button in SafariDylan Smith Captures Long-Awaited Maiden Bracelet in Mixed Big Bet
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One of the most unique events at the World Series of Poker has come to an end. That event, Event #71: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet Event has seen its 386 entries whittled down to just one. The winner needs no introduction, as long-time crusher Dylan Smith has finally got his hands on the precious piece of hardware that eluded him: a gold WSOP bracelet.
Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas hosted three action-packed days of the seven-game mix, with only No-Limit and Pot-Limit games on offer, some of which can only be found in Dealer’s Choice. Smith has clearly mastered all seven, as his second final table at the 2026 WSOP certainly came good.
The massive $858,850 prizepool was, as always, paid out in its entirety, with the lion’s share of $182,591 going straight to Smith. This brings his career earnings past the $5.5 million milestone according to The Hendon Mob, and ticks off yet another piece of hardware on his already very impressive résumé.
The loser of the heads-up battle, Matt Vengrin, albeit undoubtedly disappointed about not doubling his bracelet tally, put up a stellar performance and was just a single place away from winning one two years in a row. He will be heading home with $118,647.
Event #71: $2,500 Mixed Big Bet Event Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dylan Smith | United States | $182,591 |
| 2 | Matt Vengrin | United States | $118,647 |
| 3 | Naoya Kihara | Japan | $78,984 |
| 4 | Renan Bruschi | Brazil | $53,889 |
| 5 | Hiroyuki Noda | Japan | $37,706 |
| 6 | Danny Chang | United States | $27,075 |
| 7 | Steve Billirakis | United States | $19,964 |
Winner’s Reaction
“Ecstatic.” That’s the word used to describe how Dylan Smith feels after finally getting his hand on a WSOP bracelet. And there’s no reason for him not to feel ecstatic, following two runners-up finishes, two in third, and numerous final tables at the World Series, it was only a matter of time before a close call became a win.
Despite all of the extremely close run-ins with victory, Smith never once let it demoralize him, or hinder his chances of scoring a win. Every deep run made him, “just hungrier,” for another, and for the eventual win that awaited him.
Smith is a bit of a killer in the classic big bet streets, with huge scores coming in Hold’em and PLO alike, but he is equally talented when it comes to the less common variants. He credits games back in Florida for allowing him to practice the rogue ones, such as Pot-Limit 5-Card Double Draw and Pot-Limit 2-7 Triple Draw, as he got plenty of reps in during the months leading up to the series.
Compared to fixed limit mixed games, Smith, “personally prefers the big bets.”
“I think a lot of poker is about knowing when to put people to the test, and you don't really get to do that as much in limit.” “It’s more mechanical.”
Smith certainly put the final table to the test as the chip lead he garnered through an all-important flip against Nicholas Marchington allowed him to exercise his stack, and dominate the competition until he was the sole player left..
“My mom’s in Ireland right now. I’m very excited to talk to her,” he said was his very first thought following victory. Aside from celebrating with her, he’ll take the evening to enjoy a nice meal with his girlfriend, before getting right back to the grind.
Smith won’t be taking days off, as he has his eyes set on plenty more events from now until the end, with his ultimate goal, of course, the Main Event. Now that he’s finally got the first notch on his WSOP belt, one shouldn’t fancy the chances of anybody betting against Smith.
Final Day Action
As it turned out, 2-7 would be the grim reaper of the final day, as each of the first two eliminations came in the format. First to go was Ryuta Nakai, whose hunt for a maiden bracelet will have to continue. Despite his opponent, Smith, drawing three twice, he found a pat on the third draw, and Nakai paired up to bust.
Scott Abrams was next up on the chopping block, and the same fate awaited him in Single Draw, as he paired a deuce to lose out to the ten-low of Steve Billirakis.
Steve Chanthabouasy was the only player of the day to head home in an Omaha game, as Hi-Lo was his undoing. With just four big blinds to his name, his pair of aces couldn't hold against Vengrin, who spiked two pair on the river to send him home.
Marchington's most accomplished game in the mix would be the one to bust him brutally. In a Hold'em flip, his ace-king flopped best, but was drawing dead on the turn as Smith binked a set to the horror of Marchington.
With the final table reached, Smith was the player occupying the top spot, while Kihara was just behind him. Billirakis' tournament then came to an end in another hand of 2-7 Triple Draw, when he got it all-in and ended with a seven-six, but it was second best to Vengrin's number one to bow out in seventh place as the first casualty of the final table.
Kihara followed that up by eliminating Danny Chang in Pot-Limit 2-7 Triple Draw to leave just five players, but from there the tide turned in Smith's favor. He dispatched Hiroyuki Noda in fifth place before knocking out Renan Bruschi in a No-Limit Hold'em to take a huge lead with three remaining.
The three-time bracelet winner Kihara, two of which came this series, was Smith's next victim. In another hand of No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw, Smith stood pat with a jack-low while Kihara paired after drawing one, ending the Japanese star's run in third place and giving Smith a massive chip lead going into heads-up play against Vengrin.
Despite beginning the match with more than a 4:1 chip disadvantage, Vengrin refused to go away quietly. He found a miracle double in Pot-Limit Omaha after spiking one of only three remaining aces on the river to stay alive and briefly keep Smith waiting for his first bracelet.
Any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished, however. Smith took back his huge lead in Pot-Limit Omaha after turning a straight against Vengrin's flopped set of aces. The final hand came in Pot-Limit 2-7 Triple Draw. Smith bet the pot after the first draw and instantly called when Vengrin moved all in. Smith made an eight-seven, while Vengrin could only muster a ten-eight, bringing an end to the event and locking up Smith's maiden WSOP bracelet.
