Gavin Smith

Gavin Smith (born 4 September 1968 in Guelph, Ontario) is a Canadian professional poker player.

Smith learned how to play cards by playing cribbage and rummy with his father. He started playing poker at the age of 26, playing mixed games with co-workers. He became a poker dealer in 1996 and set up his own poker club in 1998. He has also worked as a taxi driver and on a golf course.

Smith first came to note by winning tournaments in no limit Texas hold ‘em and seven card stud in the 1999 and 2000 World Poker Finals at Foxwoods Resort Casino.

He first cashed in the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in 2003 and would later make the money in the $10,000 no limit hold’em main event in 2004, finishing 52nd. He went on to cash in 2005 also (471st).

In May 2005 he won the first prize of $1,128,278 in the World Poker Tour (WPT) Mirage Poker Showdown in Las Vegas, defeating Ted Forrest in the final heads-up confrontation. In October 2005 he made the WPT final table again in the 2nd Annual Doyle Brunson North American Poker Championship, where he finished 3rd, behind Minh Ly and Dan Harrington. He made a third WPT final table in January 2006, finishing 4th. The three WPT final tables earned him the World Poker Tour Player of the Year award for season 4.

In May 2006, Smith finished 2nd in the World Series of Poker circuit event at Harrah’s New Orleans, winning $293,930. Smith had made a bet with Allie Prescott on who would win. If Smith won, Prescott would give him $70,000 per year for 10 years; if Prescott won, Smith would give him $100,000 per year for 10 years.

In July 2006, Smith won the World Pro-Am Challenge event at the Poker Dome, taking home the $500,000 first prize.

From April 2006 until October 2006, Gavin was one of the hosts of The Circuit radio show sponsored by Card Player Magazine.

As of 2007, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3,700,000.