Adrian Mateos is making a big claim to be considered the best NLH player on the table at the moment.
Fresh off going super-deep in the EPT Monte Carlo Main Event and making the final table of the €25k, the Spanish pro moved his game online for the start of the 2024 SCOOP. And, in short order, 'Amadi_017' picked up his first SCOOP title of the series, and his sixth in total, winning the $5,200 SCOOP 4-H PKO on Monday night.
106 runners meant the prize pool didn't hit the $600k guarantee, and 13 players cashed. That didn't include Lex Veldhuis, despite the PokerStars pro firing three bullets. His last saw him eliminated in 27th.
Mateos was impressive throughout, and the "hand of the tournament" played out when he was a dog heads-up.
Mateos bluffs it all on the river
Down to the final two, Mateos found himself up against online crusher Alisson 'heyalisson' Piekazewic for the title. Mateos was down to 20 big blinds at one point (1.4 million to 9 million) but doubled with 
against 
on a 
board.
Two hands later, Mateos put his new stack to work.
Piekazewic raised to 147,000 preflop with 
and Mateos called with 
to see the 
flop. Mateos checked, Piekazewic bet 124,600 and Mateos called.
The turn gave Piekazewic the straight, and, after Mateos checked, he bet out 224,280. Mateos wasn't done and called.
Mateos checked again, and the 
dropped on the river, completing any flush draws. Piekazewic bet 504,000 and Mateos shipped his remaining 3,219,172 chips. Piekazewic folded without much thought to bring the stacks much closer to parity.
"Wow!" Nick Walsh said on comms. "Using the club as the bluff, guys. Oh man, 'heyalisson' sitting here with the straight and the club blocker... makes the fold. It's a rough spot, you're obviously really concerned your opponent has rivered the flush there. What a move from 'Amadi' man, that's absolutely savage."
That was Piekazewic's best shot at the title, although the heads-up battle went on for nearly another 50 minutes.
Mateos wins battle of the aces
Mateos had the momentum when he picked up 
with Piekazewic getting 
. The flop was harmless enough, but the ace on the turn spelled doom for Piekazewic. He picked up $68,255 and $27,148 in bounties for second place. Mateos also took $68,255 but added a massive $76,367 in bounties and, of course, the prestigious SCOOP title.
"Is there anyone better than Adrian Mateos?" Walsh asked.
"Obviously not on this night," said Chris Straghalis, Director of Online Poker Experience at PokerStars on co-comms. "Certainly, that bluff all-in was the hand of the tournament for me. Just really impressive play. Throughout, he seemed like he knew where he was at all times. Just a really impressive play all the way around."
You can watch cards-up final day coverage below.
$5,200 SCOOP 4-H PKO results
| Place | Player | Payouts |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Amadi_017 | $68,255 (+$76,367) |
| 2nd | heyalisson | $68,255 (+$27,148) |
| 3rd | Nacho124441 | $45,575 (+$23,046) |
| 4th | uwintakeit | $35,018 (+$8,125) |
| 5th | C. Darwin2 | $26,906 (+$14,843) |
| 6th | APonakov | $20,674 (+$5,625) |
| 7th | WushuTM | $15,885 (+$1,250) |
| 8th | KuuL | $12,205 (+$7,343) |
| 9th | roo_400 | $10,285 (+$3,750) |
Check out the full 2024 SCOOP schedule, with tournaments running all the way through to May 29.
