Brian Rast

Rast was born in Denver, Colorado but raised in Poway, California, where he graduated as valedictorian from Poway High School in 2000. He attended Stanford University before dropping out in order to pursue a career as a full-time poker professional in 2004.{{Cite web |title=Brian Rast Biography |url=http://www.brianrast.com/#!personal/cgvz |access-date=October 3, 2016 |website=BrianRast.com}}

In 2011, Rast married his wife, Juliana Karla Carlos da Silva.

In the online poker world, Rast is known as tsarrast on both Full Tilt Poker and PokerStars. Rast was primarily a cash game player online and played very few poker tournaments. He has very limited tournament results, playing a small volume in 2007 and again in 2016, and barely any in between.{{cite web | url = http://www.officialpokerrankings.com/pokerstars/tsarrast/poker/ratings/5FD3F275D2A14025984E0D7FDDE29D57.html?t=3 | title= Official Poker Rankings | access-date = October 7, 2016 }}{{cite web | url = http://www.officialpokerrankings.com/fulltiltpoker/tsarrast/poker/ratings/165E8C23293E4F758E9D53C6900FED01.html?t=3 | title= Official Poker Rankings | access-date = October 7, 2016 }} Despite the small volume, Rast has some impressive online tournament results, which include finishing third in Full Tilt Poker's FTOPS III Main Event in 2007 for $114,203.50.,{{cite web |title=Brian 'tassarast' Rast joins Poker VT | url = http://www.pokernewsreport.com/brian-%E2%80%98tassarast%E2%80%99-rast-joins-poker-vt-187 | access-date = July 6, 2011 |last=Graham |first= Alan |date= October 9, 2010 | work = pokernewsreport.com}}{{cite web | url = http://www.pokernews.com/news/2007/02/online-poker-weekend-ftops-main-event.htm | title = Online Poker Weekend: 'traheho' Takes Down FTOPS III Main Event | access-date = July 6, 2011 | last = Hintze | first = Haley | date = February 19, 2007 | work = PokerNews.com}} finishing third in PokerStars Sunday Million in 2008 for $73,490{{cite web | url = http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/3715-online-poker-tpir90036-wins-sunday-million | title = Online Poker: tpir90036 Wins Sunday Million | access-date = July 6, 2011 | last = Green | first = Shawn Patrick | date = March 10, 2008 | work = CardPlayer | publisher = CardPlayer.com}} and finishing third in a $2,100 NLHE SCOOP in 2016 for $155,600.

Rast also produced some training videos online. He was one of the pros from the online poker training site Poker VT {{cite web |url= http://pokervt.com/poker-pro/brian-rast/ |title= Brian Rast – Pro |access-date= July 6, 2011 |work= PokerVT.com}} as well as RunItOnce.{{Cite web |title=Meet the Pros |url=http://www.runitonce.com/meet-the-pros |website=Run It Once}}

Rast made his first WSOP cash in 2005.{{Cite web |title=36th World Series of Poker – WSOP 2005, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8821 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} Rast has six World Series of Poker bracelets, two of which he won at the 2011 World Series of Poker. His first was in the $1,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em event, where he earned $227,232 after he defeated poker professional Allen Kessler heads-up,{{cite web | url = https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=6656541 | title = Twist of fate leads Rast to WSOP win | access-date = July 6, 2011 | last = Feldman | first = Andrew | date = June 13, 2011 | work = ESPN.com}}

Rast's second was in the $50,000 Players Championship, the second highest buy-in event, that awards third highest prize money of $1,720,328; also awarded is the David "Chip" Reese memorial trophy and what was described by Andrew Feldman of ESPN as "the most prestigious bracelet of the Series".{{cite web | url = https://www.espn.com/espn/poker/news/story?id=6744875 | title = Brian Rast wins Players' Championship | access-date = July 8, 2011 | last = Feldman | first = Andrew | date = July 7, 2011 | work = ESPN.com}}

The Players Championship started out with a field of 128 players and after four days of play in a mixed game format known as 8-Game, the format was switch to No-Limit Texas Hold'em on the fifth day, when the final table of eight was set with following noted poker professionals and where they finished: Ben Lamb (eighth), Scott Seiver (seventh), PokerStars Pro and SuperNova Elite George Lind (sixth), Matt Glantz (fifth), Owais Ahmed (fourth) and Minh Ly (third).{{Cite web |title=42nd World Series of Poker – WSOP 2011, The Poker Players Championship – 8 Game |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=51917 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

When heads-up play began, Rast was up against 11-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, who was trying to capture his 12th bracelet in his third heads-up match of the 2011 series. As the match progressed, Hellmuth established a 5–1 chip lead on Rast; however, Rast gained the lead after a series of draws that failed to improve Hellmuth's hands. Rast captured the bracelet when Hellmuth's flush draw failed to improve against Rast's King high straight.{{cite web | url = http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/11635-brian-rast-denies-phil-hellmuth-wins-world-series-of-poker-50-000-player-s-championship | title = Brian Rast Denies Phil Hellmuth, Wins World Series of Poker $50,000 Player's Championship | access-date = July 7, 2011 | last = Rodriguez | first = Julio | date = July 7, 2011 | work = CardPlayer | publisher = CardPlayer.com}}

Rast's other results at the WSOP include a ninth-place finish in the 2008 World Series of Poker $5,000 Pot-Limit Omaha with Rebuys event for $84,863, 14th at the 2009 World Series of Poker in the $40,000 No-Limit Hold'em event for $128,665, and at the 2010 World Series of Poker he finished in the money, coming in 537th place out of 7,319 players for $24,079.{{Cite web |title=Brian Rast's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=46426 |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

At the 2012 World Series of Poker, Rast made two final tables: sixth place in the $1,500 No Limit Hold'em Re-entry for $137,632 and sixth place in the $1,000,000 Big One for One Drop for $1,621,333.{{Cite web |title=43rd World Series of Poker – WSOP 2012, No Limit Hold'em – Re-Entry (Event #9A) |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=64756 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=43rd World Series of Poker – WSOP 2012, The Big One for One Drop (Event #55) |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=64804 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

Brian won his second Poker Players Championship bracelet at the 2016 World Series of Poker, beating Justin Bonomo heads up and winning $1,296,097.{{Cite web |last=Nuwwarah |first=Mo |date=July 7, 2016 |title=Building a Legacy: Brian Rast Wins $50,000 PPC a Second Time |url=http://www.pokernews.com/news/2016/07/building-a-legacy-brian-rast-wins-50k-ppc-a-second-time-25256.htm |access-date=July 7, 2016 |website=PokerNews}}

At the 2018 World Series of Poker, Rast won his fourth bracelet, and $259,670, in the $10,000 No-Limit 2–7 Lowball Draw Championship event. Ten-time bracelet winner Doyle Brunson, four-time bracelet winner John Hennigan, and two-time bracelet winner Mike Wattel, whom Rast defeated in heads-up play, were among the players at the final table.{{Cite web |title=49th World Series of Poker – WSOP 2018, No Limit 2–7 Lowball Draw Championship (Event #23) |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=472336 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} In the 2021 WSOP, he won the $3,000 No Limit Hold'em 6-Handed event for $474,102 for his fifth bracelet.{{Cite web |title=52nd World Series of Poker – WSOP 2021, No Limit Hold'em – 6 Handed (Event #51) |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=743421 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} In the 2023 WSOP, he won the $50,000 Poker Player's Championship for $1,324,747.{{Cite web |title=54th World Series of Poker – WSOP 2023, Mixed Games: Poker Players Championship – 7-Handed (Bracelet Event 43) |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=908903 |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

He was inducted to the Poker Hall of Fame as part of the Class of 2023.{{Cite web |last=Sofen |first=Jon |date=July 13, 2023 |title=Six-Time Bracelet Winner Brian Rast Voted Into Poker Hall of Fame |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2020/12/brian-rast-2023-poker-hall-of-fame-44062.htm |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}

From 2010–2014, Rast made regular trips to Macau to play cash games.

In December 2013, Brian won the World Poker Tour Doyle Brunson Five Diamond World Poker Classic $100,000 High Roller at the Bellagio by defeating Erik Seidel heads up for the title, taking home a prize of $1,083,500.{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Donnie |date=December 11, 2013 |title=Brian Rast Defeats Erik Seidel To Win 2013 WPT Five Diamond $100K for $1,083,500 |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2013/12/brian-rast-wins-five-diamond-100k-high-roller-17008.htm |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}

During the 2015 WSOP, Brian Rast won the 1st inaugural Super High Roller Bowl played at the Aria casino in Las Vegas, taking home over $7,500,000, besting Scott Seiver heads-up, and a 43 player field in total. It stands as his largest single tournament win.{{Cite web |last=Holloway |first=Chad |last2=Doft |first2=Mickey |date=July 5, 2015 |title=Brian Rast Wins Inaugural $500,000 Super High Roller Bowl for $7,525,000 |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2015/07/brian-rast-wins-inaugural-super-high-roller-bowl-22161.htm |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}

As of 2024, his total live tournament earnings exceed $25,400,000. He has cashed for over $1 million in tournaments for seven years in a row (2011–2017).{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Donnie |date=January 21, 2015 |title=PokerNews Did You Know: Negreanu, Rast, Gruissem, and Sands Chasing Lindgren's Record |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2015/01/negreanu-rast-gruissem-sands-chasing-lindgren-20381.htm |access-date=April 20, 2024 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}

{{Reflist|35em}}

• [http://www.pocketfives.com/profiles/tsarrast/ PocketFives profile]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20120519032156/http://news.bluffmagazine.com/wsop-bracelet-winner-profile-brian-rast-21850/ Bluff Magazine profile]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111005221833/http://pokercast.twoplustwo.com/guest.php?guest=156 TwoPlusTwo PokerCast Interview of Brian Rast]
• [http://thebiggame.pokerstars.net/players/brian-rast/ The PokerStars.net Big Game profile]
• [https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/15757-brian-rast Card Player profile]
• [https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=46426 Hendon Mob profile]
• [https://www.pokernews.com/poker-players/brian-rast/ PokerNews profile]
• [https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/brian-rast/ WPT profile]
• [https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=4702 WSOP profile]

{{Poker Hall of Fame}}

{{World Series of Poker $50,000 Players' Championship Winners}}

{{2010s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}

{{2020s WSOP bracelet winners}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Rast, Brian}}

Category:1981 births

Category:Living people

Category:World Series of Poker bracelet winners

Category:Poker players from the Las Vegas Valley

Category:Poker Hall of Fame inductees