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<p>Hanover Area graduate <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/features/371611/hanover-area-graduate-is-first-player-to-win-two-events-at-world-series-of-poker" target="_blank">Brian Hastings has carried his strong showing </a>at the World Series of Poker into the Main Event.</p><p>As all players prepared to begin their third day of competition Friday afternoon, Hastings was battling among the leaders and making progress toward earning money in the Main Event, poker&#8217;s recognized annual world championship, for the second straight year.</p><p>The 27-year-old from Hanover Township is one of two players to win two events already at this year&#8217;s series. He also collected $332,593 for taking 11th in the largest buy-in event, the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop.</p><p>The main event was trimmed from 6,420 entrants to 1,796 by the end of Thursday&#8217;s session. To accommodate the large field, players were given three different starting days to choose from and two different &#8220;Day Twos.&#8221; From this point forward, the entire field is on the same schedule.</p><p>Hastings has the 13th-largest chip stack after building his original 30,000 in chips to 367,300.</p><p>The top 1,000 players will make at least $15,000 from their $10,000 buy-in. By the time the field is trimmed to the November Nine early on July 15, those nine final table players will be guaranteed of at least $1,000,000 each.</p><p>First place pays $7,680,021.</p><p>Hastings has been on a steady climb since running into trouble midway through the first day. He was below 8,000 in chips at one point and was still well below his original starting stack when he was all-in and ahead, but at-risk, with a straight against his opponent&#8217;s three-of-a-kind.</p><p>When the board did not pair on the river, preventing the full house that would have ended his tournament, Hastings more than doubled his chip stack and started moving up through the ranks.</p><p>Out of the 1,716 players who began their tournament Monday, Hastings had the 88th-best day, finishing with 87,550 in chips despite the rocky start.</p><p>When he returned to action Wednesday, Hastings nearly quadrupled his chip count.</p><p>Hastings entered the Main Event in fifth place in the World Series of Poker Player of the Year race. He has wins in the $10,000 buy-in Seven Card Stud Championship and $1,500 buy-in Ten-Game Mix while cashing in a total of six events this year.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Brian Hastings concentrates during a poker game. The Hanover Area graduate has emerged as one of the highest-profile players at the game&#8217;s most mainstream series of events. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_poker22.jpg</photo0><caption0>Brian Hastings concentrates during a poker game. The Hanover Area graduate has emerged as one of the highest-profile players at the game&#8217;s most mainstream series of events. </caption0><photoCredit0>Submitted photos </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Hanover Area graduate is first player to win two events at World Series of Poker</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Robinson</p><p>For the Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach the arts and entertainment department at 570-991-1311 or email <a href="mailto:ae@www.timesleader.com">ae@www.timesleader.com</a></p></shirttailMeta></div>

Hastings progresses at WSOP, steps closer to $1 million