Brian Hastings Claims 2x 2015 WSOP Bracelets, Third Overall

Just before the clock struck 2:00am on Sunday morning, Brian Hastings claimed a new spot in World Series of Poker history. With 39 events in the books, the 26 year old American poker pro became the first player in this year’s series to win two 2015 WSOP bracelets.

As previously reported, Hastings’ incredible run—one that may not be over yet—began with a huge win at the $10,000 Seven Card Stud Championship Event #27 on June 13, where he collected his second career WSOP bracelet (the first came in 2012) and $239,518.

Just eight days later on June 21, Hasting’s defeated Rostislav Tsodikov to earn his third piece of WSOP jewelry (the second this year) at the $1,500 Ten-Game Mix Event #39 for $133,403. He now has three WSOP bracelets, and is surely seeking a fourth as the 65-event World Series is not quite two-thirds of the way finished.

Brian Hastings Wins 2015 WSOP $1,500 10-Game Mix

The look of overwhelming joy on Brian Hastings’ face was evident as he pressed the latest of his three WSOP bracelets to his lips, holding the winning Kd 6s as WSOP photographer Melissa Haereiti took the requisite winner’s photo (seen right). He told reporters he really felt like he’d win going into the 10-Game Mix event.

Playing in a 10-Game Mix tournament requires an incredible amount of skill and perceptive understanding of each poker variant involved. The 2015 WSOP event included a revolving line-up of the following games, all of which Brian Hastings seems to have mastered:

• Seven-Card Stud
• Pot-Limit Omaha
• No-Limit Hold’em
• Razz
• Badugi
• Omaha High-Low Split
• Limit Deuce-to-Seven Triple Draw
• No-Limit Deuce-to-Seven Single Draw
• Limit Hold’em
• Seven-Card Stud High-Low Split

As with most unique events, the final table was occupied by a strong roster of elite poker pros that included three former bracelet winners—Hastings himself, Todd Brunson and Owais Ahmed—plus 36-time WSOP casher Mike Watson.

Todd Brunson was eliminated in 3^rd place for $52,977 on a 3-way pot that Rostislav Tsodikov emerged the winner of, giving him a 2-to-1 chip lead over Hastings going into heads-up play. In fact, Tsodikov was experiencing the best run of his poker career at that point. Unfortunately for the Ukrainian-born US citizen, so was Brian.

The two spent the next two hours exchanging chips, with Hastings taking a dominant lead towards the end. Feeling the pressure of the short-stack, Tsodikov found himself raising all-in pre-flop on a hand of Limit Hold’em.

Rostislav Tsodikov: A♦ 5♣
Brian Hastings: K♦ 6♠

Rostislav was out in front, but the 2♣ K♠ J♠ flop gave Hastings a strong lead that never relented on the 7♥ turn or 4♠ river. Still with no WSOP bracelets to his name, Tsodikov finished runner up for $82,398.

And with that Brian Hastings was named the victor, awarded $133,403 and another piece of jewelry, giving him three WSOP bracelets—two this year alone. The high-stakes cash game specialist has racked up a total of $1,813,428 in live tournament career winnings, $1,272,776 of which have come from WSOP cashes.