Six Months Later, Dylan Smith Gets His Redemption With WPT RRPO Championship Win ($662,200)

It’s not every day a poker player gets a second chance at a World Poker Tour Championship title, let alone within the same year. But Dylan Smith (cover image) isn’t your average player. Just six months ago, he felt the crushing weight of failing to convert a commanding final table chip lead, finishing fifth in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown. It was a blow that could have shattered the confidence of many, but Smith used it to fuel his fire. 188 days later, he was back at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood, ready for the WPT Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open Championship, and this time, he was determined to finish the job.

This wasn’t just about winning a title; this was about redemption.

The WPT Rock ‘n’ Roll Poker Open Championship was a gauntlet. A field of 1,435 entries created a nearly $4.60 Million prize pool, and the final table was stacked with some of the biggest names in the game. Smith navigated the field with a combination of skill, strategy, and a burning desire to prove that his previous near miss was just a stumble on the road to greatness.

He battled through the early rounds, the bubble, and then unleashed a storm at the final table. One by one, his opponents fell, including WPT champions, bracelet winners, and rising stars. Finally, it came down to Smith and Matthew Beinner, the young phenom who had already made a name for himself with a runner-up finish in the 2024 WSOP Event #27: $1,500 Big O this summer. Beinner, the final table chip leader, put up a good fight, but Smith was unstoppable.

In a tense final hand, Smith’s cards held up, and he was crowned the champion. The victory came with a career-best $662,200 and cemented his place in WPT history.

DYLAN SMITH CLOSES OUT! 🎸🏆

After outlasting 1,435 entries and battling Matthew Beinner heads-up in the $3,500 @WPT Seminole Rock n Roll Poker Championship @HardRockHolly @SHRPO, he takes home the title and $662,200 including a seat to the $10,400 @WPT World Championship… pic.twitter.com/GIbtAPQNMo

— World Poker Tour (@WPT) December 5, 2024

“It feels phenomenal,” Smith said after the win, beaming with the satisfaction of a mission accomplished. “I didn’t know when I would get another shot at redemption, and I’m incredibly grateful that I was able to do it so quickly.”

This win was especially meaningful for Smith, given his history at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood. With this latest victory, eight of his top 14 tournament cashes have come at this venue. He clearly thrives in South Florida, and his results speak for themselves. His total career earnings now stand at over $2.50 Million across 103 recorded cashes. He’s a consistent winner who has proven he can compete with the best.

As for Beinner, despite falling short of the title, he still walked away with a massive $440,000 payday, more than doubling his previous top score. Florian Ribouchon took third place for $325,000.

The final table held more than just Smith’s redemption story. Landon Tice, who also experienced a near miss in the same Seminole Hard Rock Championship where Smith finished fifth, was seeking his own comeback. Unfortunately, an early cooler saw him running ace-king into Smith’s aces, ending his run in fourth place for $245,000. Francis Anderson, who had a strong showing on Day 4, finished in fifth place for $184,000, while Paul Domb exited in sixth place for $140,000.

The $3,500 buy-in Main Event came with a $3 Million guarantee, but the turnout of 1,435 entries smashed that, creating a staggering $4,592,000 prize pool. The top 181 finishers got a piece of the pie, and some of poker’s biggest names made deep runs.

WPT champions like Matthew Wantman (8th for $84,000), two-time bracelet winner Alexandre Reard (14th for $46,000), recent PGT Texas PLO Roundup high roller winner Adam Hendrix (18th for $39,000), top POY contender Ren Lin (22nd for $32,500), 2015 WSOP Main Event champion Joe McKeehen (26th for $27,500), and two-time bracelet winner Jesse Lonis (29th for $27,500) all made their presence known.

After Darryll Fish busted in seventh place for $108,000, the remaining six players were ready to battle it out for the title.

To witness the final table action and Smith’s incredible victory, watch the live stream recording on WPT’s YouTube channel.

Final Table Chip Counts

1. Matthew Beinner – 21,600,000
2. Landon Tice – 18,625,000
3. Dylan Smith – 12,250,000
4. Florian Ribouchon – 9,425,000
5. Paul Domb – 6,525,000
6. Francis Anderson – 3,300,000

Final Table Recap

The final table was a high-stakes spectacle, and the tension was thick enough to cut with a knife from the very first hand. Paul Domb, the first to fall, pushed his chips in with pocket jacks, only to find himself staring down the barrel of Matthew Beinner’s pocket kings. The board offered no miracles, and Domb was sent to the rail in sixth place.

Francis Anderson, looking to seize the moment, doubled up with pocket kings, but his luck soon ran out. He got his stack in with pocket queens – a strong hand, but Beinner woke up with ace-king. The flop was safe for Anderson, but the turn brought a cruel twist of fate: a king, sending him packing in fifth place.

5th Place in the Seminole Hard Rock for $184,000. Very fort nate to have another deep run in a WPT Main Event https://t.co/8ZkIKaSvGW

— Francis Anderson (@FrancisPoker123) December 4, 2024

Landon Tice, who had come agonizingly close to victory in May’s WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown (finishing runner-up to Josh Reichard), was the next to fall. He was already on the ropes after a brutal cooler hand, running ace-king into Smith’s aces. The young phenom was able to ladder up a pay jump thanks to Anderson’s elimination but met his end ironically in another cooler. His pocket nines were crushed by Florian Ribouchon’s pocket tens, which rivered a set to end his journey in fourth place.

The final table was quickly becoming a clash of titans, a display of poker prowess and nerves of steel. Florian Ribouchon, after a series of masterful plays, found himself in a preflop showdown against Beinner. Ribouchon shoved all-in with pocket sixes, but Beinner looked him up with pocket nines. The board painted a grim picture for Ribouchon, filling Beinner up with nines full of jacks. Ribouchon’s impressive run ended in third place.

Heads-up play began with Matthew Beinner holding a 2:1 chip advantage over Dylan Smith. The two players traded blows like heavyweight boxers, the chip lead changing hands multiple times. Smith, however, started to find his rhythm, winning a crucial pot with a straight that materialized on the river against Beinner’s two pair. He then landed a devastating blow, forcing Beinner to fold a turned eight-high straight to his king-high flush. Smith had seized control.

With the tension reaching its peak, the final hand unfolded. Smith, sensing his opportunity, moved all in with . Beinner, putting his tournament life on the line, called with . The dealer spread the flop: , giving Smith two pair and making him a huge favourite. The turn brought a glimmer of hope for Beinner, giving him a gutshot straight draw, but the river was a brick. Beinner’s tournament ended in second place, and Dylan Smith, the comeback kid, was crowned the champion.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Dylan Smith – $662,200
2. Matthew Beinner – $440,000
3. Florian Ribouchon – $325,000
4. Landon Tice – $245,000
5. Francis Anderson – $184,000
6. Paul Domb – $140,000

Content & Images Courtesy: World Poker Tour