A round of controversy has emerged around Maurice Hawkins' record-tying victory in the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) Main Event in Baltimore after it was discovered that Divyam Satyarthi had the best hand when he was busted in third place.
The hand, which was documented on PokerOrg's Instant Live feed, happened on the road to Hawkins' 18th WSOP Circuit ring — a feat that tied him with Ari Engel at the top of the all-time list.
The play-by-play
Satyarthi had jammed from the small blind with 
and Hawkins called from the big blind with 
. The board ran out 
, leaving Satyarthi with a pair of tens and Hawkins in need of a non-club five to make a wheel. The river was a 
and Satyarthi had a flush, but the pot was awarded to Hawkins for an apparent wheel.
Divyam Satyarthi was eliminated in third place with the best hand after an error awarded the pot to Maurice Hawkins instead. "Nobody noticed the flush in the moment," PokerOrg reporter Jeff McMillan said on X. "It was a confusing moment where the third-place finisher thought his pair held at first until the wheel was deemed the winner and Hawkins (was) given the pot."
