$3,000 NLH Main Event | 2026 Potomac Summer Poker Open

Aug 17, 2026

Liberto Can't Beat Smith

David Salituro

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Justin Liberto was all in for 1,800,000 with A♠8♣ and up against Phong Nguyen's A♥5♦, but they chopped the pot on the 3♦2♣10♠K♥3♥ board.

Liberto then raised to 160,000 on the button and Kyle Smith called in the big blind. Smith led out for 300,000 on the 9♠4♥6♠ flop, and Liberto folded.

Smith then raised to 200,000 on the button and Liberto three-bet to 415,000 in the small blind. Smith moved all in, and Liberto gave up his hand.

Smith directed his assault at Nguyen the next hand, when Nguyen opened to 240,000 in the small blind. Smith then moved all in, and Nguyen folded.

Tags: Justin Liberto Kyle Smith Phong Nguyen's

Aug 17, 2026

Smith Pulling Away

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David Salituro

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Phong Nguyen raised to 200,000 on the button, Kyle Smith three-bet to 550,000 in the small blind, and Nguyen folded.

Smith then raised to 200,000 on the button and Nguyen called in the big blind. Smith continued for 250,000 on the 6♦4♣9♦ flop, and Nguyen folded.

Smith and Justin Liberto then checked to the turn in a limped pot between the blinds when Liberto bet 130,000 on a board of 4♠8♠K♦Q♥. Smith called.

The K♠ river was checked down, and Smith showed J♣J♦ to win another pot.

Tags: Justin Liberto Kyle Smith Phong Nguyen

Aug 17, 2026

Smith Shows Down Trips

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David Salituro

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Justin Liberto raised to 160,000 on the button and Kyle Smith called in the big blind.

Both players checked the Q♣5♣8♥ flop. Liberto then bet 200,000 on the 7♠ turn, and Smith called.

The 8♦ river was checked down. "I think I was good already," Smith said as he showed J♥8♠ for trips, and Liberto mucked.

Tags: Justin Liberto Kyle Smith

Aug 17, 2026

Patrick Martorella Eliminated in 4th Place ($60,640)

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David Salituro

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Patrick Martorella moved all in for 1,270,000 on the button and Kyle Smith called in the small blind.

Patrick Martorella: K♣7♥ All in
Kyle Smith: A♦9♠

Smith hit top pair on the A♠J♣7♦ flop, while the turn was the J♦. The K♠ fell on the river and Martorella began to celebrate making two pair, but Smith then pointed out that he had aces and jacks to win the pot and send the start-of-day chip leader to the rail in fourth place.

Tags: Kyle Smith Patrick Martorella

Aug 17, 2026

Smith Bets Big on the River

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David Salituro

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Phong Nguyen raised to 200,000 on the button and Kyle Smith called in the big blind.

Both players checked the Q♦9♣5♣ flop. Smith then led out for 200,000 on the 3♠ turn, and Nguyen called.

The river was the 7♠ and Smith bet 1,000,000. Nguyen folded this time.

Tags: Kyle Smith Phong Nguyen

Aug 17, 2026

Smith Gets There on the River

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David Salituro

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Kyle Smith raised to 200,000 under the gun and Patrick Martorella called in the big blind.

Smith continued for 250,000 on the Q♦3♦8♠ flop, and Martorella called. Martorella then led out for 300,000 on the 5♦ turn, and Smith called.

Both players checked down the 9♦ river, and Martorella showed Q♥10♣ for top pair. Smith, though, had A♥6♦ for a rivered flush to win the pot.

The next hand, Phong Nguyen opened to 200,000 on the button and Martorella three-bet to 540,000 in the small blind. Nguyen then moved all in, and Martorella folded. Nguyen showed A♥K♠ as he took the pot.

Tags: Kyle Smith Patrick Martorella Phong Nguyen

Aug 17, 2026

Jonathan Moritz Eliminated in 5th Place ($48,544)

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David Salituro

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Jonathan Moritz moved all in for 755,000 under the gun and Patrick Martorella called in the big blind.

Jonathan Moritz: A♥3♦ All in
Patrick Martorella: 5♣5♠

Moritz was looking for an ace to stay alive, but he missed the J♠7♣6♣2♦4♠ board and was sent to the rail in fifth place.

Moritz qualified online through BetMGM for $500 and turned that investment into a $48,544 payday.

Tags: Jonathan Moritz Patrick Martorella

Aug 17, 2026

Chris Kiani Eliminated in 6th Place ($37,204)

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David Salituro

Level 26 : Blinds 40,000/80,000, 80,000 ante

Kyle Smith raised to 160,000 on the button before Chris Kiani moved all in for 635,000 in the big blind.

"I don't like it," Smith said.

"Me he calls with jack-eight," Patrick Martorella added with a laugh.

Smith ended up calling to put Kiani at risk.

Chris Kiani: 7♠4♠ All in
Kyle Smith: A♥9♦

Kiani took the lead on the 5♥8♣7♥ flop with a pair, while the turn was the J♠. The river, though, brought the 6♦ to give Smith a straight, and Kiani was sent to the rail in sixth place.