The 2026 edition of the Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP) got underway on March 1, and the online felt is already buzzing with big names and deep runs.
Among those making headlines are Neymar Jr., who continues to chase his first SCOOP title, and Benny Glaser, who has once again added silverware to his ever-growing collection.
Neymar Jr. Comes Close — Again
Though globally recognized for his brilliance on the soccer field, Neymar Jr. has proven he’s more than capable at the poker tables. Still, a SCOOP trophy remains elusive.
The Brazilian ambassador made deep runs in both the $530 NLHE SCOOP Kickoff and the $1,050 NLHE Mystery Warm-Up, reaching the final table in each. But his most recent shot at glory came in the $5,200 NLHE PKO Bounty Builder Super High Roller.
Returning on March 3 as one of six remaining contenders, Neymar faced a stacked lineup that included online crusher Simon Mattsson and Denmark’s Daniel Petersen.
With $36,724 plus bounties up top, the stakes were high.
Neymar managed to outlast Mattsson and battle his way into three-handed play. However, his run ended when he committed his chips with a dominated holding against Petersen. A king-high board favored the Dane, sending Neymar to the rail once more in heartbreaking fashion.
Petersen went on to defeat “kZhh” heads-up to secure the title, while Neymar was left to reflect on a third near-miss in this year’s series.
Glaser Adds to a Legendary Resume
While Neymar searches for his breakthrough, Glaser continues to pad an already historic SCOOP résumé.
The British mixed-game specialist captured the $320 NLHE Turbo Fenomeno for $16,625, earning his 12th career SCOOP title. That victory pushes his total COOP (SCOOP + WCOOP) title count to an eye-popping 28.
And he nearly made it two trophies in the opening stretch of the series.
In the $1,050 HORSE 6-Max, Glaser entered the final table as one of the shorter stacks with seven players remaining. Despite laddering up and outlasting four opponents, his comeback bid fell short in third place.
Still, with a packed schedule ahead, few would bet against Glaser making another run — especially as he continues to chase the all-time SCOOP title leader, Simon Mattsson.
Early Fireworks at SCOOP
With high-profile pros already making deep runs and marquee events still to come, the 2026 SCOOP is shaping up to deliver its usual mix of drama and dominance.
Neymar Jr. may be knocking on the door.
But as history has shown, when it comes to online championship poker, Benny Glaser rarely waits long to answer.
