Gavin Smith was one of the most accomplished poker professionals without a bracelet going into the final table of event No. 44 ($2,500 Mixed Hold’em) on Saturday at the 2010 World Series of Poker.

Smith crossed his name off the list that includes non-bracelet holders such as Patrik Antonius, Gus Hansen, Andy Bloch, Bertrand Grospellier and Nam Le, by capturing his first WSOP title and $268,238 in prize money.

Entering the final table of the 507 player event with the second largest stack gave Smith some ammunition to avoid another disappointing finish at the summer series. Smith finished second in a 2007 $1,500 pot-limit hold’em event.

Smith remained near the top of the chip counts throughout Saturday evening and entered heads-up play with a slight chip lead over Danny Hannawa. The 2005 Mirage Poker Showdown champion needed two hours to finish off his opponent.

With the win Smith vaults into eighth place in the Card Player Player of the Year race. Smith won a Fallsview Poker Classic no-limit hold’em event in January for $188,743.

The mixed hold’em event had a major POY implication for another player. Dwyte Pilgrim made yet another final table this year and now sits in fourth place in the standings.

Here are the final results:

1. Gavin Smith — $268,238

2. Danny Hannawa — $166,005

3. Timothy Finne — $110,324

4. Michael Michnik — $81,871

5. Jamie Rosen — $61,441

6. Jarred Solomon — $46,562

7. Daniel Idema — $35,601

8. Dwyte Pilgrim — $27,438

9. Mike Santoro — $21,304

Here are the elimination hands as featured in Card Player’s live updates:

Mike Santoro Eliminated in 9th Place ($21,304)

Limit Hold’em

Mike Santoro bet and Michael Michnik made it three bets from the big blind. Santoro called all in with the A J and was up against the 8 8 of Michnik. The flop came Q 10 7 8 5 and Michnik was up to about 530,000.

Dwyte Pilgrim Eliminated in 8th Place ($27,438)

Limit Hold’em

Jamie Rosen bet from the small blind and Dwyte Pilgrim called from the big blind. The flop came J 10 8 and Rosen checked. Pilgrim bet and Rosen called. The Q fell on the turn. Rosen checked and Pilgrim bet. Rosen check-raised and Pilgrim called all in with the K 3 and was up against the Q 7 of Rosen. The river bricked for Pilgrim with the 7 and Pilgrim hit the rail. Rosen was up to 450,000 after the hand.

Daniel Idema Eliminated in 7th Place ($35,601)

No-Limit Hold’em

Jamie Rosen bet and action was folded to Daniel Idema. Idema moved all in for 374,000. Timothy Finne called all in from the small blind for 313,000. Action was folded back to Rosen, who made the call. Finne tabled the A K . Rosen exposed pocket jacks and Idema tabled the A Q . The flop was safe for Rosen. However, Finne nailed a king on the turn to triple up and Rosen’s jacks held against Idema, who was eliminated. Finne was at 950,000 after the hand while Rosen fell to 380,000.

Jarred Solomon Eliminated in 6th Place ($46,562)

Limit Hold’em

Jarred Solomon opened and Danny Hannawa raised. Action was folded back to Solomon. He made it four bets and Hannawa called. The flop came K 7 5 and Solomon bet. Hannawa raised. Solomon reraised all in and Hannawa called. Solomon tabled pocket queens and was way behind Hannawa’s A-K. The turn and river bricked for Solomon and he was out. Hannawa was at 1,200,000 after the hand.

Jamie Rosen Eliminated in 5th Place ($61,441)

No-Limit Hold’em

Jamie Rosen opened to 59,000 and Danny Hannawa raised all in. Rosen called 550,000 for his tournament life. Hannawa exposed the A K while Rosen tabled the A J . The board ran out 8 7 3 4 10 and Rosen was gone. Hannawa was at 1,700,000 after the hand.

Michael Michnik Eliminated in 4th Place ($81,871)

Limit Hold’em

Michael Michnik bet and Gavin Smith three-bet. Action was folded to Michnik who got the last of his chips into the middle. Smith called and tabled pocket kings and was up against the Q J of his opponent. The pocket kings held and Michnik was eliminated. Smith was at 1,500,000 after the hand.

Timothy Finne Eliminated in 3rd Place ($110,324)

Limit Hold’em

Danny Hannawa raised and Timothy Finne got the last of his chips into the middle. Action was back to Hannawa and he made the call. Hannawa tabled the A J and was ahead against the 8 6 of Finne. Hannawa paired his ace on the flop. The turn and river bricked for Finne and he was out.

Danny Hannawa Eliminated in 2nd Place ($166,005)

Limit Hold’em

Danny Hannawa raised from the button and Gavin Smith reraised. Hannawa called all in and exposed the 10 8 . He had live cards versus the A Q of Smith. The board ran out A K 2 J J and Hannawa was eliminated.