The Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) proved to be a historic affair; in fact, it proved to have more players and award more money than any other PokerStars’ series. All told, 134,183 unique players from 156 countries put up 526,154 buy-ins and were awarded $65,332,179 in prize money, more than doubling the guaranteed $30,000,000 prize pool.
Early on in the series, Team Pro Viktor “Isildur1” Blom made headlines by winning to titles: SCOOP 2-M $200 N0-Limit Hold’em and SCOOP 3-H: $500 No-Limit Hold’em 6-Max with Rebuys. While that was an impressive feat, it was soon overshadowed by the amazing performance of Shaun Deeb, who won a record five SCOOP titles.
With 27 cashes, eight final tables and $237,528 in winnings, Deeb laid claimed to the Player of the Series title. That distinction not only earned him packages to the 2013 European Poker Tour Grand Final and 2013 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, but also the admiration of the poker world.
“Why don’t you win a holdem event like all the respectable poker players @shaundeeb? #washedup #okfineyourekindofsick,” Team Pro Vanessa Selbst tweeted after Deeb won his titles in various mixed games.
Likewise, the fictional yet ever-so-entertaining characters from The Micros congratulated Deeb via Twitter: “Congrats @shaundeeb for a 2nd SCOOP bracelet! So sick! What’s that? Wow, I’m being told it’s actually his 3rd. 4TH?!? #OMGWTF”
Deeb’s success was unprecedented, which is why we think Jim “Mr_BigQueso” Collopy’s request for lessons was a great idea: “@shaundeeb lemme sign up for the pre-scoop stars rendezvous run-good pow-wow 2013 before space fills up. or a wcoop one. w/e’s best.”
While Deeb locked up the Player of the Series, as well as the high buy-in leaderboard, “C.Darwin2” won the medium leaderboard and George Lind of Team Online won the low buy-in leaderboard, each earning a 2013 PCA package for their performance. “alright its official i win low leaderboard unless deeb comes in 3rd or better in main #notexactlythepersoniwanttoantisweatforascoopevent,” Lind tweeted during the SCOOP Main Event.
Speaking of the Main Event, this year’s tournament drummed up a whole new level of excitement. “One of the biggest days of the year online with the SCOOP main event today. Gonna grind hard then off to vacation in US on tuesday, gl all!” Team Pro Online member Mickey Petersen said on Twitter.
Unfortunately for many, their SCOOP series would come to an end without Main Event success. “Got it in bad w/ AK vs KK. No more SCOOP to me, good luck to everyone who’s still in!” Randy Lew of Team Online tweeted.
His fellow pro, Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier, didn’t fare much better: “Been one of the worst run ever this series, hopefully it turns soon.#gonnacrushWSOPanyways.”
Likewise, Kevin “ImaLuckSac” MacPhee had a less than stellar SCOOP, but seemed to be in good spirits when he tweeted: “Had a really fun, but unsuccessful SCOOP. Leaving Canada for Idaho today for a much needed week off before the WSOP.
Another man who echoed MacPhee’s sentiments was Ari “BodogAri” Engel, who tweeted: “Had a poor scoop showing, so looking to redeem myself this summer. Wsop starts in a week!”
With the 2012 SCOOP in the books, everyone seems to have turned their attention to the World Series of Poker. Even after an incredible SCOOP, Deeb was focused on adding a bracelet to his five brand new watches: “Out of all the tourneys today what a fun 2 weeks tho ready for some days off before WSOP.”
Remember, if you missed any SCOOP action over the past two weeks, you can catch up on all the action in the PokerStars Blog 2012 PokerStars SCOOP news section.
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