Brian Hastings in New Online Interview

Brian Hastings is one of the biggest ever winners in online poker. He had earned millions before he was out of his teens and went on to win the biggest single session in online poker history in December 2009 when he stacked Viktor "Isildur1" Blom for $4.2m at the $500/$1000 PLO tables when he was just 21. He also has three WSOP bracelets and $2.5m in live tourney earnings to his name. Now, still only 28 years old, Hastings is taking a step back from full time poker to focus on his new tea business "UniTea" and he recently spoke at length to Cardplayer.com about his decision to leave poker somewhat behind in search of pastures new.

A couple of weeks ago Hastings made a long blog post where he detailed his decision and why he was putting poker on the back burner. During the near hour-long audio interview with Cardplayer Hastings expands on those points, his ongoing battle with mental health/depression, and how he is excited to get started with his new business. He cites his experience in helping setting up DraftDay with fellow former poker and cardrunner pros Taylor Caby and Andrew Wiggins as good groundwork for the task ahead in establishing his tea business. He is quick to point out, however, that he intends to take it slowly, and won't be looking to open his first outlet for another 3-4 months yet.

Hastings said he had been following politics closely for the past year or two and that his decision to start a small business right now was partly due to his feeling that under Trump there won't be that many great investment opportunities, but that the President elect has promised lower taxes for independent business owners.

Hastings is not leaving poker behind entirely, however, and says he intends to play the WSOP Main Event every year until he dies and that although he doesn't care for much of what goes on in the poker industry, that he still loves the game and always will.

Check out the interview in full below