$109 Main Event Day 1 | 2023 PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker

05-28-2023 15:38 UTC

Welcome to the Spring Championship of Online Poker Main Event Low

Matt O'Halloran

2023 PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker

As Spring gives way to Summer, the PokerStars Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) comes to a close with its three main events. The SCOOP 108-L Main Event is expected to draw the largest field of the three, with the lowest buy-in of $109.

The Main Event Low will see cards in the air at 12:30 pm ET, at which point players from across the world will be vying for their piece of the prize pool, which carries a $2,000,000 guarantee. Day 1 will conclude after 17 levels of play, when players will bag their remaining chips before returning to play tomorrow, May 29th, at 12:35 pm ET. Levels will last 20 minutes each, with five minute breaks 55 minutes past the hour. Players will sit down with 25,000 chips, with blinds beginning at 50/100.

With about an hour until cards hit the felt, there are 2,237 entrants already registered. Each player is allowed up to 3 re-entries during late registration, which will remain open until the start of play on Day 2.

Last year's event saw Brazilian User GoianoVix take down the first place prize, taking home an impressive $259,474 for his efforts. While the reigning champion has not registered at this point, a couple of familiar PokerStars pros will be in the field, as both Lex "L. Veldhuis" Veldhuis and Sebastian ''peace&loove'' Huber have registered.

Be sure to stay tuned into PokerNews for all the action from these thrilling four day Main Events. Coverage of the other SCOOP Main Events can be found in the PokerStars SCOOP Hub.

05-28-2023 17:22 UTC

Set of Fives Pushes "igormaister26" Near Chip Lead

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Matt O'Halloran

Level 2 : Blinds 60/120, 15 ante

A set of fives pushes "igormaister26" over 80,000 chips

Action folded to "kikotucci" in the cutoff, who raised to 240. The button, small blind, and big blind all made the call.

On the 4♣Q♥5♦ flop, the blinds and "kikotucci" checked to the button, "igormaister26", who fired out a bet of 480. After a fold from the small blind, "xXROMmMEOXx" made the call from the big blind. Once "kikotucci" got out of the way, action went heads-up to the turn.

"xXROMmMEOXx" made another check-call on the 7♦ turn, this time to the size of 1,346. After another check following the A♦ on the river, "igormaister26" put out a bet of 2,340, which earned a call. He tabled his 5♣5♥ for a set. Once "xXROMmMEOXx" mucked his hand, the pot was pushed to "igormaister26", adding to his already impressive stack.

Player	Chips	Progress
"igormaister26"	86,285
"kikotucci"	24,141
"xXROMmMEOXx"	19,661

05-28-2023 17:40 UTC

PokerStars Ambassador Grafton Loses a Big One

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Matt O'Halloran

Level 3 : Blinds 75/150, 20 ante

Sam "SamSquid" Grafton, in the cutoff, called the raise to 375 by "popolof8960" from under the gun, as did the big blind, "UngarStuKID1".

On the Q♥2♠J♦ flop, Grafton called the bet of 449 from "popolof8960", while the big blind got out the way. On the 8♦ turn, "popolof8960" opted to check to his opponent, who took the opportunity to fire out a bet of 3,000, which was called.

Following another check on the 4♠ river, action was left on Grafton. With the pot already representing nearly 80% of his remaining stack, he went nearly all-in, betting 10,650, leaving himself just 332 chips behind. When "popolof8960" moved all in, Grafton folded, leaving himself with just over two big blinds, and a trip to the virtual re-buy line increasingly likely.

Player	Chips	Progress
"popolof8960"	39,849
Sam "SamSquid" Grafton	332 332	332

Tags: Sam Grafton

05-28-2023 18:38 UTC

Lococo Scores a Big One

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Matt O'Halloran

Level 6 : Blinds 150/300, 40 ante

Alejandro Lococo hits two pair for massive pot

Following an open to 900 from "dand63" in late position, action folded to Alejandro "[Papo]AR" Lococo in the big blind, who made the call.

On the 8♣6♥6♦ flop, Lococo check-raised his opponent's bet of 1,135 to 3,300. "dand63" made the call. On the J♣ turn, Lococo chose to lead out, firing 4,500 into the middle. Again, he got called.

On the A♣ river, Lococo bet 13,939, receiving a third call from his opponent, bloating the pot to 45,748, nearly two starting stacks. At showdown, Lococo turned over J♦A♦ for runner-runner two pair. "dand63" mucked his hand, giving the huge pot to PokerStars Ambassador Alejandro Lococo.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alejandro "[Papo]AR" Lococo	74,429 49,504	49,504

"dand63"	41,293

Tags: Alejandro Lococo

05-28-2023 18:47 UTC

"clinker_boat" Sails into Chip Lead with Two Pair

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Matt O'Halloran

Level 6 : Blinds 150/300, 40 ante

"clinker_boat" Makes Two Pair, Takes Chip Lead

"clinker_boat" opened to 660 from the cutoff. His only call came from "drehds420" in the big blind, and the two went heads-up to the flop.

When the flop fell 3♠9♠A♠, the players checked through. On the 10♥ turn, "clinker_boat" led out for 895, getting a call from the opponent.

On the 6♣ river, "drehds420" checked yet again. With 3,580, "clinker_boat" moved his opponent all-in, for their remaining 11,471 chips. "drehds420" found the call, and the pair tabled their hands.

"drehds420": 7♦A♣
"clinker_boat": 10♦A♦

The two pair of "clinker_boat" was enough to trounce the pair of aces of "drehds420", eliminating them from the tournament while propelling "clinker_boat" into the chip lead.

Player	Chips	Progress
clinker_boat	118,530
drehds420	Busted

05-28-2023 19:49 UTC

Kings Hold for Veldhuis

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Matt O'Halloran

Level 9 : Blinds 250/500, 60 ante

Lex Veldhuis Scores a Knockout with Kings

After a limp from "stendobans" in the cutoff, Lex "L. Veldhuis" Veldhuis raised to 1,750 on the button. The blinds got out of the way before the limper made the call to see the flop.

On the J♣4♥2♥ flop, "stendobans" led out for 2,365. Veldhuis raised to 6,250. "stendobans" three-bet shoved, putting themselves at risk for 21,430 effective. Veldhuis made the call and the cards were on their backs.

"stendobans": 6♦6♣
Lex "L. Veldhuis" Veldhuis: K♠K♦

Veldhuis was a massive favorite, and after the A♦ turn just needed to fade a six on the river. The 7♠ was clean, and Veldhuis scooped the pot with his kings.

Player	Chips	Progress
Lex "L. Veldhuis" Veldhuis	79,572 67,248	67,248
"stendobans"	Busted

Tags: Lex Veldhuis

05-28-2023 20:14 UTC

Back to Back Knockouts for Chip Leader

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Matt O'Halloran

Level 9 : Blinds 250/500, 60 ante

"enriqMSTacho" scores second knockout in as many hands

In early position, "enriqMSTacho" raised to 1,100, getting calls from both blinds. He continued for 1,247 on the 3♥4♥Q♦ flop. The small blind folded before the big blind, "DirtyPhoenix", made the call.

"DirtyPhoenix" made another check-call on the J♦ turn, this time for 9,411. On the 7♣ river, "enriqMSTacho" moved all in for 35,348 effective, putting his opponent at risk if they call. They were able to find that call, and soon got the bad news.

"DirtyPhoenix": Q♥A♣
"enriqMSTacho": 3♣3♦

Top pair was no good against the set of threes, and "DirtyPhoenix" was sent to the rail while "enriqMSTacho" added to his chip lead.

On the very next deal, "enriqMSTacho" once again found himself delivering a knockout blow. "CarppiCala" opened to 1,100 from under the gun. Action folded all the way to "enriqMSTacho" in the big blind, who called.

On the 8♣9♦A♦ flop, "CarppiCala" fired out 1,062 before getting check-raised to 3,000 and making the call. On the 3♥ turn, "CarppiCala" moved all in their last 12,896. After a call, the cards went on their backs.

"CarppiCala": A♠J♣
"enriqMSTacho": K♦5♦

"CarppiCala" was in good shape to survive and double up with top pair. However, the 3♦ river completed the flush draw, sending them to the rail, while "enriqMSTacho" picked up a second consecutive pot.

Player	Chips	Progress
enriqMSTacho	257,619 17,606	17,606
CarppiCala	Busted
DirtyPhoenix	Busted

05-28-2023 20:46 UTC

Cooler puts "Royalspecial" in Chip Lead Contention

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Matt O'Halloran

Level 11 : Blinds 350/700, 90 ante

"Royalspecial" wins a big pot with tens full

After an open to 1,435 by "schwester" in early position, "zarepokerboy" put in a three bet to 4,550 from the cutoff. "Royalspecial" made the call from the small blind. Once the big blind folded, "schwester" put in the call as well.

With 15,070 already in the middle, three players saw the K♥10♠K♠ flop. Action checked to the cutoff who fired out for 6,023. "Royalspecial" made the call before "schwester" folded.

After the 4♠ turn, "zarepokerboy" put in a hefty bet of 19,252. "Royalspecial" had his opponent covered easily and decided to apply maximum pressure, check-raising all-in for 44,769 effective. "zarepokerboy" made the call.

"zarepokerboy": 9♠K♦
"Royalspecial":10♦10♥

In quite the cooler, "zarepokerboy" managed to flop trip kings yet was still outflopped by the full house of "Royalspecial". There were still outs to make a higher full house, but the 7♥ on the river was not one of those outs, sending the pot to "Royalspecial" and "zarepokerboy" to the rail.

Player	Chips	Progress
Royalspecial	223,910 32,807	32,807
zarepokerboy	Busted

05-28-2023 21:32 UTC

Lococo Cracks Aces, Top 10 in Chips

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Matt O'Halloran

Level 13 : Blinds 450/900, 110 ante

Alejandro "[Papo]AR" Lococo opened to 1,890 from the button. "Giorgos9293" three bet to 6,300 from the small blind. Once the big blind got out of the way, Lococo put in the call.

On the J♣3♦9♥ flop, the three better continued for 4,314 and was again called by Lococo.

On the 7♣ turn, "Giorgos9293" again led, but this time with a min-bet of just 900. Lococo put in a raise to 11,250 and got called. With 45,508 in the middle, the 4♣ completed the board on the river. "Giorgos9293", the small stack of the two with 68,906 behind, checked to Lococo who moved all in. He got a call and the card faces went skyward.

"Giorgos9293": A♦A♥
Alejandro "[Papo]AR" Lococo: 8♣10♣

Lococo had been dominated preflop, roughly a 4:1 dog in the hand. The flop gave him an open-ended straight draw, but still left him worse than a 2:1 dog. The 7♣ turn had given Lococo the straight, more than enough to crack his opponent's aces, the 4♣ river for the flush was nothing more than gravy. This 183,320 chip pot launched Lococo into chip lead contention, currently sitting in 10th place among the nearly 7,600 players remaining in the field.

Player	Chips	Progress
Alejandro "[Papo]AR" Lococo	258,821 84,599	84,599

Giorgos9293	Busted

Tags: Alejandro Lococo

05-28-2023 21:59 UTC

Straight Flush for Chip Lead

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Matt O'Halloran

Level 14 : Blinds 500/1,000, 125 ante

"stampr_gg" opened to 2,000 from late position. The cutoff, "Johnny Pokr" three bet to 6,250. "stampr_gg" was the only caller.

Action checked to the three better on the 3♦2♠9♣ flop. He fired out 6,000. "stampr_gg" proceeded to move all in for 61,134 effective, covering his opponent, who made the call.

"Johnny Pokr": J♥J♦
"stampr_gg": 10♣J♣

The small stack was in great shape, better than a 9:1 favorite to survive and double up. The 8♣ provided a bit of a sweat, as he was down to just a 2:1 favorite. Then, the Q♣ on the river gave "stampr_gg" the straight flush, sending his opponent to the rail, and sending themselves to the top of the chip leaderboard.

Player	Chips	Progress
stampr_gg	403,082 89,726	89,726
Johnny Pokr	Busted