Brandon Schaefer Wins WSOP Event #14: $1,500 NL Shootout

Brandon Schaefer has won Event #14: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em Shootout, after overcoming a field of 1,138 players over three days to take down the tournament, and collect the $311,174 first place prize.
Before retiring from the game in 2011, the now 31 year-old had been a poker pro for seven years during which time he amassed $784,905 in live tournament earnings, as well as a further $178,443 online playing under the screen name “schaefer.”
However, Brandon Schaefer said one day he felt unfulfilled and so decided to change his career path by joining the U.S. Army as a helicopter pilot. After completing basic training and advanced officer’s school, Schaefer is due to start flight school on June 15, and only entered the WSOP event on a whim. Amazingly, he then went on to capture a prestigious winners bracelet, and as he explains:
“This was literally the only tournament I would have played. It’s relatively inexpensive..I wasn’t looking to play a lot of poker, and now I’m glad that I did. I fully realize the irony believe me, I feel like I’m walking around in a dream. It’s totally like a previous life. It’s like I’m asleep and I’m thinking about what I used to do four years ago.”
On his way to victory at the $1,500 NL Shootout Event, Brandon Schaefer (A-10) eliminated Adam Kagin (8-8) in 3rd place ($120,329), before going heads-up against Jonathan Cohen. Eventually, Schaefer (7-8) semi-bluffed all-in on a Q-9-6-2 board only to be called by his opponent with QJ. The 5 on the river then completed Schaefer’s straight to earn him a slice of WSOP history. When asked later if he was now questioning his new career choice, Schaefer replied:
“No, not at all. It’s a moot point anyways, because I have a six-year contract with the army so I can’t be like ‘Oh hey I won a bracelet, I’m outta here.’ Even if I won the Main Event, it wouldn’t change that. I want to fly. I can’t wait to do that.”