Maurice Hawkins Wins Record 26th WSOP Circuit Ring

Maurice Hawkins extends the WSOP Circuit ring record

Maurice Hawkins wasted no time getting back on track after a summer of close calls at the World Series of Poker. At the 2026 WSOP Circuit Choctaw $1,100 mini main event, he topped a field of 400 entries and earned $76,380, adding yet another chapter to one of the most decorated Circuit resumes in history.

The win was Hawkins’ 26th WSOP Circuit ring, which pushes his all-time lead even further ahead of the field. In a tour built on consistency, volume, and the ability to keep showing up deep into final days, a record like this is not just a stat line — it is a statement about endurance and edge over time.

Final-table results from the $1,100 mini main event

The closing stages brought together several well-known live-tournament names. Hawkins found himself with Ari Engel, one of his closest rivals in the ring race, sitting just one seat away on the final day. That added a layer of tension to the finish and made the table dynamic especially interesting for anyone following the Circuit leaderboard.

• Maurice Hawkins — $76,380
• Brian Green — $50,900
• Will Givens — $35,450
• Ari Engel — $25,170

Engel, who is tied with Daniel Lowery for second in the ring race at 20, finished fourth. Givens, meanwhile, continued a strong summer after his 19th-place run in the WSOP Main Event, where he locked up a career-best $325,000 score. Green took runner-up honors, but Hawkins controlled the late stages well enough to close out the title.

For players who follow live poker closely, this final table is a reminder that Circuit events often blend regional regulars with nationally known grinders, which makes every stage of the tournament feel more volatile than the buy-in might suggest.

Hawkins’ 2026 rollercoaster season

Hawkins’ year has been anything but ordinary. He opened 2026 by winning three rings in the first four months, then filed for bankruptcy in April. Not long after that, he secured his 25th WSOPC victory, showing that his results have remained strong even through a turbulent off-table stretch.

His summer at the WSOP in Las Vegas added even more context to the bigger picture. In a $600 mixed pot-limit Omaha and no-limit hold’em bracelet event, Hawkins finished second at a stacked final table that included Daniel Negreanu and Alex Foxen. Later in the festival, he made another major run by placing fourth in the $3,000 mid-stakes championship, a massive field of 3,668 entries that paid him $432,875 — the largest payday of his career.

With this latest triumph, Hawkins’ lifetime earnings have reached $7.7 million, a mark that reflects both longevity and a rare ability to keep producing results in live events year after year.

Expert analysis: why ring No. 26 matters

Hawkins’ latest victory matters well beyond the trophy cabinet. It underscores how the WSOP Circuit rewards players who can combine technical skill with repetition, travel, and discipline. Unlike shorter prestige festivals, Circuit schedules give regulars more opportunities to convert a small edge into a large sample of cashes, final tables, and titles.

• Field selection matters. Smaller markets and non-Vegas stops can create softer lineups than flagship events.
• Stack pressure increases in final-day play. Knowing when to apply pressure on medium stacks is often the difference between a min-cash and a title.
• Consistency beats highlights. Long-term leaders on the Circuit usually win by avoiding major leaks, not by chasing hero spots.
• Preparation pays. Players who study in a poker school and pair that work with the right poker rooms or poker clubs are better equipped to handle these live fields.

From an industry perspective, Hawkins’ record helps keep the Circuit narrative alive. Tour leaders and venue partners benefit when a recognizable name is chasing history, because storylines are what turn a schedule of events into something fans actually follow.

POY points and the broader leaderboard picture

Beyond the ring itself, Hawkins added 720 Card Player Player of the Year points for the win. He now sits at 4,512 total points and climbed to 12th in the CoinPoker-presented POY standings. He also moved into a tie for second in final-table appearances on the Circuit this year with Punnat Punsri, as both players now have 15. Only Brandon Wilson has more final tables, with 18.

That combination of titles, points, and repeated final-table runs is what makes Hawkins such a dangerous presence on the live scene. He is not relying on one breakout score; he is stacking results across a full season, which is exactly how major year-end races are won.

Conclusion

Maurice Hawkins’ 26th WSOP Circuit ring is more than a milestone — it is another proof point in a career built on volume, resilience, and relentless tournament pressure. The Choctaw win extends his lead in the all-time ring race, boosts his POY position, and reinforces his status as one of the defining figures of the Circuit era.

For players tracking live poker trends, the message is clear: the Circuit still rewards those who can play well often, adjust quickly, and turn repeated opportunities into history.

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