Pursuing his goal of cashing in a World Series of Poker (WSOP) tournament, poker lover and realtor Andrew “Andy” Hasdal did all that and more when he reached the final table of the $1,500 Seven Card Stud bracelet event in 2023. Making your first WSOP final table is certainly memorable, but the experience would become even more unforgettable for Hasdal and his wife with the help of Shaun Deeb.
Las Vegas, Nevada (March 7, 2025) - 2023 was a big year for Chicago-based realtor Andrew “Andy” Hasdal. Not only had he been experiencing some of the best performing months of his career as a realtor, but he also had ambitions of playing in his third World Series of Poker (WSOP) and hopefully making his first cash.
Prior to 2023, Hasdal had been introduced to poker while pursuing his bachelors degree in his home state at the University of Illinois. After finishing his undergraduate degree, Hasdal accepted an internship with CardRunners, an instructional poker site that was founded by Taylor Caby and Andrew Wiggins which operated from 2005-2017.
Furthering not only his love for the game but skills as well, Hasdal ultimately funded his graduate degree studies with poker winnings.
Beginning his career as a successful realtor which continues to this day, Hasdal laid the foundations for not only his profession but later achievements on the felt.
An avid mixed game player, Hasdal eventually began playing in the famous Tuesday Game hosted by two-time bracelet winner and acclaimed recording engineer Steve Albini.
Famous for helping create timeless records with the likes of the Pixies and Nirvana, Albini frequently hosted the Tuesday Game at his studio Electric Audio in Chicago.
Drawing the likes of mixed game crushers and decorated WSOP players like Brian Hastings, Matt Grapenthien, and Brandon Shack-Harris, Albini’s Tuesday Game fostered fond memories and friendships prior to his tragic passing in 2024.
Describing Albini’s impact on him not only as a poker player but as a friend, Hasdal shared how Albini inspired him to pursue his own success at the WSOP.
“(Albini’s passing) hit me hard last year,” Hasdal said. “He was really an inspiration for me.”
A rock fan who proudly displays a painting of Kurt Cobain in his office, Hasdal admired not only Albini’s legendary status in the music industry but his ability to bring friends together through poker.
Cutting his teeth and honing his mixed game abilities at the Tuesday Game, Hasdal credits the poker game Albini hosted for 20 years for his success.
“It was a really fun game and an awesome experience to learn from,” Hasdal said. “Where can you play bracelet winners for low stakes and learn? I credit that game for giving me more practice at mixed games, because it's hard to find those.”
Eager to win a WSOP bracelet like the peers he regularly played against, in 2023 Hasdal made his yearly trip to Las Vegas with his sights set on WSOP jewelry.
Not only would he come back home to Chicago having achieved one of his biggest poker goals, Hasdal would also return with an amazing story to tell.
By reaching the final table, Andy Hasdal accomplished one of his biggest poker goals.
Reaching Day 2 of the $1,500 Seven Card Stud bracelet event, Hasdal was making the deepest run of his WSOP career at the 2023 series.
Already accomplishing his goal of cashing a WSOP event, with a healthy stack Hasdal’s next goal of winning a bracelet seemed within reach.
Sitting 11th in chips at Day 2’s dinner break, Hasdal told his wife to book an early flight out of Chicago for the next day, as he anticipated reaching the final table.
“I called my wife and was like ‘I’m doing really well and I feel really good and confident. Book your flight for tomorrow morning.”
Hasdal’s prediction would prove correct, and his wife Danielle would be in attendance to watch him play at the first WSOP final table of his poker career.
Mixed game fields at the WSOP are known to be made up of some of the best players in the world, with 2023’s $1,500 Seven Card Stud bracelet event being no different.
Arriving at the final table, Hasdal would be joined by the likes of Nick Schulman, John Monnette, and an important character in this story: Shaun Deeb.
Six-time WSOP bracelet winner Shaun Deeb.
Speaking with the WSOP Media Team, Hasdal made a point of mentioning the number of blessings he experienced in 2023. Booking some of the biggest sales of his real estate career, reaching his first WSOP final table with his wife in attendance, even nailing multiple jackpots at video poker machines, Hasdal was racking up wins throughout 2023, but the biggest of them all was yet to come.
During her last minute flight to Las Vegas to watch her husband compete for WSOP gold, it may have seemed like Danielle Hasdal was travelling alone, but in reality she was carrying her and Andy’s first born son Bennett.
While Mister and Misses Hasdal were certainly in on the secret, they had yet to share the big news with friends and family.
In the Horseshoe Casino and Hotel Ballroom prior to the $1,500 Seven Card Stud final table, the Hasdal’s conversed with the other poker players before the action began.
Being a six-time WSOP bracelet winner and also a family man, Deeb was no stranger to the stresses that came from watching a loved one compete at a final table.
Offering some words of advice to Danielle, Deeb encouraged her to relax, enjoy, and have a drink.
Upon Deeb’s suggestion to partake in a cocktail or two, Danielle motioned to the poker pro that she was with child.
Not knowing that the couple had yet to make the pregnancy public, Deeb would create a lifelong memory for the Hasdals during the final table.
After scooping a sizeable pot against John Monnette, Hasdal acknowledged the support of his wife on the rail, referring to her as his “rail bird”.
“It’s birds!" Deeb exclaimed.
After Hasdal responded with confusion, Deeb explained his statement to him and the thousands of viewers tuning into the live streamed final table.
“It’s rail birds because she’s pregnant.”
Hasdad chuckled and responded casually.
“I don’t think a lot of people knew that, but that’s one way to announce it!”
Danielle Hasdal watching her husband battle at the final table.
Despite falling short of winning his first WSOP bracelet after losing heads-up to Nick Shulman, Hasdal returned to Chicago not only $68,479 richer, but with a great opportunity to share the wonderful news.
Clipping his memorable interaction with Deeb, Hasdal announced the pregnancy to friends and family by posting the clip to Instagram.
When asked for comment on letting the secret slip by the WSOP Media Team, Deeb divulged how such instances have even impacted his own homelife.
“Ya I put my foot in my mouth a lot,” the decorated poker pro said. “My wife always gets mad at how early I mentioned one of our pregnancies to the world. Andy was a great guy, one of the many super friendly people you run into at the WSOP. They handled it well, it could have been a lot more awkward.”
Two years later, Hasdal is still crushing it in the Chicago real estate market as he supports his family.
When time allows, he continues to grind mixed games as he looks forward to the quickly approaching 2025 WSOP, where he hopes to finally accomplish his goal of winning a bracelet.
Regardless of where the cards fall and who finishes with all of the chips, Hasdal’s story illustrates what the game of poker can give us even when we don’t finish in first place.