Dan Smith has claimed the fifth PokerGO title of his storied career by winning the ongoing 2024 US Poker Open's Event #3, $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em, on Thursday, Smith's latest triumph was worth $235,200 and pushed his lifetime live-event winninhs to nearly $54.3 million, keeping him fifth on the Hendon Mob's career earnings list.
Smith reached Thursday's streamed finale in third position following Wednesday's Day 1 action that saw 12 players cash and the final seven return to battle for most of the prize money. David Stamm and Rodger Johnson led the way, while Event #2 winner Jesse Lonis began the day in fourth, seeking back-to-back titles.
For most of Day 2, it appeared that the title would go Johnson's way. He took over the chip lead, and by the time four players remained, Johnson had gathered over half of the chips in play. At that point Smith was the shortest remaining stack and was on the verge of elimination, but he then logged the first of three double-ups, soon laddering up when Lonis busted in fourth and Stamm exited in third.
Smith still trailed Johnson as heads-up play began, but his third and final double-up of the day reversed the counts, and he soon finished off Johnson for the win. In doing so, he stopped Johnson from overtaking Lonis in the festival's Player of the Series race. Johnson is the only player who has cashed in all three US Poker Open events that have concludes, while Smith currently sits in third place behind Johnson and Lonis.
