Say what you will about Maurice Hawkins — and plenty of people have — but make sure to always mention his dominance on the World Series of Poker Circuit trial.
And he had 25 WSOP Circuit rings to prove it.
Hawkins won his 25th ring in the $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em event at Harrah’s Cherokee last weekend. The event attracted 631 entrants, and Hawkins cashed $113,223. And unlike many of Hawkin’s victories, he had to run through a final table that was loaded with assassins.
James Calderaro, the runner-up, pushed his lifetime tournament winning past the $6.5 million mark — which is in the same neighborhood as Hawkins. This would have been his first WSOP Circuit ring. He owns a WSOP bracelet won in 2017 in the $25,000 Pot Limit Omaha High Roller, which was good for his biggest cash of $1.2 million. He also came four spots away from the 2009 Main Event final table, finishing 13th for nearly $700,000.
It’s been seven years since Brandon Newsome secured a five-figured cash, but he did it in 2026 at Harrah’s Cherokee by finishing third.
Cory Biddle added his seventh five-figured cash to his result’s page with a fourth-place finish in the event, followed by Toby Boas, Dave Alfa, Derrick Perry, Jarod Minghini, and Jason Gladden, who was the first to leave the final table with a $8,367 cash.
Three WSOP Circuit series are currently taking place at Caesars New Orleans, Casino Carrasco Montevideo, and at the Playground in Canada.
The WSOP pauses until July for the WSOP Sumer festival that begins May 26.
Hawkins won his very first WSOP ring in 2008, and his second in 2009, but he really started this run in 2014, when he bagged his first six-figured cash. A man who isn’t afraid of braggadocious, the 46-year-old told reports afterwards that he could hit 200 rings before its all over.
Final Table Results of the $1,100 No-Limit Hold’em event at Harrah’s Cherokee
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maurice Hawkins | $113,223 |
| 2 | James Calderaro | $75,460 |
| 3 | Brandon Newsome | $51,920 |
| 4 | Corey Biddle | $36,418 |
| 5 | Toby Boas | $26,050 |
| 6 | Dave Alfa | $21,247 |
| 7 | Derrick Perry | $14,160 |
| 8 | Jarod Minghini | $10,770 |
| 9 | Jason Gladden | $8,367 |
