Andrew Rennhack Wins Event #26: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em ($408,953)
Andrew Rennhack wore a huge grin as he was mobbed by friends, family and the media moments after he won his first WSOP bracelet and secured an amazing $408,953 for first place.
Rennhack fought his way through a starting field of 1,594 entrants to return today to battle it out with the remaining 12 players, and at the end of nearly 10 more hours of poker he was the last man standing.
Play resumed on Day 3 at 1 p.m. and Christopher Symesko was the first player eliminated. He lost a big pot to Rennhack in the first hand of play when his 
lost to 
and a queen came on the turn. Heinz Kamutzki then eliminated Symesko moments later. Will Failla was out in 11th place and Jonas Wexler fell in 10th.
Poker pro Dan Smith was the next player to go from the official final table of nine, dashing hopes of his first WSOP bracelet. Smith was all in with 
against the 
of Kamutzki and the board ran out 
.
Eric Rappaport busted in eighth place when his 
fell behind to the two pair of Reed Goodmiller who held 
. It all went in on the turn and the final board read 
.
Out in seventh place was Geremy Eiland, who ran first into the aces of Rennhack to cripple him and then the aces of Ryan Welch when he shoved his short stack in the next hand.
Six-handed play went on for some time and it was nearly three more levels before Kamutzki three-bet shoved with 
and was called by both Tony Gargano and Rennhack. It was Gargaro with 
who would pair his ace to send Kamutzki to the rail.
A short while late it was Goodmiller’s turn to get his short stack in with two other players holding 
and he was bested by the of Rennhack this time. Goodmiller was the fifth placed finisher.
Welch went out in fourth when he three-bet shoved with 
and ran into the 
of Michael Katz. A final board of 
sent him packing.
Three handed play became a cagey affair but first Gargano asserted his authority picking up pot after pot until Katz started exerting his own pressure after Gargano lost some chips. Momentum swung back and forth and with Gargano getting low on chips he made a move on Katz three-betting him all in from the small blind with 
but ran into the of Rennhack in the big blind. The queens held on a final board of 
, leaving Rennhack and Michael Katz to play heads up for the win.
Katz went into the final phase of play with a 5:2 chip lead over Rennhack but his attempt to finish him off backfired when Katz opened for 200,000, Rennhack raised to 500,000 and Katz moved all in. Rennhack called with 
and Katz showed . The cards came out 
and Rennhack doubled up.
Minutes later Katz was all in with 
against the of Rennhack. A final board of 
and it was all over for Katz who picked up the biggest cash of his career.
A terrific three days of poker ended with Andrew Rennhack a delighted and worthy winner who will no doubt be celebrating long into the night and cherishing the memories of this victory for years to come.