Maurice Hawkins Ties Ari Engel’s Record With 18th WSOP Circuit Victory in Horseshoe Baltimore Main Event ($140,752)

Maurice Hawkins (cover image), a name that sparks both cheers and controversies in poker circles, has fought his way back to the top. Just a blink after seizing his 17th WSOP Circuit ring at Harrah’s Pompano Beach, he went full throttle and conquered the 2025 WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Baltimore Main Event, the first of its kind held at the venue in six years. He outlasted a packed field of 468 entrants in the $1,700 buy-in event, adding a hefty $140,752 to his bankroll.

This victory places him in rarefied air. He’s now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Ari Engel, both legends holding a record-breaking 18 WSOP Circuit rings. These two powerhouses are a comfortable two rings ahead of Daniel Lowery, who’s holding strong in third place with 16.

He’s done it again!

By winning the @HorseshoeBmore WSOP Circuit Main Event, @mauricehawkins is not only $140,752 richer, but tied with @AriEngelPoker for the all-time Circuit ring record with 18 total💍

Read our article on Hawkins’ historic win on https://t.co/k6cF9BfLcm:… pic.twitter.com/lK8jFftQFh

— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) March 4, 2025

But, while they share the ring count, Hawkins remains the undisputed money leader of the WSOP Circuit. He’s the only player with over $3 Million in earnings on the circuit, his total now standing at a breathtaking $3.123 Million. That’s almost half of his staggering $6.23+ Million in total live tournament winnings, as reported by The Hendon Mob. To put that in perspective, no other player has even reached the $2 Million milestone.

But his final opponent, Dan Chalifour, didn`t make it easy. Their heads-up battle was a gruelling five-hour marathon. For a significant part of that intense face-off, Chalifour held the advantage, making Hawkins fight for every chip. But Hawkins dug deep, drawing on a well of experience earned over 16 years of circuit wars. Chalifour, though denied, played a masterful game, earning a career-best $94,305 and pushing his lifetime earnings close to $1.10 Million.

With the winner’s ring gleaming on his finger, Hawkins declared to WSOP reporters, “I feel like I am in a class of my own. No disrespect to Ari [Engel]; I love the guy. But I am where I’m supposed to be.”

Engel, ever the sportsman, didn’t hesitate to praise Hawkins, posting a congratulatory message on social media.

Congrats @mauricehawkins on winning #18 . Another main title. It’s really cool being in the ring chase with you- even tho I win mine in 60 person mixed and small field online stuff and you take down huge main events. Hard to argue that you’re not the circuit goat- Congrats sir!

— Ari Engel (@AriEngelPoker) March 4, 2025

Hawkins’ WSOP Circuit Legacy

Hawkins’ WSOP Circuit journey is a narrative of pure, unyielding effort. It all began in 2008, with a modest cash in a side event at New Orleans. It wasn’t long before he claimed his first Circuit ring in Atlantic City, a sign of things to come. Over the next 16+ years, he became a familiar and often feared presence at WSOPC final tables, notching an incredible 11 runner-up finishes along the way. Perhaps even more remarkably, six out of his hard-won 18 rings have come from WSOPC Main Events.

Main Event Highlights

The Main Event itself was a smash hit, generating a prize pool of $659,464, crushing the $500,000 guarantee. The top 57 players carved out their piece of the prize pool, with even a min-cash being a solid $3,962. The final nine all walked away with a minimum five-figure payday.

The final day began with six players, each with their eyes on the prize. Hawkins, however, sat at the head of the table, like a king surveying his domain, the only player with a stack exceeding 100 big blinds.

Final Table Recap

The final table was a pressure cooker, and Keith Temm was the first to feel the heat. His pocket jacks, usually a strong hand, ran smack into Indo-American Divyam Satyarthi’s monster pocket kings. This cooler sent Temm packing in sixth place, with $23,294 for his efforts.

Andrew Chang followed shortly after. His tournament life was extinguished when Dan Chalifour hit trip queens, leaving him with $32,022 for his fifth-place finish.

Arthur Rippy‘s deep run ended in fourth place, taking home $44,963. His needed help against Chalifour’s.The board did not deliver, and Dan Chalifour continued his hot streak with another elimination.

Next, Divyam Satyarthi‘s hopes were dashed in a brutal blind-versus-blind confrontation with Hawkins. Satyarthi, holding Q-10, went all-in preflop against Hawkins’ A-3. The flop brought a ten, giving Satyarthi the lead and a surge of hope. But the poker gods had other plans, as the river completed a straight for Hawkins. Satyarthi pocketed $64,458 for his third-place finish.

This set the stage for the epic, five-hour heads-up marathon between Maurice Hawkins and Dan Chalifour. The chip lead swung back and forth like a pendulum. There were moments when Hawkins seemed on the brink, at one point dwindling down to a mere 2.50 Million chips with almost 19 Million in play. But this is where Hawkins’ experience and sheer determination became evident. He adapted, he fought, he clawed his way back.

Then came the hand. Hawkins, with a flush draw and a gutshot straight draw, was up against Chalifour’s two pair. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. The river card landed, completing Hawkins’ straight to get him firmly in the lead, and the momentum shifted dramatically.

The final hand was a breathtaking, almost cruel, twist of fate. Chalifour flopped a straight – a monster hand in heads-up play. But Hawkins, unbelievably, turned a flush. All the chips went into the middle. Chalifour was drawing dead. The river card, a formality, brought no salvation. Maurice Hawkins had done it.

But this isn’t the end of the story. With the next WSOP Circuit stop in Tulsa looming (March 5–17), Hawkins is already focused on his next target. He’s not content with a tie. He’s hunting for that record-breaking 19th ring to again stand alone at the very top.

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Maurice Hawkins – $140,752
2. Dan Chalifour – $94,305
3. Divyan Satyarthi – $64,458
4. Arthur Rippy – $44,963
5. Andrew Chang – $32,022
6. Keith Temm – $23,294
7. George Karmires – $17,317
8. Jamie Springs – $13,161
9. Scott Heiser – $10,232

Content & Image Courtesy: WSOP.com and Poker.org