Joshua Smith Wins Mid-States Poker Tour In Iowa

Joshua Smith has won the Mid-States Poker Tour Grand Falls Casino Hotel, after defeating a field of 218 players on his way to lifting the title, and collecting the $59,221 first place prize.
Back in 2009, the young pro took down the $1,000 WSOP Circuit Atlantic City for $75,544, and with his latest win in Larchwood, Iowa, now boosts his live tournament earnings to $325,326.
Joshua Smith originally planned to enter the $1,100 Main Event via a series of sit-n-go’s but after showing up early for the poker event ended up winning enough money to directly enter the final step $250 MSPT qualifier while passing time at one of the blackjack tables, instead. Commenting after his remarkable victory, Joshua Smith said:
“Amazing, this is unreal. It still hasn’t hit me yet. I started the tournament with $50 and won the whole thing.”
The event held at the Grand Falls Casino Hotel attracted a larger field than the previous year to create a prize pool worth $218,000. Smith subsequently managed to make it all the way through to the final table where he would eventually face off heads-up against Steven Belland, with both players fairly even in chips.
The defining hand was then played with Joshua Smith (8-8) and Steven Belland (10-10) all-in pre-flop, and after the board rolled out A-J-7-10-9, Smith rivered an improbable straight to claim the title.
The final table payouts were as follows:
1 Joshua Smith      $59,221
2 Steven Belland  $31,719
3 William Perpich $20,088
4 Brett Kuznia      $14,802
5 Luke Blindert      $12,687
6 Jared Mohnen      $9,515
7 James Odegaard  $8,035
8 Everett Carlton $7,189
9 Russell Spaid      $5,920
10 Gerald Evert      $4,863