PokerStars SCOOP Event #21-Hi: Spindler Tops Duthie for Heads-up Title
Event #21-Hi of the PokerStars All-Stakes Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) was a $25,500 heads-up no-limit special, featuring a select field of online poker's very best players. There were 32 entrants, with only the final four making the money. The semifinal matches then featured Benny "toweliestar" Spindler against Alex "mistakooll" Keating, and "Dokosoko" vs. John Duthie.
Benny "toweliestar" Spindler built up an early lead against Alex "mistakooll" Keating before ending their semifinal match at the 30/60 level. In the final hand, Keating min-raised and Spindler called, leading to a 9♥8♣4♥ flop. Spindler led out 120 and Keating went all in for his last 791. Spindler called with J♣9♠ and led Keating's Q♣10♥. The turn and river came 3♥6♣ as Spindler advanced to the finals. Alex "mistakooll" Keating finished in fourth place for $120,000.
The other semifinal was a back-and-forth battle between Dokosoko and John Duthie, with Duthie taking it down at 100/200/25. Duthie limped in and Dokosoko went all in for 4,072. Duthie called and tabled Q♠Q♥ to Dokosoko's 5♦5♣. The board ran out 4♠A♣3♠J♦3♣ as Duthie's queens held up. Dokosoko finished in third place for $120,000.
At the start of the championship match, Duthie and Spindler agreed to a deal. Each was guaranteed $250,000 with $60,000 left in the middle for the eventual champion. Spindler's road to the championship included wins over Thomas "tjbentham" Bentham, Andrew "RunThisTable" Lichtenberger, Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier and Keating. Duthie's path to the final match consisted of victories against ScHnibL0r, Daniel "steamraise" Alaei, CADX2 and Dokosoko.
Spindler built a chip lead in the final that John Duthie could not overcome. In the final hand, with blinds at 40/80/10, Spindler min-raised to 160 and Duthie shoved for his last 1,675. Spindler called with A♠Q♣ and had Duthie's K♥Q♠ dominated. The board rolled out 7♣10♠6♠J♠7♠ with both players rivering the flush, but Duthie's second best to Spindler's. Duthie collected $250,000 for his runner-up showing, with Spindler collecting $310,000 as the champion of PokerStars SCOOP Event #21-Hi.
Final Results:
*1. Benny "toweliestar" Spindler — $310,000
*2. John Duthie — $250,000
3. Dokosoko — $120,000
4. Alex "mistakooll" Keating — $120,000
* - two-way deal; $60,000 to eventual winner
