"$175 NLH $100,000 GTD" (Flight 1G): Stephen Smith Climbs The Leaderboard, As Registration For Flight 1G Closes

$175 No Limit Hold'em
$100,000 Guaranteed
Level 8 (Blinds 300/600/75)
Total Flight 1G Entries: 223

Stephen Smith (Juno Beach, FL) is three months removed from his largest lifetime cash, when he finished fourth in the $1,100 WPT Deepstacks event during the Lucky Hearts Poker Open ($74,549).

With just fifteen minutes left in Level 8, Stephen Smith (Juno Beach, FL) finds himself towards the top of the leaderboard.  Smith headed to a flop (three-way) in a raised pot, and watched as the dealer fanned out a flop of J♥ 4♥ 4♦.  The original would lead for 10,000, with the other active player in the hand then shoving for 14,575.  Both Smith and the bettor made the call, and after the K♠ on the turn, Smith would put his opponent all-in (after action checked to him).  The bet would be enough to elicit a fold, and Smith would win the side pot, but the main pot was still to be settled.

When the cards were tabled, it would be the K♣ J♠ of Smith against the A♥ 2♥ of A. Nonymous, with the two pair holding up after the 7♣ on the river.  Smith chipped up to 105,000 with the pot, and is one of just a handful of players to have eclipsed the century mark.

Players are about to head on their second break of the day, and when action resumes with Level 9, registration for the flight will be closed.  Official numbers and updated chip counts will follow the break.