Brian Hastings (born June 24, 1988) of Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania is an American professional poker player known for his six World Series of Poker bracelets and for his profitable online cash game sessions against the Swedish poker player Viktor Blom, better known by his Online-Poker name Isildur1.[1]
| Brian Hastings | |
|---|---|
 Brian Hastings in 2020 | |
| Nickname(s) | Stinger88, NoelHayes, LucLongley |
| Born | June 24, 1988 |
| World Series of Poker | |
| Bracelet(s) | 6 |
| Final table(s) | 16 |
| Money finish(es) | 55 |
| Highest ITM Main Event finish | 49th, 2015 |
| World Poker Tour | |
| Title(s) | None |
| Final table(s) | 1 |
| Money finish(es) | 4 |
Poker career
editHastings began playing online in 2006, inspired by his secondary school mathematics teacher.[2] He entered Cornell University through the College of Engineering, and now majors in economics. He held a minority interest in Cardrunners.com.[3] His style of play has been described on ESPN.com as one that places the game of poker in "a balanced place in a balanced life." The Hastings approach to the game is to draw on the strength of the collective; accent the importance of off-table work, and impart life balance to one's daily routine.[4]
Contests
editVs. Isildur1
editIn December 2009, Hastings played online Poker against Isildur1, winning $4.18 million in a single session, plus a further $1.5 million in a later session.[5] The first, but not the second, of these sessions was controversial as Hastings is alleged to have shared hand histories with professional poker players Cole South and Brian Townsend, which would be a form of collusion and a direct violation of Full Tilt Poker's rules.[6] Allegations of impropriety by Hastings' were cleared by Full Tilt Poker on December 21, 2009.[7] Brian Hastings and Cole South were found to have not breached Full Tilt Poker's rules. The finding from the company was that “[i]t is fully acceptable for players to discuss strategy, and in this instance these players did discuss hands, an opponent and a strategy to play against this opponent. However, when the games are played there was only one player making decisions regarding the hand. Based on our findings, the sole breach of our site rules was by Brian Townsend who was found in violation of our rules regarding datamining. While he did violate our rules, he is receiving a punishment that is harsher than our standard response in these situations. We now consider this matter closed and all parties involved in the situation have been made aware of our decision.”[8]
Vs. Ziigmund
editOn September 18, 2010, Hastings and Cole South went head to head with noted Finnish player Ilari Sahamies in a $500/$1000 Pot Limit Omaha game. Hastings had a longer run against Sahamies, playing 662 hands, losing $195,000 during the session. Cole South left the table at 300 hands, losing $621,000.[9]
Poker After Dark
editHastings appears in Season 7, Week 5 of Poker After Dark. It is the first Pot Limit Omaha Cash session in the show's history. The group also includes Phil Ivey, Tom Dwan, Phil Galfond, and Patrik Antonius, who Hastings regularly plays against online.
Live Play
editWith restrictions placed against online play in the United States, Hastings moved to live poker. In August 2011, Brian Hastings completed a transition to live tournament play by winning the $2,200 buy-in WPT Regional Summer Splash Event #12, earning $213,877 for his win. Nearly 400 people played in the tournament. Hastings outlasted Griffin Malatino in the Heads Up Play, Malantino taking home $117,300 as the second place player. HendonMob.com reported that Hastings had over $960,000 in live tournament earnings, and was considering relocating to Canada to return to online play.[10]
World Series of Poker
editBrian Hastings defeated Jason Mo in the final match of the $10,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em event at the 2012 World Series of Poker to win his first bracelet.[11] He won his second bracelet in 2015 in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship.[12] Later that same World Series, he won his third bracelet in the $1,500 Ten-Game Mix Event.[13] He won his fourth bracelet in a 2018 $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. event.[14] In 2021, he won his fifth bracelet in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship event.[15] In the 2022 WSOP, he won his sixth bracelet in the $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship event.[16]
| Year | Tournament | Prize (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | $10,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em | $371,498 |
| 2015 | $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship | $239,518 |
| 2015 | $1,500 Ten-Game Mix | $133,403 |
| 2018 | $3,000 H.O.R.S.E | $233,202 |
| 2021 | $10,000 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better Championship | $352,958 |
| 2022 | $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship | $292,146 |
Associations
editHastings joined the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity at Cornell University,[2] and through that organization, the Irving Literary Society.[17]
References
edit- ^ Willis, Brad (January 8, 2011). "Finding Isildur1: Viktor Blom cops to his secret identity". Poker Stars Online. Archived from the original on October 28, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
- ^ a b Brad Herzog, "Card Sharp," Cornell Alumni Magazine (July/August 2010) at 26.
- ^ CardPlayer, "Online Poker -- Brian Hastings Talks to CPTV After Historic Win," Poker News (December 10, 2009) .
- ^ Wise, Gary (December 14, 2009). "Wise: Talented and disciplined". ESPN.com. Retrieved March 25, 2024.
- ^ Gary Wise, "Talented and disciplined," December 14, 2009) at PM ET.
- ^ Poker Listings.
- ^ "Brian Townsend (Not Hastings) Loses Full Tilt Pro Status In T&C Scandal," OnLine Poker.Net (Dec 21,2009.
- ^ "Brian Townsend (Not Hastings) Loses Full Tilt Pro Status In T&C Scandal," (Dec 21,2009.
- ^ Arf Birchman, "Ziigmund Beats Cole and Hastings Taking in $815K, Poker News Nation (Sep 19, 2010).
- ^ Teemu, “Brian Hastings wins WPT Regional Summer Splash and $213,877,” Highstakes (Aug 23, 2011).
- ^ "43rd World Series of Poker - WSOP 2012, No Limit Hold'em - Heads-Up (Event #12)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ "46th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2015, Seven Card Stud Championship (Event #27)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ "46th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2015, Ten Game Mix Six Handed (Event #39)". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved December 11, 2023.
- ^ "Brian Hastings Takes Down Event #76: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E". PokerNews. July 15, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ "Brian Hastings Becomes 29th Player in WSOP History to Claim Five Gold Bracelets". PokerNews. November 16, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ "Brian Hastings Captures Sixth Bracelet in Event #31: $10,000 Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw Championship". PokerNews. June 17, 2022. Retrieved April 10, 2024.
- ^ Cornell University Residence Plan of 1966, Schedule I, Appendix A (May 3, 1966)(see sixth page of document noting the relationship between Phi Kappa Psi and the Irving Literary Society)); see also, List of Phi Kappa Psi/Irving Literary Society Members (Aug 18, 2011).
External links
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