Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:25 PM Local Time
A long-standing member of the "best-without-a-bracelet" club, Gavin Smith tonight leaves that club to join another one -- those who have crowned their poker careers with WSOP gold!
This tournament attracted an especially tough field of 507 entrants, and the final table proved tough as well, all of the way down to a lengthy heads-up match between Smith and Danny Hannawa. Despite ballooning limits, the pair battled for two hours through the alternating limit and no-limit rounds before Smith finally took the last of Hannawa's chips.
There's a celebratory mood here at the main feature stage, as Smith's many supporters -- among them Jeff Madsen, Jon Friedberg, Erick Lindgren, Chau Giang, Joe Sebok, Layne Flack, and Court Harrington -- have gathered to congratulate their friend and fellow competitor.
"It feels good," he said afterwards, employing an almost uncharacteristic seeming understatement. Smith has always maintained he didn't need the bracelet to validate his career, but he clearly recognizes this as a moment worth noting. When asked if he planned to party it up tonight, he said perhaps, but not too much -- there's another tournament to be played tomorrow!
Congratulations to Gavin Smith, Event #44 Champion! Thanks for following our coverage on PokerNews, and be sure to return in the coming days as we wind our way down to the Main Event.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:15 PM Local Time
Limit
Danny Hannawa raised from the button, Smith reraised, and Hannawa called with his remaining chips. The crowd stood noisily as the players tabled their cards:
Smith
Hannawa
The flop came , and a loud cheer went up at the sight of the ace. The turn brought the and an "ooooh" as Hannawa was still drawing live. But the river was the , and Smith has won!
Smith's huge crowd of supporters swarmed the stage to congratulate him, but Smith took a moment first to give Hannawa a big hug of congratulations.
It's all over! Smith is the Event #44 Champion!
Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:13 PM Local Time
Danny Hannawa two bet from the button and Gavin Smith made the call.
Flop:
Smith check-raised Hannawa's bet. Hannawa called and the fell on the turn. Smith bet and Hannawa called and the river brought the .
Smith bet and Hannawa called. Smith tabled a pair of eights to take the pot and cripple Hannawa.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:08 PM Local Time
Limit
After that last big hand, Gavin Smith was up to 2.81 million to Danny Hannawa's 1 million.
Next Smith had the button, and raised (to 160,000), and Danny Hannawa called. The flop came , Hannawa checked, Smith bet (80,000), and Hannawa folded.
On the next hand, Hannawa gave Smith a walk.
Then, Smith limped from the button, and Hannawa checked. The flop came . Hannawa checked, Smith bet, and Hannawa folded.
After than sequence, Smith moved up over 3 million, and Hannawa to less than 800,000.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:07 PM Local Time
Limit
Gavin Smith two bet from the button and Danny Hannawa made the call.
The flop came down .
Hannawa check-called Smith's bet and the turn brought the . Again, Hannawa check-called Smith's bet. The fell on the river and once again, Hannawa check-called Smith.
Smith tabled for the win and his rail went wild.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 11:00 PM Local Time
Limit
From the button, Gavin Smith made it two bets. Danny Hannawa made the call and the flop brought the .
It was checked to Smith who tossed in a bet. Hannawa made the call and the fell on the turn.
Both players checked to the river. After they both checked once more, Hannawa tabled for two pair to take the pot.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:58 PM Local Time
Limit
Gavin Smith won the first hand of the limit round, then came a hand in which he raised from the button and Danny Hannawa called. The flop came . Hannawa checked, Smith bet, and Hannawa called. The turn was the , and this time Hannawa check-folded to Smith's bet.
Just like that Hannawa is down to just over 1 million and Smith up to 2.7 million.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:55 PM Local Time
We now move back over into limit hold'em, with the stakes now a whopping 40,000/80,000.
Gavin Smith -- 2.3 million
Danny Hannawa -- 1.51 million
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:55 PM Local Time
No-Limit
Gavin Smith called from the button and Danny Hannawa checked his option.
Flop:
Hannawa checked to Smith who bet 60,000. That was all it took.
We're off to some limit action.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:50 PM Local Time
No-Limit
Gavin Smith limped, Danny Hannawa raised to 160,000, and Smith called. The flop came and both checked. The turn was the . Hannawa checked, Smith bet 190,000, and after a half-minute of consideration Hannawa called.
The river brought the . Hannawa again checked, and this time Smith bet 295,000. Hannawa leaned forward to study the board, then with his hand over his mouth looked across the table at Smith, who sat looking downward. Finally after a couple of minutes, Hannawa let it go.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:48 PM Local Time
No-Limit
Danny Hannawa made the call from the button and Gavin Smith checked his option.
Flop:
Smith checked and Hannawa bet 55,000. Smith called and the turn brought the . Both players checked and the fell on the river. Both players checked once again and Hannawa tabled fives to take the pot.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:42 PM Local Time
No-Limit
Gavin Smith limped from the button and Danny Hannawa checked his option.
The flop came down and both players checked. The fell on the turn and again, both players checked.
When the fell on the river, Hannawa checked to Smith who bet 75,000. Hannawa made the call only to see Smith table for aces and queens to take the pot.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:41 PM Local Time
No-Limit
Danny Hannawa limped from the button, and Gavin Smith called. The flop came and both checked. The turn was the . Smith checked, Hannawa bet 80,000, and Smith called.
The river then brought the . Smith bet 160,000, then Hannawa pushed out a hefty raise to 575,000 total. Smith rubbed his forehead, and after a half-minute or so let it go.
Hannawa showed his hand after -- !
Hannawa is up to 1.8 million now, and Smith down to a little over 2 million.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:33 PM Local Time
No-Limit
Gavin Smith called from the button and Danny Hannawa checked his option.
Flop:
Both players checked to the turn, which brought the . Hannawa check-called Smith's bet of 55,000.
The fell on the river and both players checked. Hannawa showed to take the pot with a pair of eights.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:26 PM Local Time
No-Limit
In our first hand at this new level, Gavin Smith called from the button and Danny Hannawa checked his option.
The flop came down and both players checked. The fell on the turn and Hannawa checked. Smith bet 80,000 and Hannawa made the call.
The came on the river and both players checked.
Smith showed to take the pot with ace-high.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:24 PM Local Time
Back to no-limit. This heads-up match has now lasted about an hour and 15 minutes.
Gavin Smith -- 2.36 million
Danny Hannawa -- 1.45 million
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:23 PM Local Time
Limit
Gavin Smith called from the button, Danny Hannawa raised, and Smith called. The flop came . Hannawa bet, Smith raised, and Hannawa called. Both then checked the turn and river.
Hannawa showed , which turned out to be good.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:18 PM Local Time
Limit
Gavin Smith raised from the button, and Danny Hannawa called. The flop came . Hannawa checked, Smith bet, and Hannawa called. Both then checked the turn and river.
Hannawa showed , which was good as Smith mucked.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:16 PM Local Time
Limit
Danny Hannawa called from the button and Gavin Smith checked his option.
Flop:
Both players checked the flop and the turn brought the . Smith checked to Hannawa who tossed in a bet. That was enough to get Smith to fold.
Saturday, June 26, 2010 10:10 PM Local Time
Limit
Danny Hannawa raised from the button and Gavin Smith made the call.
The flop came down . Smith check-raised Hannawa, who made the call.
The turn brought the and Smith bet and was called by Hannawa.
The fell on the river and both players checked. Smith tabled but it was no good as Hannawa showed .