Live by Aces, die by Aces. Portugal’s Hugo Neves entered the final table second in chips for SCOOP Event #17-L Big Antes. With eight to go, Hugo Neves seized the lead with pocket Aces and never looked back. With three players remaining, Hugo Neves only needed two hands to liquidate both opponents. Yes, heads-up lasted a mere single hand because Hugo Neves woke up with pocket Aces… again. Pocket Aces held up once again, and Hugo Neves triumphantly marched into the winner’s circle.

2015 SCOOP Event #17-L $11+R NL (Big Antes) attracted 5,989 runners to this two-day event. They added 7,560 re-buys and 4,144 add-ons, which boosted the prize pool to $176,930. Only the top 765 places paid out with $27,681.34 set aside to the eventual champion.

At the end of Day 1, only 35 players remained and Russia’s elabuga held the lead with a shade under 8M. Action progressed at a brisk pace at the start of Day 2. In a short time frame, elabuga went from the penthouse to the outhouse when elabuga busted in 11th place.

SCOOP 17-L – Final Table Chip Counts:
Seat 1: callacony (2,096,112)
Seat 2: aaelvee (2,689,116)
Seat 3: Thorben89Pok (7,800,419)
Seat 4: capotinha (3,928,953)
Seat 5: masterarjan2 (2,498,262)
Seat 6: daveyt86 (4,060,412)
Seat 7: Mrcaimann (17,136,872)
Seat 8: Hugo Neves (16,267,856)
Seat 9: eltaomermao (4,888,998)

The final table commenced during Level 44 with blinds at 100K/200K and a 40K ante. Mrcaimann held the lead with 17.1M and callacony brought up the rear with 2M.

masterarjan2 eliminated in 9th place

Three hands. The paint wasn’t even dry yet when we saw our first exit. capotinha min-raised to 400,000, masterarjan2 bombed it all-in for 2,378,262, eltaomermao re-shoved for 4,768,998, and capotinha bailed. Heads-up. Classic confrontation. eltaomermao took Q♦ Q♥ into battle against masterarjan2’s A♣ K♥ . The board finished up 5♦ 4♥ 2♣ 2♥ 9♦ . masterarjan2 flopped a Wheel draw, but it never materialized. eltaomermao won the pot with two pair — Queens and deuces. Holland’s masterarjan2 was knocked out in ninth place and took home $1,415.44.

capotinha eliminated in 8th place

Short-stacked capotinha open-shoved all-in for 1,738,953 with K♦ Q♥ , but Hugo Neves ambushed him with A♥ A♠ . The board finished up Q♠ 5♠ 4♦ J♠ 9♦ .  Hugo Neves’ pocket Aces held up. capotinha flopped top pair, yet did not improve. Brazil’s capotinha went busto in eighth place, which paid out $2,211.62.

daveyt86 eliminated in 7th place

Next hand, another bustout. daveyt86 open-shoved for 1,875,412 with Q♣ 10♠ , and Mrcaimann called with A♣ J♦ . The board finished up K♠ 6♦ 4♦ 6♣ 8♠ . Neither player improved, but Mrcaimann dragged the pot with a superior Ace-high kicker. For a seventh-place finish, daveyt86 collected $3,980.92.

callacony eliminated in 6th place

callacony bombed it all-in for 1,313,612, aaelvee re-shoved for 3,353,232, and everyone got out of the way. aaelvee led with A♣ K♣ against callacony’s K♥ 8♥ . The board ran out K♦ Q♠ J♦ Q♥ 9♠ . Both players flopped a pair of Kings and turned two pair, but aaelvee won the pot with a better Ace-kicker. The U.K.’s callacony was knocked out in sixth place, which paid out $5,750.22.

Thorben89Pok eliminated in 5th place

Another shorty bit the dust. Thorben89Pok’s 6♣ 6♦ vs. eltaomermao’s K♦ K♠ . The board finished up Q♠ 5♥ 8♥ 4♠ A♦ . All the money went in on the turn. Thorben89Pok turned a gutshot draw, but whiffed on the river. Thorben89Pok was dunzo in fifth place, which paid out $7,519.52.

DEAL

The final four paused the action to discuss a deal. Hugo Neves led the way with 29.2M, followed by eltaomermao (15.2M), aaelvee (10.3M), and Mrcaimann (6.5M). Any deal had to leave $2,000 on the table for the winner. The ICM numbers were floated: Hugo Neves ($21,522.22), eltaomermao ($18,438.78), aaelvee ($16,518.03), and Mrcaimann ($14,407.91). Quick rejection by aaelvee, who wanted a little more money. Tense negotiations ensued for the next twenty minutes. The final four finally reached an agreement on these new terms: Hugo Neves ($20,722.22), eltaomermao ($18,188.78), aaelvee ($17,018.03), Mrcaimann ($14,907.91). With a money deal in place, action resumed.

Mrcaimann eliminated in 4th place

Once a chop was reached, we saw a bustout within an orbit. Hugo Neves min-raised 500,000, Mrcaimann re-raised to 1.5M, Hugo Neves four-bet to 12M, Mrcaimann called all-in for 10,033,088. Mrcaimann trailed with A♣ Q♠ against Hugo Neves’ A♠ K♠ . The board ran out 10♣ 7♠ 6♥ 9♠ 2♦ . Neither player improved, but Hugo Neves won the pot. Mrcaimann was out-kicked by Hugo Neves’ King-kicker vs. Queen-kicker. Mrcaimann busted in fourth place, which paid out $14,907.91.

With three left in the hunt, Hugo Neves led with 35.6M followed by eltaomermao’s 14.6M and aaelvee’s 11.1M.

eltaomermao eliminated in 3rd place

This final table progressed at a rapid pace and despite the deal, there was a minor lag with three to go. The final three clashed for a full level, but neither short stack could pick up any ground on Hugo Neves, who increased the massive gap between the haves and the have nots. Like a hungry cat playing around with a wounded mouse, it was finally time to finish off the prey. Hugo Neves busted both opponents in only two hands.

Hugo Neves opened to 5.6M, eltaomermao called all-in for 3,531,700. Hugo Neves trailed with 10♠ 6♦ against eltaomermao’s A♥ 3♣ . The board ran out Q♦ J♥ 2♣ K♥ A♦ . eltaomermao could only muster up a pair of Aces, but Hugo Neves rivered a Broadway straight to win the pot.

For a third-place finish, eltaomermao collected $18,188.78.

HEADS-UP: aaelvee vs. Hugo Neves (Portugal)
Seat 2: aaelvee (11,420,128)
Seat 8: Hugo Neves (49,946,872)

With two to go, Hugo Neves held a significant lead. aaelvee was unable to mount a comeback because heads-up lasted a single hand.

aaelvee eliminated in 2nd place; Hugo Neves wins SCOOP Event #17-L!

If you blinked, you woulda missed it. Hugo Neves min-raised 800,000, aaelvee bumped it up to 1,818,181, Hugo Neves four-bet to 5,614,543, aaelvee five-bet shoved for 11,340,128, and Hugo Neves insta-called with A♣ A♦ . aaelvee was in trouble with Q♣ Q♥ . The board finished up J♣ 5♣ 2♣ 2♥ 7♦ . aaelvee lost with two pair (Queens and deuces) versus Hugo’s better two pair (Aces and deuces). aaelvee headed to the virtual rail in second place, while Hugo Neves headed to the winner’s circle.

For a gutsy runner-up performance, Denmark’s aaelvee earned $17,018.03.

Congrats to Hugo Neves for winning Event #17-L. First place paid out $22,772.22, in addition to a sleek champion’s watch courtesy of Movado.

SCOOP-017-L: $11+R NL Hold’em (Big Antes)
Entrants: 5,989 (7,560 Re-buys, 4,144 Add-ons)
Prize Pool: $176,930
Places Paid: 765

1. Hugo Neves (Portugal) $22,722.22 **
2. aaelvee (Denmark) $17,018.03 **
3. eltaomermao (Brazil) $18,188.78 **
4. Mrcaimann (United Kingdom) $14,907.91 **
5. Thorben89Pok (Germany) $7,519.52
6. callacony (United Kingdom) $5,750.22
7. daveyt86 (United Kingdom) $3,980.92
8. capotinha (Brazil)  $2,211.62
9. masterarjan2 (Netherlands) $1,415.44

** Denotes a deal among the final four players

Visit the SCOOP homepage for a schedule of remaining SCOOP events and satellite info. Check out the Leader Board to find out who is on track to win Player of the Series.

Pauly McGuire is an author and freelance contributor to PokerStars Blog.

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