What does it cost to spend your life chasing the next win? In the third episode of Face Up with Ivy Teves, Maurice Hawkins opens up about winning a record 26 WSOP Circuit rings, filing for bankruptcy, and the relationships he lost along the way.
Hawkins traces his path from college football and plans to become a surgeon to learning poker in small Omaha Sit & Gos. He recalls how health and financial problems left him feeling cornered, why he still trusted his ability at the table, and what it took to rebuild his bankroll. He also reflects on the decisions he would handle differently today and how his reputation has affected his ability to find backing.
Some of the most personal moments come when Hawkins talks about time away from home. As tournament trips ate into birthdays, weekends, and time with friends, the invitations gradually stopped coming. Now a father of six, he explains why he wants to be the first person his kids call when something goes wrong, how his faith helps him through difficult moments, and what success would look like if he could spend fewer weeks on the road.
In this episode
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From college football and plans to become a surgeon to professional poker
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Filing for bankruptcy and rebuilding his bankroll
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Winning 26 WSOP Circuit rings and giving some of them away
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Reputation, backing, and decisions he would handle differently today
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The relationships he lost while traveling the tournament circuit
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Fatherhood, faith, and how his definition of success has changed
Face Up with Ivy Teves brings you honest conversations with the people behind the poker results. Subscribe to SpadePoker for more episodes, player interviews, tournament coverage, and stories from across the poker world.
