Maurice Hawkins has won his 22nd WSOP Circuit ring at the ongoing Tunica stop, giving him a clear lead at the top of the all-time leaderboard.
Hawkins won the $400 Mini Main Event after bagging the third-largest stack on the final Day 1 flight. He defeated William Stanford heads-up to earn $35,146 and his latest piece of WSOPC jewelry.
Hawkins celebrated on social media, writing, "The winner of the Tunica Mini Main is your boy for ring number 22. Like I said, printing money is what I do."
The race to 25 Circuit rings
While Hawkins has been no stranger to controversy over the years – including allegations of stiffing backers and a tableside fight several months ago – he, Engel, and Lowery have been locked in a long-running battle at the top of the all-time WSOP Circuit ring leaderboard.
Engel began 2025 as the leader with 18 rings. Hawkins caught up in March following a controversial win in the WSOPC Baltimore Main Event.
Just five days later, Engel edged ahead again with an online Circuit victory in Pennsylvania. Hawkins struck back in April, winning the $400 Monster Stack in Tunica to tie things up once more.
He pulled ahead in August with two victories at WSOPC New Orleans, becoming the first to reach 20 rings, and quickly adding number 21 just two days later.
Engel notched his 20th in September at Council Bluffs, while Lowery re-entered the chase soon after, picking up his 19th ring at Lake Tahoe.
Talking to PokerOrg after that win, Lowery conceded that Hawkins had moved "to another level."
“Ari and I had talked once upon a time and said one of us should be number one," Lowery told us, "and at the time we were both three or four rings behind Maurice. It's volume. If you play enough and get yourself in good positions, you are going to win a few, and [Ari and I] lit it up after that. That brought Maurice to another level.”
Now, with a two-ring lead and momentum on his side, Hawkins may be the first to hit the magic number 25.
All-time WSOP Circuit rings
- Maurice Hawins: 22
- Ari Engel: 20
- Daniel Lowery: 19
