PokerStars SCOOP Event #8-Hi, $3,150 NLHE Day 1: Melnikow Leads 34 Survivors

April 06, 2009

Mickey Doft Live Reporter

PokerStars SCOOP Event #8-Hi, $3,150 NLHE Day 1: Melnikow Leads 34 Survivors 0001

The PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker continued on Sunday with Event #8-Hi, a two-day $3,150 no-limit hold'em affair. The tournament drew 915 entrants, falling a bit short of its $3,000,000 guarantee and therefore offering a rare overlay.

Barring a chop, Monday's winner will walk away with $550,500. The top 99 players made the money, with the bubble reached late in the night's action; only 34 survived Day 1. Among those walking away with a payday yet not coming back for Day 2 were Ryan "g0lfa" D'Angelo in 38th place ($11,400), Peter "twirlpro" Turmezey in 42nd ($11,400), Chris "Bushman" Bush in 46th ($10,200), Andre "aakkari" Akkari in 50th ($10,200), Fabrizio "SixthSenSe19" Gonzalez in 51st ($10,200) and Luke "Bdbeatslayer" Vrabel in 52nd ($10,200).

In a healthy lead with 1,243,929 is Alex "hadouk3n" Melnikow. On his heels are EPT Monte Carlo champion Glen "Choron" Chorny in second with 644,307, WCOOP winner Ruben "rubenrtv" Visser in third with 623,114, collins3 in fourth with 522,682 and Keith "The Camel" Hawkins in fifth with 508,575. Daniel "KidPoker" Negreanu remains in the hunt, though short-stacked and in 32nd place with 66,223.

The action continues on Monday at 4:30pm ET. The blinds and antes will be at 2,500/5,000/625 when play resumes. The complete chip counts for all surviving players:

1. Alex "hadouk3n" Melnikow — 1,243,929

2. Glen "Choron" Chorny — 644,307

3. Ruben "rubenrtv" Visser — 623,114

4. collins3 — 522,682

5. Keith "The Camel" Hawkins — 508,575

6. Skint Paddy — 408,170

7. Justin "Boosted J" Smith — 380,744

8. Jamie "pokerjamers" Armstrong — 357,964

9. Tim "timkrank" Miles — 349,914

10. Blake "Balla-B13" Cahail — 298,931

11. Kenny "LoneHixx" Hicks — 282,730

12. Alex "mahoney3" Todd — 262,616