SCOOP 2016: 6-Pack for buck21! Shawn 'buck21' Buchanan wins 6th SCOOP bracelet in Event #52-H ($2,100 NL 8-Max)

Phenomenal. Extraordinary. Sensational. Shreddin' the gnar! What other adjectives or ski-bum terms could I come up with to describe Shawn 'buck21' Buchanan's long, strange trip through SCOOP? Buchanan won his third event at the 2016 SCOOP for his sixth career SCOOP title.

Lock up the hat trick for buck21 with a majestic victory in Event #52-H. Buchanan shipped three bracelets inside a 12-day window with previous wins in Event #14-H and Event #24-M. The hat trick equaled his career total of three previous SCOOPs. So, if you're counting at home... Triple COOP champion buck21 now has 6 SCOOPs, 1 WCOOP, and 1 TCOOP for a grand total of 8 COOPs. He's a mere Sunday Million win away from becoming an online poker Grand Slam winner. buck21's new goals: catch Calvin 'cal42688' Anderson's 7 career SCOOPs and bink the Sunday Milly for the Stars Slam.


6 SCOOP, 1 WCOOP, 1 TCOOP and a partridge in a pear tree for Shawn 'buck21' Buchanan

Coming into the final weekend of SCOOP, Shawn 'buck21' Buchanan won a pair of bracelets and needed a third to complete the spring hat trick. Although Buchanan made another final table in Event #52-H, this one also featured Jeff 'jeff710' Hakim, Ryan 'i need sheet' Yu, and Oscar 'MendaLerenda' Serradell. It didn't seem like a win was possible because buck21 struggled for the first half of the final table. When it got five-handed, buck21 was among the final five who brokered a five-way chop. He was in the middle of the pack at the time, but something clicked once the money was chopped up. It seemed like the other players eased up on the gas a bit, whereas buck21 floored it. He quickly chipped up and seized the lead.

The bracelet in Event #52-H boiled down to the final two: buck21 and Germany's baeks22, who had been big-stacked for the majority of Day 2. buck21 went into heads-up with a significant lead and the bracelet was essentially his to lose. baeks22 did not relent so easily and put up a good fight. Even though baeks22 never really gained much traction and chip up enough to make a legit comeback, buck21was unable to deliver a knockout during the first half-hour of sparring. In all, heads-up lasted forty minutes before buck21 unleashed the winning combo and dropped baeks22.

The high-end version of SCOOP Event #52-H $2,100 NL, 8-Max attracted 976 runners. They created a prize pool worth $1,952,000.00, which crushed and nearly doubled the initial guarantee. The top 112 places got a cut of the juicy prize pool with $361,120.00 originally set aside to the champ. The final five would secure a money chop, so first place earned a little less.

Day 1 of this two-day $1M Guaranteed behemoth ended with Oscar 'MendaLerenda' Serradell from the U.K. in the lead with a 666K stack. Only 97 players made the cut. Germany's baeks22 seized the lead with 56 or so to go and held onto to it until the final table bubble, when brights88 and buck21 challenged for the top spot.

With two tables remaining, Shawn 'buck21' Buchanan and Timex were both vying for one of the final eight seats in this 8-max event. Timex treaded water the entire time, while buck21 surged ahead 12-handed. He won four hands in a row to chip up to 2.5M. His run was anchored by a 1.5M pot in which he busted gdub2003 in 11th place. buck21's 8♥8♣ were outflopped by gdub2003's K♦Q♦, but buck21 rivered an eight to win the pot with a full house.

With action hand-for-hand, nine-handed went longer than expected. Shorty Timex attempted a double up by racing with 8♣8♥ against jeff710's A♥K♣. jeff710 flopped an Ace and rivered a Broadway straight to win the pot. Timex bubbled off the final table in ninth place (which paid out $22,448.00) and the final table was set.


SCOOP-52-H - Final Table Chip Counts:
Seat 1: AA DOCTOR (2,243,440)
Seat 2: buck21 (2,842,261)
Seat 3: baeks22 (4,008,063)
Seat 4: i need sheet (2,037,709)
Seat 5: Maxxx72alba (2,283,557)
Seat 6: MendaLerenda (1,253,804)
Seat 7: brights88 (3,381,992)
Seat 8: jeff710 (1,469,174)

The final table commenced during Level 31 with blinds at 20K/40K and a 5K ante. Germany's baeks22 was back in the top spot with 4M. MendaLerenda was the shorty with 1.2M.

Another final table for Shawn 'buck21' Buchanan. Could anyone stop him from winning another bracelet? He had won Event #14-H and won #24-M. He needed one more for the steezy 2016 hat trick. The Triple COOP winner banked 5 overall SCOOPs plus single wins in TCOOP and WCOOP for 7 total COOPs.

Also at this final table... Jeff 'jeff710' Hakim won a SCOOP in 2013... Ryan 'i need sheet' Yu final tabled Event #43-M and was a runner-up at the 2015 SCOOP... Oscar 'MendaLerenda' Serradell shipped the Super Tuesday thrice and won a 2016 TCOOP... Germany's baeks22 final tabled a 2015 WCOOP.


LADY DAY AND JOHN COLTRANE: MendaLerenda eliminated in 8th place

Oscar 'MendaLerenda' Serradell became the first player to exit the final table. MendaLerenda open-shoved for 602,822 with J♠J♣ and Maxxx72alba called after waking up with A♣K♥ in the big blind. MendaLerenda flopped a set but lost to a Broadway straight after the board ran out K♣J♥6♥Q♦T♥. Maxxx72alba flopped a pair of Kings and caught a runner-runner Broadway to win the pot and send MendaLerenda home. Oscar 'MendaLerenda' Serradell busted in eighth place, which paid out $29,280.00.

I THINK I'LL CALL IT MORNING: i need sheet eliminated in 7th place

Battle of the blinds. Action folded to baeks22 in the small blind, who shoved for 6,589,210 with J♠3♣, and short-stacked i need sheet called all-in for 696,959 with A♣K♣. The board ran out 9♥7♥3♠3♦4♣. baeks22 flopped a pair of treys an turned trips. i need sheet never improved Big Slick an was dunzo. For a seventh-place finish, South Korea's i need sheet took home $43,920.00.

With six to go, baeks22 led with 7.4M, followed by brights88 (4.8M), jeff710 (3.8M), buck21 (1.4M), AA DOCTOR (1M), and Maxxx72alba (961K).

SIGN OF THE AGES: Maxxx72alba eliminated in 6th place

A pair of the short stacks rumbled. buck21 open-shoved for 1,071,423 with 6♦6♥ and Maxxx72alba called all-in for 815,123 with A♣J♥. The board ran out Q♦Q♣T♦4♦5♠. buck21 faded the Broadway gutter draw and won the pot with two pair -- Queens and sixes. Maxxx72alba whiffed and never improved. Busto in sixth place, which paid out $68,320.00. buck21 chipped up to 2M.

With five remaining, baeks22 led with 7.2M and AA DOCTOR was the new shorty with 1.1M.


After baeks22's coughed up the once-daunting lead and the two short stacks thwarted assassination attempts to chip up, the final five were much closer in chips. They paused the action was paused to discuss a five-way deal. At that moment... baeks22 led with 5.1M, followed by brights88 (4.5M), jeff710 (3.6M), buck21 (3.2M), AA DOCTOR (3M). They quickly negotiated a deal with $20K set aside to the champ. The gist of the terms:

baeks22 -- $238,333.82
brights88 -- $216,791.98
jeff710 -- $201,411.63
buck21 -- $194,436.74
AA DOCTOR -- $189,547.43

With $20K on the table for the champ (plus the bracelet and balla Movado watch), everyone was in accordance with the deal, so action resumed. Incidentally, going into the first break after the deal, buck21 went on a mini-rush to seize the lead with 4.8M.

PIECES OF MAN: jeff710 eliminated in 5th place

After a protracted five-handed, we finally saw a bustout. buck21 opened to 161,245, jeff710 moved all-in for 1,372,462 with 3♠3♥, and buck21 called with A♠Q♥. Coin flip. The board ran out K♠5♠2♠8♣9♠. buck21 flopped a nut-flush draw and got there on the river. Jeff 'jeff710' Hakim busted in fifth place, which paid out $201,411.63.

With four players remaining... buck21 led with 8.5M, followed by baeks22's 5M, brights88's 3M and AA DOCTOR's 2.8M.


jeff710 - 5th place

OR DOWN YOU FALL: brights88 eliminated in 4th place

During four handed, two big stacks emerged -- AA DOCTOR and buck21. Meanwhile, the other two were seriously short. The two shorties decided to throw down. It wasn't pretty. baeks22 opened to 270,000, brights88 shoved for 1,162,224 with 7♠7♣, and baeks22 called with J♠T♠. The board finished up K♦Q♦J♦6♠J♥. baeks22 flopped a pair of Jacks and an open-ended straight draw. baeks22 rivered trip Jacks to win the pot. Lebanon's brights88 busted in fourth place, which paid out $216,791.98.

With three left in the hunt for the bracelet... buck21 led with 9M, AA DOCTOR was second with 6.8M, and baeks22 was last with 3.6M.

THE NEEDLE'S EYE: AA DOCTOR eliminated in 3rd place

We had a nontypical hand that did not involve AIPF. We actually meandered down the river before someone shoved. AA DOCTOR limp-called a raise of 321,345 from buck21. On a flop of J♣8♣5♠, AA DOCTOR check-called another 321,345 bet from from buck21. The turn was the K♦ and we got to see a little aggression. AA DOCTOR checked, buck21 fired out 786,780, AA DOCTOR check-raised to 2,122,592, and buck21 called. The river was the Q♠ and fireworks ensued. AA DOCTOR bet 2,564,759, buck21 shoved for 6,831,394, and AA DOCTOR called all-in for 2,839,126. At showdown...

buck21: Q♣Q♦

Saved by the river! buck21 won the pot with a set of Queens. AA DOCTOR had flopped top pair and turned two pair to take the lead, but got run down on the river by a set. Austria's AA DOCTOR was knocked out in third place, which paid out $189,547.43.

HEADS-UP: buck21 (Canada) vs. baeks22 (Germany)
Seat 2: buck21 (17,810,843)
Seat 3: baeks22 (1,709,157)

It might have been a formality, but baeks22 was in deep trouble. buck21 held a commanding lead. The bracelet was his to lose.

But not so fast! baeks22 was a true gamer and did not roll over and die so easily. The German put up strong resistance and gave buck21 a good fight.


6-pack of SCOOPs for buck21

THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED: baeks22 eliminated in 2nd place; buck21 wins another SCOOP!

Heads-up lasted forty minutes. baeks22 chipped up a tiny bit since the heads-up commenced, but only had 3.5M going into the final hand against buck21's 16M-mountain.

The old limp-shove! baeks22 limped, buck21 bumped it up to 511,245, baeks22 bombed it all-in for 3,487,448, and buck21 called. baeks22 took 9♦9♠ into battle against buck21's A♣J♦. It was a race. A coinflip. Alas, a Jack on the flop crushed baeks22's hopes for a comeback. The board ran out J♠7♠7♣K♣T♥ and buck21 won the pot with Jacks up.

Germany's baeks22 was knocked out in second place, which paid out $238,333.82 according to terms of the deal.

Congrats to Shawn 'buck21' Buchanan for winning Event #52-H. Based on the five-way deal, first place only paid out $214,436.74 for buck21. He also won a commemorative watch courtesy of Movado...his third watch this year!

This win marks a third victory for buck21 at the 2016 SCOOP. Yeah, he scored a hat trick. This victory also marks his sixth-career SCOOP. The Triple COOP champ has 8 overall COOPs with 6 SCOOPs, 1 WCOOP, and 1 TCOOP. The Stars Slam is the only high-level distinction he has not won. If he can take down the Sunday Million, then buck21 will become a Grand Slam winner.


SCOOP-52-H ($2,100 NL Hold'em [8-Max]) results
Entrants: 976
Total prize pool: $1,952,000.00
Places paid: 112

1. Shawn 'buck21' Buchanan (Canada) $214,436.74 *
2. baeks22 (Germany) $238,333.82 *
3. AA DOCTOR (Austria) $189,547.43 *
4. brights88 (Lebanon) $216,791.98 *
5. Jeff 'jeff710' Hakim (Lebanon) $201,411.63 *
6. Maxxx72alba (Russia) $68,320.00
7. Ryan 'i need sheet' Yu (South Korea) $43,920.00
8. Oscar 'MendaLerenda' Serradell (U.K.) $29,280.00

* Denotes five-way deal

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Pauly McGuire
@PokerStars in SCOOP