Event #9: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em

American Jeffrey Smith from Encinitas, Calif., has captured his first World Series of Poker bracelet in Event #9: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em and the top prize of $323,125. Smith defeated runner-up Danny Nguyen after a long three-hour heads-up match that saw a chip lead change almost every couple of hands.

Smith scored his first WSOP cash in last year's Millionaire Maker event, earning $2,704 for a 605th-place finish. According to Smith's Hendon Mob page, his previous best cash was a 3rd-place finish for $25,800 in a 2008 LA Poker Classic side event. Smith's total career earnings before today were just under $46,000 so he has multiplied that by almost six times.

In the final hand, Smith raised to 160,000 and Nguyen pushed all in. Smith made a fast call and flipped over    to Nguyen's   . The board came down       and Smith's trip nines won the pot. Nguyen made $199,829 for his runner-up finish.

Thank you for following along our PokerNews live update blog. Congratulations to Jeffrey Smith for his awesome victory. Stay tuned to the PokerNews live reporting tab for the entire WSOP series.

Hand 275: After unknown preflop action, Jeff Smith check-called 140,000 on a flop of    . The turn brought a  , and Smith check-called 375,000 this time. He checked the   river and Danny Nguyen elected to check it back. Smith's    was good.

Hand 276: Nguyen raised to 130,000 and took the pot.

Hand 277: In a limped pot, Nguyen checked and called 100,000 on    . He checked again on the  , this time folding to a bet of 200,000.

Hand 278: Nguyen raised to 130,000 and Smith called. The two checked to the end, when the community had come      . Smith bet 160,000 and Nguyen called. Smith tossed    into the middle for trips.

"Man, you're catching cards since dinner," Nguyen said.

Hand 279: Nguyen got a walk.

Hand 280: Nguyen raised to 130,000 and won.

Jeff Smith	4,820,000	1,320,000
Danny Nguyen	1,000,000	-1,300,000

Hand 249: Danny Nguyen got a walk.

Hand 250: Danny Nguyen took it down with a 130,000 raise.

Hand 251: Jeff Smith raised to 130,000 and won the pot.

Hand 252: Danny Nguyen won the blinds and antes with a raise to 130,000.

Hand 253: Jeff Smith won the pot with a raise to 130,000.

Hand 254: Jeff Smith got a walk.

Hand 255: Danny Nguyen got a walk.

Hand 256: Danny Nguyen raised to 130,000 and Jeff Smith called to go to a flop. It came     and Smith check-folded to Nguyen's 180,000 continuation bet.

Hand 257: Danny Nguyen got a walk.

Hand 258: Danny Nguyen raised to 130,000 and won the blinds and antes.

Hand 259: Jeff Smith raised to 130,000 and Danny Nguyen called him. The flop was dealt     and Nguyen check-called Smith's bet of 150,000. The turn was the   and Nguyen led out for 325,000. Smith took little time announcing all in and Nguyen eventually made the call.

Nguyen:   
Smith:   

The river was the   and the players chopped the pot with two pairs each.

Hand 236: Danny Nguyen raised to 130,000 and Jeff Smith folded.

Hand 237: Smith opened to 135,000, Nguyen called and the two saw a     flop. Both players checked to the turn  . Nguyen checked, Smith bet 160,000 and Nguyen made the call to see the river  . Nguyen checked again, Smith bet 175,000, Nguyen called and Smith showed him   . Pair of jacks was good and Smith shipped the pot.

Hand 238: Smith got a walk.

Hand 239: Nguyen got a walk.

Hand 240: Nguyen opened to 130,000, Smith folded.

Hand 241: Nguyen got a walk.

Hand 242: Nguyen raised to 130,000, Smith raised to 300,000 and Nguyen made the call. The two saw a     flop, and both players checked to the turn  . Smith bet 320,000 and Danny called to the river  . Jeff led out again - this time for 500,000 - Nguyen announced all in and Smith quickly called. Nguyen turned over    for two pair, but Smith tabled    for a flopped set and scored the double.

Jeff Smith	3,500,000	2,090,000
Danny Nguyen	2,300,000	-2,110,000

Hot off of a game-changing double up, the players are now on a one-hour dinner break.

Hand 228: Danny Nguyen opened to 110,000, Smith called and the flop was dealt    . Smith checked, Nguyen fired 135,000, and Smith called. Turn  , both players checked to the river  . Check, check again and Smith opened up    and Nguyen mucked.

Hand 229: Smith raised to 110,000, Nguyen called and the flop rolled out    . Nguyen checked, Smith bet 135,000, Nguyen check-raised all in, Smith folded.

Hand 230: Nguyen opened to 110,000, Smith called, and the dealer fanned a     flop. Smith checked, Nguyen bet 135,000, and Smith folded.

Hand 231: Nguyen got a walk.

Hand 232: Smith got a walk.

Hand 233: Nguyen got a walk.

Hand 221: Danny Nguyen took down the pot preflop with a raise to 110,000.

Hand 222: Jeff Smith raised to 110,000 and Danny Nguyen called to see flop of    . Nguyen check-called Smith's bet of 135,000. The turn was the   and both players checked. The river was dealt   and Nguyen check-called again; this time the bet was 275,000. Smith was ahead with    and scooped the pot.

Hand 223: Danny Nguyen raised to 110,000 and was called by Jeff Smith. The flop was dealt     and both players checked. The   hit the turn and Smith took it down with a bet of 135,000.

Hand 224: Jeff Smith raised to 110,000 and Danny Nguyen called to see a flop of    . Nguyen check-raised the flop to 325,000 and Smith called. The turn came   and Nguyen led out for 480,000, leaving him only about that much again behind. Smith pushed all in and Nguyen went in the tank. He eventually made that call and said "I need to get lucky!"

Nguyen:   
Smith:   

Smith's top pair was way ahead, and with only one card to come, Nguyen needed a 3, 4, or 6 to stay in this tournament. The dealer flipped over the   and Nguyen shouted out in victory. "That's how you win!"

Danny Nguyen	4,020,000	1,020,000
Jeff Smith	1,800,000	-1,020,000

Hand #209: Danny Nguyen opened to 110,000 and got called. The players checked to fourth street, when the board read     . Jeff Smith check-called 135,000 at that point and he checked the   river. Nguyen checked it back and Smith won with   .

Hand #210: Nguyen got a walk.

Hand #211: Nguyen raised to 110,000 and Smith three-bet to 265,000. Nguyen called and the flop came    , which both players checked. Smith bet 235,000 on the   turn and Nguyen called. The   came on the end and Smith bet 400,000. Nguyen announced all in and Smith folded.

Hand #212: Nguyen got a walk.

Hand #213: Nguyen raised to 110,000 and got called. Smith check-called 135,000 on the     flop and both checked the   turn. A   river resulted in more checking and Nguyen announced two tens. It was no good against Smith's   .

Danny Nguyen	3,000,000	900,000
Jeff Smith	2,820,000	-930,000

Hand 193: Danny Nguyen raised to 80,000, Jeff Smith folded.

Hand 194: Smith opened to 80,000, Nguyen called and the two saw a     flop. Both players checked to the turn  . Nguyen bet 90,000, Smith called to the river  . Both players checked again, Nguyen turned over    and it was good.

Hand 195: Nguyen raised to 80,000, Smith folded.

Hand 196: Smith slid out a raise of 80,000 and Nguyen made the call. The dealer rolled out a     flop, Nguyen checked, Smith bet 90,000, and Nguyen called. The turn was the  , Nguyen checked, Smith bet 135,000, Nguyen folded.

Hand 197: Level 26 was completed after the last hand. Level 27 began with Nguyen raising to 110,000 and Smith made the call. Flop    , Smith checked, Nguyen bet 135,000, Smith folded.

Hand 198: Smith opened to 110,000 and Nguyen called. The flop came out    , Nguyen checked, Smith bet 125,000 and Nguyen folded.