PokerStars.com SCOOP Event 17-Hi: Koon, Merrifield Chop

April 11, 2009

Mickey Doft Live Reporter

PokerStars.com SCOOP Event 17-Hi: Koon, Merrifield Chop 0001

Event #17-Hi of the PokerStars All-Stakes Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) was a $2,100 NLHE (with one rebuy and one add-on) tourney. After 268 entries with 210 re-buys and 226 add-ons, first place was set at $302,720, though the event finished with a near-even chop between Jason "jakoon1985" Koon and Steven "$teveyMoney" Merrifield, with Koon going on to claim the official win in the event.

Notable finishes short of the final included Nick "agriffrod" Mitchell in 14th place ($21,120), John "jmonnett" Monnette in 16th ($17,600), Benjamin "xthesteinx" Zamani in 17th ($17,600), Ben "bfineman" Fineman in 18th ($17,600), David "dpeters17" Peters in 19th ($14,080), Peter "Nordberg"Feldman in 21st ($14,080), Sorel "zangbezan24" Mizzi in 24th ($14,080), Dan "djk123" Kelly in 25th ($14,080), Mohsin "sms9231" Charania in 26th ($14,080) and Amit "AMAK316" Makhija in 27th ($14,080). The chip counts at the start of the final table were as follows:

Jason "jakoon1985" Koon — 378,127

gibralter11 — 359,185

Hevad "RaiNKhAN" Khan — 301,311

Frank "gator93" Hernandez — 227,886

Steven "$teveyMoney" Merrifield — 207,952

mendieta19 — 157,428

[xllllll]< - 133,083

Daniel "Allanon85" Drescher — 125,692

Brock "t soprano" Parker — 95,336

Departing first from the final table was [xllllll]<, during the 1,500/3,000/375 level. In middle position [xllllll]< raised to 7,750 and gibralter11 called from the cutoff. Both players checked the 7♥A♠5♥ flop, bringing a 4♥ turn. [xllllll]< bet 15,750 and gibralter11 called, leading to the 10♠ river. [xllllll]< moved all in for 90,288, but was called immediately by gibralter11, who tabled Q♥J♥ for the flush, besting [xllllll]<'s 5♣5♠. The flopped set was no good for [xllllll]<, out in ninth for $28,160.

Brock "t soprano" Parker busted at 2,000/4,000/500. On the button, Steven "$teveyMoney" Merrifield raised to 11,450, and Parker went all in for 62,763 in the big blind with K♦J♣. Merrifield called with 10♣10♥ and it was off to the races. The flop came out 2♥6♦K♥ as Parker grabbed the lead, but Merrifield spiked the 10♦ on the turn to clinch the hand. Brock "t soprano" Parker took home $42,240 for eighth place. Merrifield bounced Daniel "Allanon85" Drescher, too, at 2,500/5,000/625. Drescher shoved for his last 63,915 with J♥J♣, but ran into Merrifield's K♣K♥. The board ran out 4♥7♥4♣7♣6♦ and Daniel "Allanon85" Drescher was out in seventh place for $56,320.

Busting next was gibralter11. On the button, gibralter11 min-raised to 10,000, and Jason "jakoon1985" Koon re-raised to 32,195. Gibralter11 called and the flop brought 5♥10♣Q♥. Koon led out 42,950 and gibralter11 shoved for 202,982. Koon quickly called and tabled Q♣10♠ for top two pair, which led gibralter11's K♦K♥. The turn and river came 3♣ and 9♣ as gibralter11 was knocked out in sixth place for $70,400. Mendieta19 departed a few hands later after getting it in with 8♦8♠ against Koon's K♣10♥. The board fell 5♦9♦7♠2♦10♠ and mendieta19 pocketed $84,480 for fifth. Hevad "RaiNKhAN" Khan took a tough beat and finished in fourth place here. He was in the small blind and raised to 14,988, only to see Frank "gator93" Hernandez shove for 170,241 from the big blind. Khan called with A♥K♦ and had Hernandez's A♦J♦ dominated. However, the board rolled out 4♦Q♣A♣7♦9♦ as the runner-runner flush left Khan on the short stack. He busted two hands later in fourth place for $123,200.

The three remaining players asked to look at chip-count chop numbers, could not agree on a deal, and play continued. Frank "gator93" Hernandez then fell in third. With blinds at 3,000/6,000/750, Hernandez raised to 15,000 on the button, and Steven Merrifield re-raised to 41,230 out of the big blind. Hernandez went all in for 296,432 and Merrifield called with K♠Q♥, slightly trailing Hernandez's A♠10♦. The board ran out K♦J♣7♣2♥4♥ and Hernandez won $165,440 for his run.

Koon and Steven "$teveyMoney" Merrifield then agreed to a deal leaving $20,000 in the middle for the eventual winner and guaranteeing each the following:

Jason "jakoon1985" Koon — $246,881.13

Steven "$teveyMoney" Merrifield — $254.078.76

Koon managed to grab hold of the chip lead when his pocket tens held against Steven Merrifield's A-9. The tournament ended two hands later, at 3,500/7,000/875. Merrifield raised to 16,100 and Koon called. The flop came out 9♦4♣5♦ and Koon check-raised Merrifield's 14,000 bet to 47,250. Merrifield three-bet all in for 446,942 and Koon called with A♠9♥, which led Merrifield's A♦K♣. The turn and river fell 7♦5♣ as Merrifield finished in second place for $254.078.76. With the remaining prize money, Jason Koon's triumph in SCOOP Event #17-Hi was worth $266,881.13.