Brian Hastings Takes Down Event #76: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E
A total of 354 runners showed up for Event #76: $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. at the Rio All-Suites and Casino for the final mixed tournament of the series. When the final curtain came down, it was Brian Hastings taking home the prestigious World Series of Poker bracelet and an astounding $233,202 first-place cash prize. Hastings bested Andrew Brown heads-up, who took home a respectable $144,128 for his efforts.
Hastings came into the final day of the tournament as the chipleader with 19 players remaining. He was the shortest stack at one point during four-handed play, but rallied back to win it all.
When asked how he was feeling after winning his fourth WSOP gold bracelet, Hastings was very delighted. "It feels amazing, this was my last event of the summer and I had a couple of runs before this, but to end it this way just feels great."
Hastings had an uphill battle in front of him when heads-up play began, but that didn't stop him from pulling through. "I came into heads-up with a four- or five-to-one chip disadvantage, but the cards ran my way and I made a few hands. Andrew is a good player and things just went my way."
This being the fourth gold bracelet of his career, Hastings said it had a little more meaning than the previous ones. "I'm at a different stage in my life right now. I'm getting married this year (to his fiance Sonya), I'm looking at buying a house, so this will go a long way to that." Sonya was Hastings' biggest supporter on his path to victory, standing on the rail throughout the entire 12-hour day, cheering him on.
Final Table Results
| Place | Player | Country | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brian Hastings | United States | $233,202 |
| 2 | Andrew Brown | United States | $144,128 |
| 3 | Tim Marsters | Australia | $97,340 |
| 4 | Jeff Madsen | United States | $67,121 |
| 5 | Lee Markholt | United States | $47,275 |
| 6 | Hye Park | United States | $34,027 |
| 7 | Dutch Boyd | United States | $25,040 |
| 8 | Bruno Fitoussi | France | $18,849 |
Final Day Action
The official final table bubble, who took ninth place, was Jesse Hampton after he moved all in with tens during the hold'em round and could not hold against Dutch Boyd. Bruno Fitoussi would be the next person to hit the rail when his aces failed to hold up in Omaha hi-lo against Lee Markholt.
Boyd had a roller coaster of a final table but could not survive a runout in razz against Tim Marsters, who would take down the hand with his eight low. One of the leaders coming into the final table was Hye Park who would end his day on the hold'em round when he ran into Madsen's two pair, being eliminated in sixth.
It was Markholt making his way to the payout desk in fifth when he ran a bluff into Hastings who made a very bold call. Four-time bracelet winner Jeff Madsen would be yet another player to hit the rail during the hold'em round, running into Hastings' big slick, and getting eliminated in fourth.
Marsters found himself taking an exit during the Omaha hi-lo round when he shoved his stack in on the turn and was called by Hastings who had him drawing to just a quarter of the pot. Marsters did not get there on the river and Hastings sent him home in third.
The heads-up play started with Brown having a four-to-one chip lead on Hastings and all the momentum. Hastings slowly battled for chips at the first of heads-up, but after two big hands he quickly took over the lead. Once in the lead, Hastings never turned back as he whittled away at his opponent's stack. Brown would head out the door during the Omaha hi-lo round when he moved all in before the flop. Hastings made the call and would make a stronger two pair on the river to capture the pot and eliminate Brown in second place.
The PokerNews live reporting team will be back tomorrow to bring you full coverage of Event #78: $1,000,000 The Big One for One Drop.
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and Hastings remained in the lead with his pair of tens and no low draw possible. 
on the turn gave Brown the advantage with nines-up and a flush draw, but the 
on the river counterfeited Brown's two-pair. Hastings would be pushed the pot with his better jacks-up, and Brown would be eliminated in second place for $144,128 in prize money.
and Brown check-called a continuation bet from Hastings.
and Brown checked again. Hastings tossed in another bet and Brown continued to call. The 
on the river paired the board and Brown checked for the third time. Hastings barrelled one more time and Brown took a minute to ponder his decision. He eventually threw his cards to the muck and Hastings raked in the pot.
and Marsters bet. Hastings made the call.
fell on the turn, Marsters bet, and Hastings moved him all in. Marsters made the call and the players turned over their hands.
for a pair of aces and Hastings showed 
for a turned straight with seven low. The river came the 
and Hastings scooped the pot, eliminating Marsters in third place.
hit the river. Hastings took down the pot with his kings, eliminating Madsen from the tournament in fourth place.
.
.
for tens over threes. The river came down the 
and Madsen checked to Park who continued with a bet. Madsen called and the 
and Park was unable to improve, heading to the rail in sixth place.
