Event #26: $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em

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.

Hand #190: Andrew Rennhack got a walk.

Hand #191: Michael Katz opened for 200,000 and Rennhack raised to 500,000. Katz moved all in and Rennhack called.
Katz showed    against the    of Rennhack. The cards came out       and Rennhack doubled up.

Hand #192: A limped pot was checked down to the river on a board showing      . Rennhack bet 100,000 and Katz called.    won it for Katz.

Hand #193: Katz made it 200,000 and Rennhack moved all in. Katz folded.

Hand #194: Rennhack limped and the flop was    . Katz checked and Rennhack bet 150,000. That took it down.

Andrew Rennhack	5,100,000	2,540,000
Michael Katz	2,000,000	-2,650,000

Hand #181: Michael Katz opened to 200,000 and Andrew Rennhack folded.

Hand #182: Rennhack raised to 200,000 and took it down.

Hand #183: Katz made it 200,000 and won the antes and blinds.

Hand #184: Rennhack made it 200,000 and he took it down.

Hand #180: Andrew Rennhack made it 160,000 and Michael Katz raised to 450,000. Rennhack made the call. The flop was    . Katz bet 340,000 and Rennhack called. The turn card was the   and Katz thought for some time before betting 555,000. Rennhack called. The   fell on the river and Katz checked his cards before moving all in and taking it down.

Hand #171: Katz called and Rennhack checked his option. The flop was     and Rennhack checked. Katz bet 85,000 and Rennhack folded

Hand #172: Rennhack raised to 160,000 and Katz folded.

Hand #173: Katz raised to 160,000 and Rennhack three-bet to 375,000; Katz folded.

Hand #174: Rennhack raised to 160,000 and Katz folded.

Hand #160: Rennhack raised to 160,000 and Katz called. The flop was     and Katz checked. Rennhack bet 200,000 and Katz folded

Hand #161: Katz raised to 180,000 and Rennhack called. The flop was     and both players checked. The turn was the  , Rennhack bet 250,000 and Katz folded.

Hand #162: Rennhack raised to 160,000 and Katz folded.

Hand #163: Katz raised to 160,000 and Rennhack called. The flop was     and Rennhack checked. Katz bet 130,000 and Rennhack called. The turn was the   and both players checked. The river was the  , Rennhack bet 300,000 and Katz folded.

Hand #164: Katz received a walk.

Andrew Rennhack	5,000,000	-150,000
Michael Katz	2,173,000	123,000

Hand #155: Michael Katz raised to 160,000 and Tony Gargano moved all in for approximately 1,800,000 from the small blind. Andrew Rennhack came over the top for all of his chips from the big blind and Katz open-folded   .

Rennhack:   

Gargano:   

The flop came     and Gargano got a few more outs. The turn was the   and the river was the   however and Gargano was out in third.

Andrew Rennhack	5,150,000	2,850,000
Michael Katz	2,050,000	-950,000
Tony Gargano	0	-1,900,000

Hand #146: Michael Katz 120,000 from the button and won the pot.

Hand #147: Andrew limped the small blind and Katz raised it to 175,000. Rennhack called to see a flop of    . Rennhack checked and Katz made it 150,000 and got a call. The turn was the   and Rennhack checked again. This time Katz made it 330,000. Rennhack called and the river card was the  .

Rennhack now led for 500,000 and Katz had a look back at his cards. He thought for a couple of minutes before the floor told him he needed to make a decision soon. Katz called and mucked when Rennhack showed the rivered straight   .

Hand #148: Rennhack opened for 160,000 and won the pot.

Hand #149: Rennhack got a walk.

Hand #150: Katz got a walk.

Hand #151: Katz limped the small blind and Gorgano checked in the big blind. On a flop of     Katz checked and Gargano bet 100,000. Katz called to see the turn   checked around. The river   was checked as well and Katz won with the   .

Hand #152: Katz opened for 160,000 and took the antes and blinds.

Hand #153: Katz got a walk.

Hand #141: Tony Gargano raised to 150,000 and Rennhack and Katz both called. The flop was the     and Rennhack and Katz both checked. Gargano bet 225,000, Rennhack called and Katz folded. The turn was the   and Rennhack checked. Gargano bet 325,000, but folded to Rennhack's all-in shove.

Hand #142: Michael Katz called from the small blind and Tony Gargano raised to 150,000 from the big blind. Katz called and the flop was    . Katz checked and Gargano bet 175,000. Katz made the call and the turn was the  . Both players checked and the river was the  . Again, both players checked and Michael Katz showed    for a pair of threes and Gargano mucked.

Hand #143: Tony Gargano called from the small blind and Andrew Rennhack checked his option from the big blind. The flop was     and Gargano checked. Rennhack bet 75,000 and Gargano called. The turn was the   and again Gargano checked. Rennhack bet 175,000 and Gargano called. The   river brought two checks and Gargano showed   ; Rennhack mucked.

Hand #144: Andrew Rennhack called from the small and Michael Katz checked his option from the big blind. The flop was    , Rennhack bet 60,000 and Katz folded.

Hand #145: Tony Gargano received a walk.

Michael Katz	3,000,000	-245,000
Andrew Rennhack	2,300,000	700,000
Tony Gargano	1,900,000	-300,000