Brian Hastings biography
Brian Hastings was born June 24, 1988, in Hanover Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and attended Cornell University's College of Engineering before switching his major to economics. Inspired to take up the game seriously by a secondary school math teacher, he began playing online in 2006 under aliases including Stinger88, NoelHayes, and LucLongley, quickly establishing himself as one of the sharpest young minds in online high-stakes cash games.
His defining online moment came in December 2009, when he took on Swedish sensation Viktor "Isildur1" Blom, winning $4.18 million in a single legendary session and another $1.5 million in a follow-up – results so large they briefly triggered collusion allegations before Full Tilt Poker formally cleared both Hastings and his partner Cole South of wrongdoing.
As U.S. online poker restrictions took hold, Hastings shifted his focus to live tournaments, where he proved just as dominant, ultimately winning six WSOP gold bracelets across a remarkably diverse range of disciplines, including Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em, Seven-Card Stud, Ten-Game Mix, H.O.R.S.E., and multiple lowball and draw variants.
He also held a minority ownership stake in the training site Cardrunners.com, further cementing his status as one of the defining online-to-live crossover stars of his poker generation.
Career summary
A 6-time WSOP gold bracelet winner across a remarkably diverse set of disciplines, best known for a legendary $4.18 million single-session online cash-game win against Viktor Blom in December 2009, with career earnings exceeding $5 million.
Brian Hastings poker winnings
| Year | Event | Place | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | WSOP Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw | 1st | $292,146 |
| 2021 | WSOP Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better | 1st | $352,958 |
| 2018 | WSOP H.O.R.S.E. | 1st | $233,202 |
| 2015 | WSOP Seven Card Stud Championship | 1st | $239,518 |
| 2015 | WSOP Ten-Game Mix | 1st | $133,403 |
| 2012 | WSOP Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em | 1st | $371,498 |
Verified live tournament earnings: $5,000,000+ from 60+ cashes, plus 6 WSOP bracelets.
Brian Hastings playing style
A mathematically elite, format-versatile player equally dangerous in mixed games as in No-Limit Hold'em, built on a foundation of intense online cash-game study and one of the sharpest analytical minds of his poker generation.
Cash games
A legendary former online high-stakes cash-game player, most famous for a single December 2009 session against Viktor "Isildur1" Blom that netted $4.18 million.
Business & sponsorships
Former minority owner of Cardrunners.com; full-time tournament professional across mixed-game formats since transitioning away from online cash games.
Brian Hastings Net Worth
As of November 2026, Brian Hastings net worth estimates range from $5 million to $10 million.
Verified live tournament earnings account for $5M of prize money across 60+ cashes. Sponsorships, business ventures and cash games, covered above, make up the rest of the picture. Tournament prize money is not the same as profit: buy-ins, staking deals and taxes are not deducted, so all net worth figures are estimates based on public reporting.
Why Brian matters
The player behind one of the most legendary single-session scores in online poker history, who went on to prove that dominance translated just as well to live mixed-game tournament felts.
FAQ about Brian Hastings
What is Brian Hastings' most famous poker session?
In December 2009, he won $4.18 million in a single online cash-game session against Viktor "Isildur1" Blom, one of the largest and most talked-about single-session results in online poker history.
How many different WSOP disciplines has Brian Hastings won bracelets in?
His six WSOP bracelets span an unusually wide range of formats, including Heads-Up No-Limit Hold'em, Seven-Card Stud, Ten-Game Mix, H.O.R.S.E., Stud Hi-Lo, and Limit 2-7 Lowball Triple Draw.
How much has Brian Hastings won playing poker?
Brian Hastings has won $5,000,000+ in live tournament earnings. Total cashes: 60+.