Mirage Poker Showdown WPT Champion: Gavin Smith
The first tournament of the World Poker Tour Season IV has a winner. Gavin Smith made it official when he defeated Ted Forrest to take the title and become the WPT's latest millionaire. Gavin outlasted the field of 317 to take the top prize and as an added bonus he receives a $25,000 seat in the WPT season ending Championship at the Bellagio in 2006.
The last hand saw Ted Forrest call all-in with A-J in the pocket. Gavin showed the Hilton Sisters (pocket queens). The flop came K-10-9, the turn was a 5 and the river brought a 4 and the championship when Gavin's queens held up.
Gavin also takes home, in addition to the $25K seat, a cool $1,128,278 in cash. Second place finisher, Ted Forrest, had to settle for the second place money amounting to $579,386.
In 3rd was Chris Bell who ran into seriously tough luck, having Gavin Smith double through him when a three outer hit; then Ted Forrest hit when Chris had Ted dominated (Chris' A-K vs. Ted Forrest's A-7). The Final blow came when Chris moved all in with a pair of 8's and Gavin Smith called with an A-Q that hit. Chris left in third place taking $289,693.
Thang Pham was crippled when his bluff was called by Forrests' flopped set and finished off in 4th by Ted Forrest when A-9 dominated Pham's A-5. This sent the chip leader going into today packing with an extra $182,964 for his 4th place finish.
Gene Todd was the 5th place finisher when his Gavin Smith moved all--in on the turn and Todd elected to call. Todd had two pair, Gavin Smith had a full house. The river brough no help and Gene Todd walks away with $137,223.
The 6th place finisher was the short stack coming into today, Mark Ellerbe. Pham's pocket 5's flopped a set which became a full-house on the turn to eliminate Ellerbe who takes home $106,729 for his efforts.
Photos of all the action at the Mirage Poker Showdown including the WPT Championship are in the World Poker Tour Photo Gallery for complete tournament results visit the Mirage Poker Showdown results and for the Championship event visit the World Poker Tour season 4 results.