Brian “Tsarrast” Rast initially had no intention of joining the WSOP. But now he’s the proud owner of a WSOP bracelet. How did that happen? Well, he bumped into fate, that’s how. After a chance meeting with his friend and neighbor, Antonio Esfandiari, Rast decided to join a WSOP event and ended up as the winner. He bested a field of 765 and took home a grand prize of $227,232.
Rast’s Runs into Destiny
Brian Rast is primarily known as a cash game player. He’s had quite a number of cashes in the WSOP and two final table finishes, but he has never won a bracelet before. He had just arrived home after vacationing in Brazil and visiting with his girlfriend when he ran into his friend, Antonio Esfandiari just before entering his condo. Esfandiari learned that Rast was not planning to join the WSOP this year and decided to offer him a deal that was pretty hard to refuse. Esfandiari would bankroll Rast completely in exchange for a stake in his winnings. Esfandiari’s trust in Rast certainly paid off, what with Rast’s victory.
Rast’s Road to Victory
At the final table, it was Roland Lee who first went home. He was followed by Ted Lawson, then John Gordon. Ali Eslami was the next one to go at sixth place, then he was quickly followed by Mika Paasonen. Then, it was Daisuke Endo’s turn to head for home at fourth place, quickly followed by Dajuan Whorley. Then, finally, only Allen Kessler and Brian Rast were left to battle it out in the heads up portion of the tournament. They were pretty much equal in terms of chip stack when heads up play began. In fact, the lead seesawed between the two of them several times. However, on the final hand, Rast opened to 90,000 at the button and Kessler called. When the flop was revealed to be Ah-3h-5h, Rast made another bet of 90,000. Kessler checked and raised to 200,000. Undaunted, Rast also raised 500,000. Kessler, confident, moved in. But then Rast snap-called, revealing that he made a nut flush.
The turn and the river failed to help Kessler, and the win ultimately went to Brian Rast. This was his first ever WSOP bracelet. It seems that both he and Antonio Esfandiari won this time. Esfandiari’s nickname as “The Magician” really does seem to fit him.
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