On Thursday, SCOOP-40-H: $2,100 8-Game, a tournament that boasted a $100,000 guarantee, attracted 125 players to the virtual felt, which crushed that GTD by creating an excellent $250,000 prize pool. Within the end, "kuhns89" won the title, just as he did the year before.

That's right, within the 2015 SCOOP, kuhns89 topped a field of 158 entrants to win SCOOP-35-H: $2,100 8-Game, and against all odds - which included being down in chips to Sergey "Gipsy74" Rybachenko during heads-up play -- he defended his title for his fourth career SCOOP win.

Calvin Anderson Bubbles the overall Table

The tournament attracted one of the vital game's best including Team PokerStars Pros George Danzer, Eugene Katchalov, Jason Mercier, Jason Somerville, and Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier, among others. Unfortunately, with just 18 places getting paid, not one of the Team Pros walked away with a payday.

Instead, it was the likes of "Naza114" (18th - $3,250), Ravenswood (10th - $5,375), Ronny "1-ronnyr3" Kaiser (9th - $8,125), and the best-ever SCOOP title holder Calvin "cal42688" Anderson (7th - $8,125), who actually bubbled the overall table.

When the two-day tournament went on break, just six players remained with Chris "Apotheosis92" Kruk and his stack of 313,369 leading the way.

Here's a glance at how things stacked up in the beginning of the general table:

Chris "Apotheosis92" Kruk - 313,369Sergey "Gipsy74" Rybachenko - 312,268kuhns89 - 181,4817Be/\eC7 - 170,304Alex "dynoalot" Difelice - 144,974RunGodlike - 127,604 

7Be/\eC7 Exits First; Difelice Follows Him Out the Door in Fifth

The final table kicked off with the elimination of Belarus' "7Be/\eC7," who took home $11,250 for his sixth-place finish, after which Alex "dynoalot" Difelice followed him out the door in fifth. It happened in a round of Omaha Hi/Lo with the blinds at 5,000/10,000 when "RunGodLike" (241,346) raised to 20,000 under the gun and "Kuhns89" (175,287) called from the small blind. Difelice did the similar from the massive and 3 players took a flop of J♦3♦9♠.

Kuhns89 checked, Difelice bet 10,000, and both his opponents called to peer the 4♦ turn. This time Kuhns89 led out for 20,000, Difelice called off his remaining 116, and RunGodLike called, which caused the Q♠ river. Kuhn89 bet again, and this time RunGodLike folded.

With no qualifying low, Difelice tabled the 5♦7♦[10h]2♥ for a flush, but it surely was no good as Kuhn89 held a greater flush with the K♦8♦A♠5♥. Difelice took home $16,250 for his fifth-place finish.

Rybachenko Boats Up in Stud to Send RunGodLike Out in Fifth

In a round of $12,000/$24,000 Limit Stud, Rybachenko (519,051) brought it in for 3,600 showing the 6♠ and RunGodLike (60,346), who only some days ago won SCOOP-33-H ($2,100 Stud Hi/Lo) results for $54,390, completed to 12,000 with the Q♠. Rybachenko then bet double after pairing on fourth street, which prompted RunGodLike to transport all in for 45,946. Rybachenko called and the remainder of their boards were run out.

Rybachenko: (8♣8♦) 6♠6♣4♦8♠ (J♠)RunGodLike: (T♥9♥) Q♠K♠T♠K♣ (J♥)

Rybachenko filled up on sixth street, and RunGodLike didn't catch on seventh to fall in fourth place for $21,250.

Kruk's Run Involves an Result in Third Place

The start-of-the-day chip leader, Chris "Apotheosis92" Kruk, had grown short, and in a round of 12,000/24,000/2,400 Limit Stud Hi/Lo, he got it in against Rybachenko. It happened when the latter brought it in for 3,600 with the 6♣ showing and Kruk, who had the A♣ up, completed to 12,000, leaving himself just 400 behind. Rybachenko raised and Kruk called off.

Kruk: (Q♠A♦) A♣7♥3♥2♣ (T♣)Rybachenko: (5d]J♥) 6♣4♦8♠6♠ (7♦)

Kruk got it in good with aces, but he did not improve upon them. Meanwhile, Rybachenko was behind through sixth street, but then he caught a seven on seventh to make a straight. And not using a low, Kruk, who earlier within the series finished runner-up in Event #8-H ($1,050 NLHE Heads-Up), was sent to the rail on this place for $32,500.

kuhn89 Battles Back From Chip Deficit to assert 4th SCOOP Title

Heads-up play began with Rybachenko holding 934,997 in chips to kuhns89's 315,003, however the latter held steadfast, battle into the chip lead, after which went for the knockout blow in a round of 4,000/8,000 pot-limit Omaha.

It happened when kuhns89 (975,903) called from the button and Rybachenko (274,097) checked his approach to see a J♣3♣4♥ flop. Rybachenko checked, kuhns89 bet 12,000, and Rybachenko check-raised to 52,000. kuhns89 made it 172,000 to head after which called when Rybachenko moved all in for 266,097.

Rybachenko: K♠J♥Q♥J♠kuhns89: [5c2c5djd]

Rybachenko flopped top set, but kuhns89 was drawing to both straight and flush draws. The 6♣ turn gave kuhns89 the flush, which left Rybachenko in search of the board to pair at the river. It didn't though because the T♦ bricked.

Ryabachenko took home $43,750 for his runner-up finish while kuhns89 captured his fourth SCOOP title and a $65,000 first-place prize.

SCOOP-40-H: $2,100 8-Game, $100K GuaranteedEntrants: 125Prize Pool: $250,000Place Paid: 18

1st - kuhns89 (Austria) $65,0002nd - Sergey "Gipsy74" Rybachenko (Russia) $43,7503rd - Chris "Apotheosis92" Kruk (Canada) $32,5004th - RunGodLike (UK) $21,2505th - Alex "dynoalot" Difelice (Canada) $16,2506th - 7Be/\eC7 (Belarus) $11,250

This year's SCOOP is winding down, but until it does can find recaps for every event here at the PokerStars Blog.

Chad Holloway is a contract Contributor to the PokerStars Blog.

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