Benny Glaser is heading into SCOOP 2025 with a more balanced mindset, focusing on recovery and routine over intensity. Now in his fourth year grinding from Vancouver, the four-time WSOP champ says he's prioritizing consistency over obsession, with an eye on both SCOOP success and a full summer at the WSOP.
All this month, PokerNews is going to be bringing you some top tips on how to be at your best during SCOOP. These snippets of advice and pearls of wisdom will come to you from none other than...Spraggy.
He hasn't won a SCOOP title yet, but that won't stop him from telling you what you should be doing this SCOOP to get your hands on a shiny trophy!
"It’s not a tutorial. It’s a cautionary tale. If you want to learn how not to play jacks, I’ve got hours of free content, live misclicks, and the occasional accidental deep run.
"Educational? Kind of. Entertaining? Tragically, yes.
"Check it out here: https://www.twitch.tv/spraggy"
In the 891st episode of the PokerNews Podcast, Chad Holloway, Mike Holtz, and Kyna England talk about that viral knockout punch between two poker players at Red Rock in Las Vegas. See the video and learn what the Las Vegas Metro Police Department had to say when reached by PokerNews.
Also, learn about a controversy from the EPT Monte Carlo final table in which Aleksandr Shevliakov, who won the tournament, allegedly shot an angle with six players remaining. It caused quite the stir on the live stream, but was it all as it seemed? Shevliakov took to social media to share his perspective, and let's just say it led to an interesting discussion between the crew.
From there, it's recent tournament winners including Jesse Lonis, Maria Konnikova, and Valentin Vornicu; a preview of the WSOP+ App and Tournament of Champions; Allen Kessler living the life of a tournament floorman; and Chad's live reality game charity drive featuring a special "Burger of the Week" at Mark "P0ker H0" Kroon's Player's Bar in Madison, Wisconsin.
The podcast is sponsored by the #1 free-to-play WSOP app. Remember to use the bonus code "POKERNEWS" if you download and play for an extra 1,000,000 in chips!
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PokerStars players at home can also get involved in the SCOOP League action and be in with a chance of winning a $10,300 Gold Power Pass!
To take part, players must opt-in via the Challenges window and select one of the team captains to support. From there, it's all about knockouts. Players will earn points by eliminating opponents in SCOOP tournaments, with each elimination adding more weight to their team's overall score.
The top 20 players from each team will advance to the SCOOP Battle Royale on June 1, where they'll compete for over $14,000 in Power Pass prizes and the glory of contributing points to their captain’s tally.
The Battle Royale prizes are as follows:
Well, it didn’t take long for nine to become ten. Patrick "pads1161" Leonard added yet another SCOOP title to his résumé last night, winning SCOOP 30-H: $1,050 Stud Hi/Lo [6-Max] for his second victory of the 2025 series.
The WSOP bracelet winner topped a 36-entry field to claim $16,157.68 and join the elite club of double-digit SCOOP champions.
Elsewhere, Parker "Tonkaaaa" Talbot and Niklas "Lena900" Astedt both final tabled SCOOP 32-H: $1,050 NLHE [7-Max, Turbo, Mystery Bounty, Daily Cooldown]. Tonka finished 4th, banking $15,437.38 including bounties, while Astedt could stake a fair claim as the real bounty hunter, earning over $17,000 in knockouts on top of his $5,287.35 6th-place prize.
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Patrick "pads1161" Leonard | United Kingdom | $16,157.68 |
| 2 | "Niv-Mizzet D" | Finland | $11,073.43 |
| 3 | "gotanji" | Japan | $7,589.03 |
| 4 | "sgsabioni" | Brazil | $5,201.04 |
| 5 | "WTFOMFGOAO" | Thailand | $3,564.47 |
| 6 | texasilainen | Finland | $2,442.86 |
| Rank | Player | Country | Bounties | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Carlos levis" | Brazil | $26,680.77 | $17,807.02 |
| 2 | "silentm0de" | Brazil | $31,303.58 | $13,967.42 |
| 3 | "Ebaaa11" | Brazil | $1,303.57 | $10,955.86 |
| 4 | Parker "tonkaaaa" Talbot | Canada | $6,843.74 | $8,593.64 |
| 5 | "HansDenSvans" | Denmark | $0 | $6,740.74 |
| 6 | Niklas "Lena900" Astedt | Sweden | $17,495.54 | $5,287.35 |
| 7 | "WATnlos" | Latvia | $0 | $4,174.32 |
Team peace&Loove's first overall draft pick "FAL1st" (6 SCOOP titles) proved he was committed to the cause last night, firing just the 21 bullets at SCOOP 31-L: $5.50 NLHE [Turbo, The Copacabana Unlimited], $20K Gtd.
The Thai player was clearly not in his usual formidable form, failing to cash altogether in a scene reminiscent of Scott Seiver, who famously fired 43 bullets for $43,000 in 2022’s WSOP Event #24: $1,000 FLIP & GO No-Limit Hold'em.
The eventual winner needed just a single entry to take it down. British player "Rabeinho" walked away with $4,984.87 and the lion's share of the $35,049.70 prize pool.
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Rabeinho" | United Kingdom | $4,984.87 |
| 2 | "bumbabba" | Germany | $3,547,98 |
| 3 | "AlexK1432" | United Kingdom | $2,529.12 |
| 4 | "korreboet" | Belgium | $1,802.84 |
| 5 | "ingerudivin" | Romania | $1,285.12 |
| 6 | "DStoyanov94" | Bulgaria | $916.08 |
| 7 | "withered wizard" | Canada | $653.01 |
| 8 | "Antonreinold" | Sweden | $465.49 |
| 9 | "oquesou7" | Brazil | $331.81 |
We caught up with four-time WSOP champ Benny Glaser to talk about the mindset behind a successful SCOOP run. The Vancouver-based pro stressed the importance of balance, with a focus on routine and recovery, and why consistency is king when it comes to making the most of a big summer of poker.
The latter stages of SCOOP 28-M: $109 FLO8 were chock-full of talent, with Parker "tonkaaaa" Talbot, Benny "RunGodlike" Glaser, and Kenny "SpaceyFCB" Hallaert all making deep runs in the 202-entry field.
PokerStars Team Players "tonkaaaa" and "SpaceyFCB" bowed out in 30th and 7th places for $193.57 and $838.00, respectively, while Benny Glaser came painfully close to SCOOP title number 12, finishing runner-up for $3,771.92.
It was "FAL1st" of Team peace&Loove who ran well when it counted, taking down the event for $5,214.07 and scooping his 6th SCOOP title. This time, it was just the one buy-in needed.
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "FAL1st" | Thailand | $5,214.07 |
| 2 | Benny "RunGodlike" Glaser | United Kingdom | $3,771.92 |
| 3 | "zagorius" | Greece | $2,728.74 |
| 4 | "chotkitin" | Argentina | $1,974.06 |
| 5 | "pads1161" | United Kingdom | $1,428.10 |
| 6 | "WTFOMFGOAO" | United Kingdom | $1,033.14 |
| 7 | Kenny "SpaceyFCB" Hallaert | United Kingdom | $838.00 |
| 8 | "Perrymejsen" | Sweden | $679.72 |
| 9 | "DeathBrain09" | Germany | $679.72 |
