Ari Engel Grabs Record-Extending 19th WSOP Circuit Ring, Pulls Ahead of Hawkins (Again!)

The World Series of Poker Circuit has a familiar face back on top of the mountain. It’s Ari Engel (cover image), the quiet grinder, the steady hand, who just grabbed his record-extending 19th WSOP Circuit ring on March 8. Nineteen!

This latest win went down at the Online Super Circuit on WSOP.com Pennsylvania. It was a relatively small field – 86 entries in a $500 buy-in event – not exactly a headline-grabbing tournament. But it wasn’t easy. The final table was a gauntlet featuring Circuit legends like eight-time ring winner Michael ‘ArnoldSlick’ McNeil (who took second) and 14-time champ Michael ‘TonyBandanas’ Lavin (who finished sixth). Engel, doing what he does best, played his steady, relentless game and came out on top, adding $10,141 to his bankroll and, far more importantly, that record-breaking 19th piece of WSOP jewellery! It was only a little over five months since he had won his 18th ring, which was also a similar online event on WSOP.com, that one being a $888 buy-in with a grand prize of $16,732.

Won ring #19 tonight online on wsop PA. 500 buyin with 86 entrants (I was 1)

— Ari Engel (@AriEngelPoker) March 9, 2025

But this win isn’t just another notch on Engel’s belt. It’s the latest development in a years-long rivalry, a poker power struggle between two players at the top of their game. It’s the story of Ari Engel versus Maurice Hawkins, a clash of styles and personalities, a real-life battle for WSOP Circuit dominance.

For years, the WSOP Circuit was Maurice Hawkins. He arrived like a hurricane in the early 2010s, and by 2017, he’d already collected 10th rings, establishing himself as the undisputed leader. He wasn’t just a winner; he was a force, single-handedly building a Circuit empire. He’s the only player with over $3 Million in Circuit earnings, sitting pretty at over $3.10 Million – and that’s not even counting his other tournament scores, which push him over a mind-blowing $6.23 Million!

But the throne is a lonely place, and there’s always someone coming for it. First, it was Valentin Vornicu, who briefly took the lead in 2018 with his 12th ring. Hawkins, being Hawkins, immediately responded, winning his 12th and 13th rings by April 2019 to retake his place. Then Josh Reichard matched him at 14 rings in 2021. You can probably see where this is going – Hawkins promptly won his 15th in early 2023.

But all this time, there was this other player, Ari Engel, slowly but surely climbing the ladder. Engel’s style was different. Less flash, more substance. He was like the tortoise to Hawkins’ hare, steadily chipping away. By 2023, he was breathing down Hawkins’ neck. He went on an incredible run that year, winning five rings – five! – jumping from 11 to 16. Hawkins managed one more, briefly tying the score.

The tension was, and remains, high.

In 2024, Engel edged ahead with his 17th ring. He repeated the feat in September, reaching 18. But Hawkins answered with two more wins in early 2025, levelling the score once more at 18. It was like a ping-pong match, back and forth, back and forth.

And we can’t ignore the circumstances surrounding Hawkins’ most recent victory, the one that tied him with Engel.

Hawkins’ 18th ring, a monumental achievement, came at the WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Baltimore Main Event just five days ago. He bested a field of 468 entries in the $1,700 buy-in event, taking home a hefty $140,752. But it was a hard-fought and, shall we say, eventful win.

The “eventful” part was a major controversy during the three-handed play. Hawkins faced off against Divyam Satyarthi in a blind-versus-blind confrontation. Satyarthi, holding Q-10, moved all-in preflop, and Hawkins called with A-3. The flop favoured Satyarthi with a ten. But then, a major error occurred. The dealer dealt a board where Hawkins made a straight on the river, but Satyarthi, also had made a flush. The crucial error, the pot was incorrectly awarded to Hawkins. Satyarthi, his tournament life on the line, was eliminated in third place, a victim of a devastating oversight. The incident undeniably cast a long shadow over Hawkins’ win.

Reporter made a mistake , thinking the wheel won. The rest saw the flush.

— Woody Christy (@woodychristy) March 4, 2025

Even with that contentious hand, it was no cakewalk. Hawkins’ heads-up duel with Dan Chalifour was a gruelling five-hour grind. Chalifour played incredibly well, holding the lead for much of that time. At one point, Hawkins was down to just 2.50 Million chips, with almost 19 Million in play – he was seemingly on the brink. Yet, he persevered, tapping into his deep well of Circuit experience, and somehow orchestrated a stunning comeback.

That win was classic Hawkins. Gritty, controversial, and undeniably impressive. It also tied him with Engel.

Now, with Engel’s 19th ring, the pendulum has swung again. He holds the sole lead. But this poker rivalry… it’s a story that’s still being written. One thing is for sure: this is not going to end anytime soon. It is still, very much, up in the air.

Top All-Time WSOP Circuit Ring Winners

1. Ari Engel – 19
2. Maurice Hawkins – 18
3. Daniel Lowery – 16
4. Josh Reichard – 16
5. Michael Lavin – 14

Content & Images Courtesy: WSOP