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

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.

After a whole round of hold'em and half a round of Omaha hi-lo, Brian Hastings has Andrew Brown in dire straits as he looks to finish out the tournament.

Brian Hastings	4,900,000	1,390,000
Andrew Brown	400,000	-1,400,000

Stud

Brian Hastings:    /      /  
Andrew Brown:    /      /  

Andrew Brown completed, Brian Hastings raised, Brown three-bet, and Hastings made the call. Brown bet until seventh where he check-called a bet from Hastings. Hastings tabled     for trip fives and Brown mucked his hand.

Brian Hastings	3,000,000	940,000
Andrew Brown	2,300,000	-950,000

Hold'em

Andrew Brown raised the button and Brian Hastings defended. The flop was     and Brown bet, Hastings raised, and Brown called.

On the   turn, Hastings bet, Brown raised, Hastings three-bet, Brown four-bet, and Hastings called. Both players checked the   on the river.

Hastings showed    for trip deuces with a queen kicker, but Brown tabled    to outkick Hastings' trips and scoop up the monster pot to take a sizable lead.

Andrew Brown	4,505,000	1,255,000
Brian Hastings	795,000	-1,255,000

Stud Hi-Lo

Brian Hastings:    /      /  
Andrew Brown:    /      /  

Andrew Brown completed with his two and Brian Hastings raised. Brown called. Brown bet until sixth when both players checked. On seventh, Brown check-called a bet from Hastings who showed     for two pair and Brown mucked his hand.

Stud Hi-Lo

Andrew Brown:    /      /  
Brian Hastings:    /      /  

Hastings completed and Brown raised. Hastings made the call. Brown bet until seventh where Hastings took over and Brown made the call. Brown turned over     for a pair of kings and Hastings mucked his hand.

Andrew Brown	3,250,000	-380,000
Brian Hastings	2,050,000	370,000

Razz

Andrew Brown:    /      /  
Brian Hastings:    /      /  

Andrew Brown bet on every street and Brian Hastings called all the way to showdown. Brown tabled     for nine low and Hastings chucked his cards into the muck.

Andrew Brown	4,415,000	265,000
Brian Hastings	885,000	-165,000

Omaha Hi-Lo

Brian Hastings opened from the button, Tim Marsters three-bet from the big blind, and Hastings made the call. The flop came down     and Marsters bet. Hastings made the call.

The   fell on the turn, Marsters bet, and Hastings moved him all in. Marsters made the call and the players turned over their hands.

Marsters turned over      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.

Brian Hastings	1,750,000	685,000
Tim Marsters	0	-580,000

Stud Hi-Lo

Andrew Brown:    /      /  
Brian Hastings:    /      /  
Tim Marsters:    /      /  

Brian Hastings completed with his five showing, Andrew Brown raised, Tim Marsters made the call, and Hastings bumped it up again. Both Brown and Marsters called. Brown bet on fourth and both of his opponents called.

Marsters led on fifth and both of his opponents called. Brown took over on sixth, and both Hastings and Marsters called. All three players checked it down on seventh and revealed their hands.

Brown tabled     for a full house, Hastings showed     for an eight low, and Marsters chucked his cards into the muck. Hastings and Brown splits the pot, leaving Marsters short stacked in the process.

Andrew Brown	3,450,000	350,000
Brian Hastings	1,350,000	425,000
Tim Marsters	400,000	-750,000

Stud

Andrew Brown called an all-in from Tim Marsters on fifth street and the cards ran out as follows:

Tim Marsters    /      /  
Andrew Brown:    /      /  

Brown showed a pair of sixes on sixth street but Marsters improved to two pair on seventh and secured a double-up.

Andrew Brown	3,100,000	-420,000
Tim Marsters	800,000	435,000

The players will now be taking a 15-minute break.

Andrew Brown	3,520,000	-450,000
Brian Hastings	1,305,000	255,000
Tim Marsters	365,000	-170,000