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Gavin Smith (poker player)

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Gavin Smith
Gavin Smith at the2007 World Series of Poker
Nickname(s)Birdguts, Caveman
ResidenceGuelph, Ontario
Born(1968-09-04)September 4, 1968
Guelph,Ontario,Canada[1]
DiedJanuary 14, 2019(2019-01-14)(aged 50)
Houston,Texas,U.S.
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)1
Final table(s)2
Money finish(es)18
HighestITM
Main Event finish		52nd,2004
World Poker Tour
Title(s)1
Final table(s)4
Money finish(es)10
Information last updated on27 June 2010.

Gavin Smith(September 4, 1968 – January 14, 2019) was aCanadianprofessionalpokerplayer who won theWorld Poker Tour'sSeason IVMirage Poker Showdown Championship event and the WPT Season IV Player of the Year award in 2005, then at the2010 World Series of Poker,won the$2,500 Mixed Hold 'em eventalong with his firstbracelet.[2][3]

Smith learned how to play cards by playingcribbageandrummywith his father. He started playing poker at the age of 26, playing mixed games with co-workers. Smith became apoker dealerin 1996 and set up his own poker club in 1998 inKitchener,Ontario. Before that, he worked as ataxicabdriver and on agolf courseinGuelph,Ontario.

Poker career

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Smith first came to note by winning tournaments inno limitTexas hold 'emandseven card studin the 1999 and 2000 World Poker Finals atFoxwoods.[4][5]

World Poker Tour

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In May 2005, he won the first prize of $1,128,278 in theWorld Poker Tour(WPT) Mirage Poker Showdown inLas Vegas,defeatingTed Forrestin the final heads-up confrontation.[6]In October 2005 he made the WPT final table again in the 2nd AnnualDoyle BrunsonNorth American Poker Championship, where he finished third, behindMinh LyandDan Harrington.[7]He made a third WPT final table in January 2006, finishing fourth.[8]The three WPT final tables earned him the World Poker Tour Player of the Year award for Season 4.[9]

World Series of Poker

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Smith first cashed in theWorld Series of Poker(WSOP) in 2003 and would later cash in the $10,000 no limit hold'em main event in 2004, finishing 52nd.[10][11]He went on to cash in 2005 also (471st), as well as in 2007 (592nd).[12][13]

Smith boasted several other high finishes, including a runner-up finish in 2007 ($1,500 Pot-Limit Hold 'Em for $155,645).[14]The experience Smith gained in mixed-games when he started playing also served him well, as he had several high finishes inH.O.R.S.E.tournaments.[3]

Smith earned his firstWorld Series of Poker braceletin the $2,500 Mixed Hold'em (Limit/No Limit) event at the2010 World Series of Poker,defeating Danny Hannawa heads-up, and earning $268,238 for his first-place finish.[15]

World Series of Poker bracelets

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Year Tournament Prize (US$)
2010 $2,500 Mixed Hold'em (Limit/No-Limit) $268,238

World Series of Poker Circuit events

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In May 2006, Smith finished runner-up in theWorld Series of Poker circuit eventatHarrah's New Orleans,winning $293,930.[16]

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Smith won theBig August Rec.Gambling Excursion (BARGE)Main Event in 2004, besting a field of 249 poker enthusiasts, inLas Vegas,Nevada.[17]

In July 2006, Smith won the World Pro-Am Challenge event at thePoker Dome Challenge,taking home the $500,000 first prize.[18]

From April 2006 until October 2006, Gavin was one of the hosts ofThe Circuitradio show sponsored byCard Playermagazine. Beginning in 2007, Smith andJoe Sebokco-hosted PokerRoad Radio with Joe Stapleton. Smith's final episode as a co-host on PokerRoad Radio was July 12, 2010.[19]

He wonPoker After Dark´s Season 3 Week 2 "19th Hole", defeatingPhil Iveyin heads-up play. It was his first time on the show.[20]

Smith's lifetime live tournament winnings exceeded $6,321,000.[21]His 47 cashes as the WSOP accounted for $1,673,208 of those winnings.[22]

Prop bets

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Smith co-starred withJoe Sebokon a show called "Prop Bets" on theInternet-TV siteRawVegas.tv,mainly due to the above-mentioned prop bet at the 2006 World Series of Poker.

Smith won a bet with Sebok on who would win the mostCard Playermagazine points at the2006 World Series of Poker.As a consequence, Sebok had to wear a bear outfit on Day 1B, among other funny-looking outfits, includingWonder Woman.

Smith had a tattoo on his upper right shoulder of a four-leaf clover and the initials J.S. He had to get the tattoo after losing aprop betto Sebok.

Death

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Smith died on January 14, 2019, at his home inHouston,Texas,at the age of 50.[23]He died in his sleep.[24]

As a tribute, the Gavin Smith Memorial Poker Tournament was held at the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, as the first event of the 2019 World Series of Poker.[25]

References

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  1. ^Carty, Matt (January 16, 2019)."Guelph poker player Gavin Smith found dead in Texas".Global News.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  2. ^Pempus, Brian (June 27, 2010)."World Series of Poker -- Gavin Smith Wins Event No. 44 ($2,500 Mixed Hold'em)".CardPlayer.RetrievedJune 27,2010.
  3. ^ab"Gavin Smith's profile on The Hendon Mob".The Hendon Mob Poker DatabasePoker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  4. ^"1999 World Poker Finals, No Limit Hold'em".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  5. ^"2000 World Poker Finals, 7 Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  6. ^"2005 Mirage Poker Showdown, WPT No Limit Hold'em Championship".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  7. ^"Bellagio Festa Al Lago IV, 2nd Annual Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship - No Limit Hold'em".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  8. ^"2006 Gold Strike World Poker Open, Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  9. ^Feldman, Andrew (May 11, 2006)."Smith named WPT Player of the Year".ESPN.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  10. ^"34th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2003, Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo Split".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  11. ^"35th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2004, World Championship Event".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  12. ^"36th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2005, No Limit Texas Hold'em - World Championship Event".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  13. ^"38th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2007, World Championship No Limit Hold'em".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  14. ^"38th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2007, Pot Limit Hold'em".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  15. ^"41st World Series of Poker - WSOP 2010, Limit/No Limit Hold'em".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  16. ^"WSOP Circuit - WSOPC New Orleans, Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  17. ^"BARGE 2004, No Limit Hold'em".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  18. ^"World Pro-Am Challenge, No Limit Hold'em".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  19. ^PokerRoad Radio Podcast (July 12, 2010), Gavin Smith Farewell Episode;"Poker Road Radio - Gavin's Farewell Episode with guest Paul McGuire - PokerRoad".Archived fromthe originalon July 15, 2010.RetrievedJuly 20,2010.
  20. ^"Poker After Dark (PAD) Season III, Week 2 - 19th Hole".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  21. ^"Gavin Smith's profile on The Hendon Mob".The Hendon Mob Poker Database.RetrievedDecember 4,2023.
  22. ^"Gavin Smith".WSOP.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  23. ^Holloway, Chad (January 15, 2019)."Poker Pro Gavin Smith Unexpectedly Passes Away at Age 50".PokerNews.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
  24. ^"Poker Champion Gavin Smith Dead At Age 50".CardPlayer.January 15, 2019.RetrievedJanuary 15,2019.
  25. ^Jadavji, Aleeyah (May 30, 2019)."Poker Community Comes Together for Gavin Smith's Children".PokerNews.RetrievedMarch 24,2024.
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