There's no type of poker more pure than heads-up. It is a one-on-one battle to the death where just one can survive. A heads-up tournament is a ruthless journey to navigate a windy path through ten heads-up matches in succession, and just one player managed to reach that feat today in today's SCOOP event. It's another SCOOP title for Germany as OKVirusKO claimed an outstanding victory and over $22,000 in prize money.

A field of 615 players turned out for Event #17-M of the 2016 SCOOP schedule, a $215 Pot Limit Omaha Heads-Up Event. They produced a prize pool of $123,000 which greater than doubled the advertised guarantee.

Chris Moneymaker, Kosei Ichinose, Naoya Kihara, George Danzer and Jason Mercier were all in action for the red spade of Team PokerStars but they were eliminated within the early rounds of matches to fall wanting the money for the highest 64 players.

Day 1 of play would see the sector of 615 reduced to simply 16. They might sleep easy with $2,127.90 locked up but with dreams of glory and the $22,302.36 top prize. That may require another four victories and after the primary two rounds on Day 2 it will come all the way down to OKVirusOK, Blindoath, Martrose and Flowerbunny.

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Semi Final: OKVirusKO vs Blindoath

It would take just on one hour of heads-up play for OKVirusKO to shake off Canada's Blindoath and progress to the general of this event.

There was nothing between these two titans within the first half the match, and the one time either was all in was when both had the nut straight they usually chopped it up.

Blindoath began to inch ahead and had a shot at victory when the 2 went at it on a flop of K♠5♣J♠. OKVirusKO had 5♥5♠6♠7♣ for a collection and flush draw, but needed to fade a whole lot of outs against Blindoath's Q♣T♦K♦9♥ wrap. The turn was the 6♦ and river the equally-bricky 4♦ to look OKVirusKO double through or even the match once again.

At one bizarre point both players were back on their very same start stacks of 10,000 apiece, almost as though the former thirty minutes hadn't actually happened.

It wasn't until after the primary scheduled break that OKVirusKO began to gain control. After winning a large pot with kings stuffed with eights, OKVirusKO had a stretch of winning 19 of 25 consecutive hands to go away Blindoath in some trouble.

Blindoath found a double with an ace-high flush, but was unable to mount a comeback. The overall hand would see Blindoath get aggressive with a preflop three-bet holding 7♥T♦8♥Q♦. OKVirusKO four-bet to place Blindoath all within the. call was made and OKVirusKO showed a monster A♠6♣T♠A♦. The board fell 4♠3♥K♠2♠4♦ and the aces were good for OKVirusKO to take the pot and advance to the overall. Blindoath collected $7,095.87 for fourth place.

Semi Final: Martrose vs Flowerbunny

The second semi final would go a bit longer with Martrose and Flowerbunny battling it out for around 80 minutes before Martrose gained the higher hand and grabbed the win.

It was a tight, tough match for the duration. In fact, it could take almost HALF-HOUR before the primary four-figure pot can be won with Martrose taking it down uncontested with a river bet.

There was nothing in it on the first scheduled break but Martrose was in a position to slowly grind down his opponent.

Martrose picked up a handy pot with aces and fives, and had a pleasing run to win eight of nine consecutive hands before the overall hand of the match was dealt.

After raising preflop, Flowerbunny moved all in on the flop of K♣4♠2♥ holding 3♥Q♠Q♦4♣. Martrose did not have a couple but made the decision with 6♥3♣5♥9♣ for a straight wrap, and that draw landed when the 3♦ hit the turn. The river was the T♥ to look Martrose advance to the general and leave Flowerbunny to gather $7,095.87 for third place.

Final: Martrose vs OKVirusKO

Martrose and OKVirusKO would battle it out within the final. Both were assured of $14,191.74 but they were striving for the news title and top prize of $22,302.36.

The final ended up being the quickest of the finals with a winner decided in around 40 minutes of play. OKVirusKO gained the early advantage with a few nice pots, but Martrose picked up a variety of small pots to stick in touch. 

OKVirusKO kicked up the aggression, winning eight of nine consecutive pots, to position Martrose stressed. OKVirusKO took down another nice pot with a turn check-raise and bet at the river that went uncalled to stretch to a three-to-one chip lead before the general hand unfolded.

From the button, OKVirusKO min-raised preflop before Martrose installed a three-bet. OKVirusKO called they usually took a flop of A♣A♦7♠. Martrose bet out 1,200 and OKVirusKO called to peer the K♥ hit the turn. Martrose had 2,710 chips remaining and committed them into the center holding Q♦9♥A♥Q♥ for trip aces but OKVirusKO snap-called and showed 7♣8♠A♠Q♥ for a flopped full house! The river was the 4♥ which changed nothing to depart OKVirusKO as our champion!

Martrose came close but ultimately picks up $14,191.74 for second place, as OKVirusKO wins the inside track title and $22,302.36 in prize money! Congratulations!

2016 SCOOP-17-M: $215 PL Omaha [Heads-Up] - $50K GuaranteedEntrants: 615Prize Pool: $123,000Places Paid: 64

1. OKVirusKO (Germany) $22,302.362. Martrose (Sweden) $14,191.743. Flowerbunny (UK) $7,095.874. Blindoath (Canada) $7,095.875. jasjas11 (UK) $3,953.226. victorrz (Russia) $3,953.227. Betrob7 (Sweden) $3,953.228. Santiniii (Austria) $3,953.22

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Heath "TassieDevil" Chick is a contract contributor to PokerStars Blog.

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