One of poker’s longest-enduring and most beloved figures passed away this week, and the poker community is mourning the death of Howard “Tahoe” Andrew. The beloved player died at the age of 86, with the news of his passing beginning to circulate in poker Twitter circles Wednesday.
Andrew represented an unmistakable figure from the pre-poker boom era, and his consistency at the World Series of Poker stands as the stuff of legends. His Hendon Mob database results go back to 1976.
Andrew was a two-time WSOP bracelet winner, taking both of those accolades at the 1976 edition of the series. His most remarkable WSOP accomplishment, however, comes through his consistent presence at the Main Event.
The player holds the record for most consecutive WSOP Main Event appearances. He played in every edition of the tournament from 1974 through 2008. That makes a 45-year streak for Andrew of taking a seat in the annual $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em championship.
Poker players and media reflect on Andrew’s legacy
Andrew’s contemporaries include names like Doyle Brunson, Amarillo Slim, Dewey Tomko, T.J. Cloutier, and others from before the poker boom era that started in 2003. He strikes one of the rare poker figures that has a Wikipedia page, and the man with the nickname “Tahoe” earned the admiration of poker players and media across generations.
Poker Hall of Fame member Linda Johnson tweeted her thoughts on the passing of “Tahoe” in a Wednesday post:
“RIP Howard "Tahoe" Andrew. You were an asset to the poker industry. I enjoyed competing against you over the years. I enjoyed traveling the world with you on many cruises. I am proud to call you my friend and I will miss you,” wrote Johnson.
Dan Ross, founder of Hold’em Media, echoed similar sentiments in his own Wednesday Twitter post:
“One of the great gentlemen of the game, proud to have been able to call him friend ... sad day today as the poker community says goodbye to Tahoe Andrew,” Ross tweeted.
Phil Hellmuth added his thoughts on Andrew’s legacy:
“Always handled himself perfectly, and was always a nice guy. Howard has been a fixture in poker tourneys, and one of the few that played w me in 1986 that was still in action, until we lost him Weds. RIP “Tahoe”,” Hellmuth tweeted Friday.
Andrew’s presence on the live tournament scene persisted all the way up to the COVID-19 casino shutdowns of early 2020. The last entry on his remarkable Hendon Mob page reports a min-cash for “Tahoe” at the 2020 WSOP Circuit Thunder Valley festival, with Andrew cashing in the $400 No-Limit Hold’em Monster Stack event.
Andrew posted $1,505,089 in recorded live tournament earnings over the course of his career. His best cash came at the 1987 Grand Prix of Poker in Las Vegas, which saw him finish second in a $10,000 No-Limit Hold’em event for $250,000.
The best WSOP Main Event finish for Andrew over his incredible 45-year streak came in 1984. He made a final table appearance in that edition of the Main Event, coming away with a $26,400 payday.
Featured image source: Twitter
