2,985.13 | |||
19-Mar | 08-H: $200 NLH Turbo Sunday Second Chance, $30K GTD | 233 | $43,338 | Frank "thewholefunk" Funaro | $8,358.95 | |||
19-Mar | 08-M: $50 NLH Turbo Sunday Second Chance, $12.5K GTD | 401 | $18,245.50 | "mp30kent17" | $3,323.06 | |||
19-Mar | 08-L: $20 NLH Turbo Sunday Second Chance, $7.5K GTD | 627 | $11,411.40 | "new_doc793" | $1,968.43 | |||
20-Mar | 09-H: $300 NLH PKO, Battle Royale Championship, $50K GTD | 207 | $57,960 | "Binkwen" | $11,213.51 | |||
20-Mar | 09-M: $100 NLH PKO, Battle Royale Championship, $25K GTD | 441 | $40,483.80 | "wilcohotel" | $7,567.54 | |||
20-Mar | 09-L: $30 NLH PKO, Battle Royale Championship, $10K GTD | 698 | $19,055.40 | "KurtStevens1" | $3,122.71 | |||
20-Mar | 10-H: $100 PLO8, $12.5K GTD | 119 | $12,500 | "Warrior00086" | $2,609.77 | |||
20-Mar | 10-M: $30 PLO8, $5K GTD | 194 | $5,296.20 | "nyy214" | $1,056.48 | |||
20-Mar | 10-L: $10 PLO8, $2.5K GTD | 314 | $2,857.40 | "Trump&Glantz" | $535.60 | |||
20-Mar | 11-L: $10 Razz Mixed Game Monday, $1K GTD | 182 | $1,656.20 | "Gatorswill" | $330.47 |
Matt "5u1ly" Sullivan Among PA Winners
Action in Pennsylvania kicked off with "OMC_Escher" winning $4,128.42 in Event #01-H: $200 8-Game [8-Game Championship], a $15,000 guaranteed event that drew 91 runners for a prize pool of $16,926.
On March 18, "TheBigSlick74" took down Event #03-L: $10 NLHE [Kickoff Championship] for $1,294.04 before going on to win Event #06-H: $100 NLHE [Progressive KO, Sunday Warm Up] for $5,086.87 the next day.
"Brother Justin" has also won two events so far, first taking down Event #05-H: $100 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo, Zoom] for $3,442.40 and next winning Event #08-M: $50 NLHE [Turbo, Sunday Second Chance] for $2,657.34.
The biggest buy-in event so far, Event #07-H: $500 NLHE [Sunday Special Championship], went to "fan_buzgon," who got through a field of 178 runners to earn $16,619.01. "fan_buzgon" finished runner-up in the 2020 PASCOOP $300 Main Event for $41,650.41 and now looks to have another successful series.
Another notable winner was Matt "5u1ly" Sullivan of Doylestown, PA, who got through a field of 457 runners in Event #06-M: $30 NLHE [Progressive KO, Sunday Warm Up] and defeated heads-up opponent "tha-zimmer1" to take home the top prize of $2,225.16.
2023 US SCOOP PA Winners Thus Far
*Date | Tournament | Entries | Prize Pool | Winner | Prize* | |||
17-Mar | 01-H: $200 8-Game [8-Game Championship], $15K Gtd | 91 | $16,926.00 | "OMC_Escher" | $4,128.42 | |||
17-Mar | 01-L: $20 8-Game [8-Game Championship], $3.5K Gtd | 193 | $3,512.60 | "werd3739" | $697.89 | |||
17-Mar | 01-M: $50 8-Game [8-Game Championship], $7K Gtd | 139 | $7,000.00 | "bwest2017" | $1,476.72 | |||
17-Mar | 02-H: $100 NLHE [7-Max, Turbo Night Fight], $17.5K Gtd | 279 | $25,612.00 | "homietheclown" | $4,961.14 | |||
17-Mar | 02-L: $10 NLHE [7-Max, Turbo Night Fight], $4K Gtd | 557 | $5,069.00 | "jblyo" | $809.19 | |||
17-Mar | 02-M: $30 NLHE [7-Max, Turbo Night Fight], $7.5K Gtd | 350 | $9,555.00 | "moosewilly152" | $1,449.71 | |||
18-Mar | 03-H: $100 NLHE [Kickoff Championship], $40K Gtd | 477 | $43,779.00 | "IsTwoPairGood" | $7,101.17 | |||
18-Mar | 03-L: $10 NLHE [Kickoff Championship], $7.5K Gtd | 697 | $7,500.00 | "TheBigSlick74" | $1,294.04 | |||
18-Mar | 03-M: $30 NLHE [Kickoff Championship], $15K Gtd | 487 | $15,000.00 | "BMM2019" | $2,666.68 | |||
18-Mar | 04-H: $100 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO], $20K Gtd | 231 | $21,205.80 | "vaysmoney" | $4,831.06 | |||
18-Mar | 04-L: $10 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO], $3K Gtd | 473 | $4,304.30 | "Boognish4" | $673.08 | |||
18-Mar | 04-M: $30 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo, Progressive KO], $7.5K Gtd | 334 | $9,118.20 | "BMM2019" | $1,651.49 | |||
18-Mar | 05-H: $100 NLHE [6-Max, Turbo, Zoom], $15K Gtd | 188 | $17,258.40 | "Brother Justin" | $3,442.40 | |||
19-Mar | 06-H: $100 NLHE [Progressive KO, Sunday Warm Up], $12K Gtd | 297 | $27,264.60 | "TheBigSlick74" | $5,086.87 | |||
19-Mar | 06-L: $10 NLHE [Progressive KO, Sunday Warm Up], $3K Gtd | 660 | $6,006.00 | "palehorse21" | $817.34 | |||
19-Mar | 06-M: $30 NLHE [Progressive KO, Sunday Warm Up], $6K Gtd | 457 | $12,476.10 | Matt "5u1ly" Sullivan | $2,225.16 | |||
19-Mar | 07-H: $500 NLHE [Sunday Special Championship], $75K Gtd | 178 | $83,660.00 | "fan_buzgon" | $16,619.01 | |||
19-Mar | 07-M: $100 NLHE [Sunday Special Championship], $80K Gtd | 1006 | $92,350.80 | "five3off34" | $15,081.98 | |||
19-Mar | 07-L: $10 NLHE [Sunday Special Championship], $10K Gtd | 1159 | $10,546.90 | "merkcitypoker" | $1,630.83 | |||
19-Mar | 08-H: $200 NLHE [Turbo, Sunday Second Chance], $25K Gtd | 193 | $35,898.00 | "notURboyTOY" | $7,131.18 | |||
19-Mar | 08-L: $20 NLHE [Turbo, Sunday Second Chance], $6K Gtd | 436 | $7,935.20 | "R0cdog42" | $1,425.22 | |||
19-Mar | 08-M: $50 NLHE [Turbo, Sunday Second Chance], $10K Gtd | 312 | $14,196.00 | "Brother Justin" | $2,657.34 | |||
20-Mar | 11-L $10 Razz [Mixed Game Monday - Razz], $1k Gtd | 147 | $1,337.70 | "UkuleleAI" | $234.65 | |||
20-Mar | 09-H: $200 NLHE [6-Max, Battle Royale Championship], $35K Gtd | 228 | $42,408.00 | "CallYourMommy" | $8,001.51 | |||
20-Mar | 09-L: $20 NLHE [6-Max, Battle Royale Championship], $7.5K Gtd | 560 | $10,192.00 | "UncleR1ch" | $1,290.43 | |||
20-Mar | 09-M: $50 NLHE [6-Max, Battle Royale Championship], $15K Gtd | 467 | $21,248.50 | "WuTangFinancial" | $3,455.45 | |||
20-Mar | 10-H: $100 PLO8 [PLO8], $10K Gtd | 141 | $12,943.80 | "keller22687" | $2,717.06 | |||
20-Mar | 10-L: $10 PLO8 [PLO8], $2K Gtd | 232 | $2,111.20 | "UrlnZugzwang" | $407.08 | |||
20-Mar | 10-M: $30 PLO8 [PLO8], $4K Gtd | 168 | $4,586.40 | "Dionysus1888" | $929.68 |
What’s Coming Up?
Of the $5 million guaranteed prize money, $3 million will go to the Shared Liquidity pool of players in Michigan and New Jersey, while $2 million will be up for grabs on PokerStars PA.
In addition to the hundreds of tournament offerings, the series will feature more than 600 satellites into selected events starting from only $1, including a Depositor Freeroll and SCOOP Spin & Go's where the top prize multiplier awards $300 entries into the Main Event.
The remaining schedules for the upcoming US SCOOP series' in Shared Liquidity and Pennsylvania are available in the tables below.
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