The name Maurice Hawkins has long been associated with not just great results but also controversy. In the past, he faced public accusations from former backers and disputes over unpaid debts—including a highly publicized case where Randy Garcia secured a civil judgment in Florida for $115,828 against him (Hawkins consistently disputed the amount or the repayment terms).
Recently, another arbitration arose in a dispute with Denise Pratt, where the mediator stated there was "no clear determination of fault," and communication between the parties was unclear—although this was followed by a new issue regarding alleged breaches of confidentiality through document leaks. Such stories illustrate why Hawkins is often referred to as a "polarizing" figure in the poker community: a relentless winner at the tables, yet repeatedly involved in fierce disputes and accusations outside of them.
Another Ring Secures His Lead
The WSOP Circuit stop at Horseshoe Tunica runs from January 22 to February 2, 2026, offering 18 chances to win a ring. The highlight is the traditional $1,700 Main Event with a $500,000 guarantee, culminating in the final table on February 2. The festival began with the $400 Mini Main, featuring a $150,000 guarantee, which was exceeded at $206,250. Maurice Hawkins claimed the largest share along with the ring.
Interestingly, Hawkins was already making waves at the start of the series in Tunica—at the opening $400 Double Stack Opener, he reached the final table and finished fourth for $4,261. Just days later, he had his triumphant moment—no large field could deter Hawkins from walking away with his historic 22nd ring and a reward of $35,146!
The winner of the Tunica Mini Main. Is your boy, for ring number 22. Like I said, printing money is what I do.#Hawksview
— EatingOnAllStages (@mauricehawkins) January 28, 2026
Final Table Results:
| Rank | Player | Country | Prize |
| 1 | Maurice Hawkins | USA | $35,146 |
| 2 | Cody Stanford | USA | $23,408 |
| 3 | Jermaine Coleman | USA | $16,249 |
| 4 | Gerard Thorpe | USA | $11,507 |
| 5 | Cullen Oldham | USA | $8,317 |
| 6 | Joseph Brewer | USA | $6,138 |
| 7 | Alexander Hoff | USA | $4,627 |
| 8 | Benjamin Kramer | USA | $3,565 |
The Battle for Supremacy Becomes a Chase
This triumph further solidified Hawkins' position atop the all-time WSOP Circuit ring leaderboard. He currently leads with 22 titles, with Ari Engel second at 20 and Daniel Lowery third at 19. While the race for the top spot once resembled a chess match with positions shifting monthly, Hawkins now holds a two-ring lead.
All-Time WSOPC Event Champions Leaderboard:
Sources – WSOP, HendonMob, PokerNews
