Elliot Smith Wins 1st PGT Title in Texas Poker Open $5k High Roller

The Texas Poker Open continued at Champions Club in Houston, Texas, with the PGT High Roller Event #3: $5,100 No-Limit Hold'em.

Elliot Smith emerged victorious to win his first PGT title and the $58,680 first-place prize. He takes home the prestigious Texas Poker Open belt buckle trophy and 59 PGT points for his third career PGT cash and first final table. The Canadian poker pro has now eclipsed more than $2,850,000 in lifetime tournament earnings, according to The Hendon Mob.

The third high roller tournament of the series attracted a 39-entrant field that paid the final six players. Wayne Harmon was eliminated on the money bubble when he got his short stack in with jack-nine of hearts against the jack-five of clubs of Seunghyun Nam. Nam was able to river a flush to break the bubble and guarantee the six remaining players a payday of at least $11,700.

Ed Sebesta was the first to exit in the money after turning a pair and running into the turned two pair of Terry Morales. Jonathan Tamayo was out in fifth place, calling a small blind shove from Smith in the big blind, and being outdrawn by Smith's king-queen offsuit while holding ace-ten suited. Jeremy Becker was eliminated in fourth place after falling short-stacked and calling a small blind shove from Nam with seven-four offsuit in the big blind. Although Nam only held nine-high, he found a hold to send out Becker. Nam would be the next to exit in third. Nam got it in good with ace-queen suited to Morales' ace-duece offsuit, but Morales was able to spike a deuce on the turn to eliminate Nam.

Heads-up play between Morales and Smith started nearly even in chips, with Smith carrying a 75,000 chip advantage over Morales. The two players then decided on an ICM chop and to play for the belt buckle trophy.

Smith won the first big all-in between the two with tens to Morales' queen-ten offsuit, then was able to eliminate Morales two hands later with king-six offsuit against Morales' ace-deuce suited. Both players flopped a pair, but Smith turned two pair on an ace-king-five-six-seven runout to end the tournament and take home the adjusted first-place prize of $58,680, 59 PGT points, and the Texas Poker Open belt buckle trophy.

Texas Poker Open High Roller #3: $5,100 No-Limit Hold'em Payouts

Sebesta and Becker each collected their third cash of the season, while Tamayo and Morales picked up their second. Nam and Smith both took home their first.

*Adjusted payouts after both players agreed to an ICM chop prior to the start of heads-up play.

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