Brandon Schaefer Ends On a High After Event #14 Triumph

Former poker pro Brandon Schaefer took down the $1,500 buy-in No-Limit Hold’em Shootout event #14 over the weekend for $311,174 after besting a 1,138-player field at the Rio’s Amazon Room.

The Illinois player – who last September decided to join the US Army – eventually defeated California’s Jonathan Cohen in their heads-up clash that left the second placed player with $192,559 as a consolation.

Now, however, 31-year-old Schaefer will be leaving poker behind as he begins training to become a helicopter pilot on Friday of this week. Incredibly, Schaefer – who now lives in Seattle – had forgotten about this year’s WSOP, but then decided to jump on a plane to take part in just one tournament, the No-Limit Hold’em Shootout. What a great decision.

Winner Dominates Final Table

Schaefer dominated the final table, which included five-time bracelet winner Layne Flack (fourth for $87,446) and two-time champion Jeff Madsen (seventh for $36,809), to ultimately overcome 24-year-old Denver pro Cohen, who left the event with $192,559.

The final hand of the event saw Cohen open for 90,000 and Schaefer call to see a flop of Q♠ 9♦ 6♣. Schaefer then check-called a 105,000 bet to see the 2♦ turn. Cohen bet 230,000, with Schaefer check-raising all-in.

Cohen got up out if his chair called all-in for 1.8 million to reveal Q♥ J♥ for top pair, while Schaefer showed 7♣ 8♠ for an open-ended straight draw. The 5♦ river completed Schaefer’s straight as half of the gathered railbirds erupted in joy.