The path to the historic milestone wasn't easy for Hawkins. The $1,100 Mini Main Event drew exactly 400 entries, attracting several notable names fighting for a share of the $390,000 prize pool. In the final four, Maurice faced tough competitors like Ari Engel and Will Givens. After Engel's exit in fourth and Givens in third, Hawkins found himself in heads-up against Brian Green.
The final showdown started disastrously for Hawkins. At one point, he was down to his last 6 big blinds. However, the seasoned record-holder managed to regroup and staged an impressive comeback. “I have the formula, and I'm spreading it all over America,” Hawkins said after his victory. “I've understood certain things about my game and the others’, and now I just apply it.”
This victory came after a challenging period marked by financial strains and controversies, but as he mentioned, he currently has no worries and is focused on achieving his goal of reaching 200 rings.
Final Table Results of the $1,100 Mini Main Event WSOPC Choctaw:
|
Place |
Player |
Country |
Winnings |
|
1. |
Maurice Hawkins |
USA |
$76,380 |
|
2. |
Brian Green |
USA |
$50,900 |
|
3. |
Will Givens |
USA |
$35,450 |
|
4. |
Ari Engel |
USA |
$25,170 |
|
5. |
Almog Biton |
Israel |
$18,240 |
|
6. |
David Emmons |
USA |
$13,490 |
|
7. |
James Misenheimer |
USA |
$10,180 |
|
8. |
Kamlesh Chauhan |
India |
$7,860 |
|
9. |
Michael Stringer |
USA |
$6,190 |
With this triumph at Choctaw, Maurice Hawkins solidified his lead in the historical gold ring rankings, creating a six-ring gap between him and his closest rivals.
Top Players by Number of Rings:
-
Maurice Hawkins: 26
-
Ari Engel: 20
-
Daniel Lowery: 20
-
Mike Setera: 18
-
Josh Reichard: 16
Sources: WSOP Live, Poker_org
#result