The race for the most World Series of Poker (WSOP) Circuit rings has intensified over the past few years, with Ari Engel, Daniel Lowery and Maurice Hawkins each pushing hard to lead the pack.
Earlier this week, at the WSOP Circuit stop in New Orleans, Hawkins took the lead for himself with his record-breaking 20th victory. Now, just days later, he’s extended that lead with his 21st Circuit ring, won at the same Circuit stop.
The record-extending win came in the $400 No Limit Hold'em event, which awarded first-place prize money of $12,996 in addition to ring number 21 for Hawkins.
Having broken the record, and extended it within the same week, Hawkins puts himself even further ahead of Engel and Lowery in the race for rings. While his two closest rivals in the ring race are generally popular and well-liked in the poker world, Hawkins’ public reputation is far less straightforward, with many calling him out continually for allegedly improper financial dealings with his backers.
It’s criticism Hawkins has always been quick to dismiss. "I don't need fans. If you love me, I love you. If you don't, you can kiss my ass," Hawkins told PokerOrg earlier this week upon winning his 20th ring.
Fast and furious finale
The final table of the $400 NLH in New Orleans.Whatever one’s feeling towards Hawkins, his talent for closing out tournaments on the Circuit is undeniable. He reached the final table in the $400 NLH second in chips, with fellow ring-winners Shane Bissinger and Rex Clinkscales also at the table — the latter with a commanding chip lead.
Ultimately it would be these three to make it through to the business end of the tourney, where the action was fast, furious and over quickly.
First Hawkins eliminated Clinkscales when the latter jammed A-2 into Hawkins' pocket tens, which held to give him the chip advantage in heads-up play. That didn’t last long either, as Bissinger shoved his last chips holding 9-8 into Hawkins’ A-K, and big slick stayed on top.
The win also came with a package for WSOP Paradise this December in The Bahamas — a trip for which Hawkins has already qualified thanks to his previous Circuit wins this year.
