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Brian Hastings
Brian Hastings is an American professional poker player who has reached the very top of both the online and live poker worlds. Originally from Pennsylvania, he became a legend in the game before even finishing college by winning millions in the highest-stakes online cash games ever played. Today, he is celebrated as one of the most decorated players in history, being one of only a small group of people to win six World Series of Poker bracelets.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings of over $5.9 million (according to The Hendon Mob), Hastings is a master of almost every poker variant. His most famous live achievements have come at the World Series of Poker (WSOP), where he has won six gold bracelets across a wide range of games including Heads-Up No Limit Hold’em, Seven Card Stud, and H.O.R.S.E..
His biggest live tournament score came in 2012 when he won the $10,000 Heads-Up Championship for $371,498. However, he is perhaps best known for the most profitable session in online poker history. In 2009, playing under the name “stinger88,” he won a staggering $4.18 million in a single day against the mysterious Swedish player Viktor “Isildur1” Blom. Hastings has remained a top performer for years, recently taking 4th in the 2025 $10,000 PLO Hi-Lo Championship for $243,144.
Biography & Poker Background
Brian Hastings grew up in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania, and was first inspired to play poker by his high school math teacher. He attended Cornell University to study economics and engineering, but his talent for the game quickly took over. While still a student, he climbed the ranks of online poker to become a feared high-stakes specialist. Beyond his own play, he became a highly respected coach and a partner in the training site CardRunners, helping a generation of players improve their skills. He has often balanced his poker life with other interests, once even announcing a break from the game to pursue a tea business before returning to win even more titles.
Play Style & Strategy
Hastings is widely regarded as one of the smartest and most prepared players in the game. His strategy is built on a deep mathematical foundation and a relentless work ethic. He is a true mixed-game specialist, meaning he is just as comfortable playing obscure games like Razz or 2-7 Triple Draw as he is playing No Limit Hold’em. He is famous for his analytical approach; for his legendary match against Isildur1, he famously studied thousands of hands to find specific weaknesses in his opponent’s game. Despite his technical brilliance, he emphasizes “life balance,” believing that being happy and healthy away from the table is the key to staying focused during the long, stressful grinds of a tournament.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to follow Brian “stinger88” Hastings as he hunts for his seventh bracelet during the 2026 WSOP? You can track his latest stats and updates here:
Video Highlights:
My relationship with cards started thanks to my father. I was still in elementary school when he first taught me how to play Rummy, and I still remember the long evenings spent playing cards with my family. During the poker boom, I was still underage, but the televised tournaments immediately captured my attention. I became fascinated with the game and started learning different poker formats whenever I had the chance. Later in life, as an adult, I was fortunate enough to spend four years playing poker professionally. During that time, I mainly focused on Heads-Up Sit and Go games, where I found the format that suited me best. Even though my professional career was relatively short, poker remains something I’m grateful to have experienced as a major part of my life. Today, I play mostly as a hobby, while writing has become my main focus. That said, my enthusiasm for writing about poker is just as strong as my passion for playing the game once was.
