Hawkins' victories on the circuit have long been more than just a fluke or a temporary heater. His latest triumph came just yesterday in the $400 Double Stack No-Limit Hold’em event, where he topped a field of 230 entries to claim $17,419. This marked his 24th gold WSOP Circuit ring, further extending his record in the historical standings.
This victory was his third title in 2026, having already scored twice at the Horseshoe Tunica earlier in January and February. With this latest achievement, Maurice pulls ahead with 24 rings, while Ari Engel and Dan Lowery remain at 20. The Grand Victoria also became the twelfth different casino where Hawkins has secured a ring.
Not a run.
— EatingOnAllStages (@mauricehawkins) April 5, 2026
Not luck.
This is what dominance looks like. While they were chasing heaters…
I was building edges.
24 WSOP Circuit rings later — still printing.
Different mindset. Different results.
#MHPokerLab#Wsopc#HawksView#MauriceHawkinsPoker#HallOFFame pic.twitter.com/TuZ9Gd05Pf
Records at the Table, Controversy Off It
Yet even after another victory, Hawkins couldn’t escape the spotlight of controversy that has followed him for some time. In the poker community, there have been repeated claims that he hasn’t fulfilled financial obligations to other players. After securing his 24th ring, this debate flared up again. The post on social network X under his success was immediately met with a flurry of reactions, with notable figures and fans alluding to his tarnished reputation.
Instead of purely celebrating another historic milestone, Hawkins faced reminders that his extraordinary achievements at the table have long been accompanied by controversy off it. Among the commentators were names like Shaun Deeb and Daniel “Jungleman” Cates, but judging by the responses, it seems Hawkins wasn’t too bothered.
Hawkins remains one of the most prominent yet divisive figures in American tournament poker. No matter how people feel about him, the numbers speak for themselves—when it comes to the WSOP Circuit, he's the one everyone is chasing.
Sources – X, TheHendonMob
