When it comes to winning World Series of Poker Circuit events, no one is better than Maurice Hawkins. His 25 rings puts him on top of the all-time list, but he yet to win a piece of hardware he could put on his wrist.
Hawkins was again denied his first WSOP bracelet in the $600 NLH/PLO event that pulled in 671 entrants. Kenneth Gregory was the man who stood in Hawkins’ way this time, winning his first bracelet and $204,140.
The win pushed Gregory, who is known better as Brent, close to the $1 million mark in lifetime cashes. His biggest cash before this was for $120,000 he got for finishing runner-up in the WSOP Tournament of Championship freeroll in 2023. He found his seat into the $1 million freeroll by winning his only WSOP Circuit ring in Tulsa that year.
Although the event only cost $600, the final table was insanely tough.
Josh Reichard is another WSOP Circuit pro with 17 wins under his belt. Like Hawkins, he’s searching for his first bracelet. He finished third for $99,831.
In fourth was John Ghosn, who claimed a career-best $73,984.
High-stakes superstar Alex Foxen exited in fifth for $55,305 — or a normal buy-in to the tournaments he prefers.
John Holley finished sixth for $41,703, and Kelly Mahana seventh for $31,724.
The first person knocked off the final table was none-other than Daniel Negreanu ($23,347).
Hawkins began three-handed play holding half the chips in. Once Richard was eliminated, Gregory would require a couple double-ups in order to stop what looked like a sure Hawkins’ victory, but nothing is certain in poker.
According to WSOP’s website, which isn’t always entirely accurate, especially since GGPoker took over last year, Hawkins made 104 final tables in WSOP events.
Only five of those happened in bracelet events.
