Maurice Hawkins continues to redefine dominance on the World Series of Poker Circuit. This week at WSOPC Tunica in Mississippi, Hawkins captured his record-breaking 22nd Circuit ring, extending his lead at the top of the all-time WSOPC leaderboard.
The milestone victory came in the $400 Mini Main Event, a tournament that comfortably smashed its $150,000 guarantee and generated a $206,250 prize pool. Hawkins outlasted the field and defeated fellow multiple-ring winner Cody Stanford in heads-up play to claim the title and a $35,146 payday.
Celebrating the achievement in trademark fashion, Hawkins took to social media shortly after the win, proudly announcing ring number 22 and reinforcing his reputation as one of the most prolific performers in Circuit history.
The final table featured a lineup of seasoned competitors, but Hawkins proved once again why he thrives in these environments. Stanford settled for second place and $23,408, while Jermaine Coleman rounded out the podium with a third-place finish worth $16,249.
Hawkins’ triumph in the Mini Main came just days after another deep run at the same stop. In Event #1, the $400 Double Stack Opener, he reached the final table and finished fourth for $4,261, narrowly missing out on what could have been an even earlier record-breaking moment.
This latest win adds to what has already been a significant month for the often-discussed poker veteran. Only weeks earlier, a mediator ruled that there was “no conclusive fault” on Hawkins’ part in a financial dispute with a former backer, closing the chapter on a highly publicized situation.
From a competitive standpoint, Hawkins is now pulling away from his closest challengers. Ari Engel, who sits second with 20 Circuit rings, made multiple attempts this month to close the gap but came up short. Daniel Lowery remains third on the list with 19 rings, a total he reached in October 2025.
Hawkins’ momentum dates back to last summer, when he captured both his 20th and 21st rings at WSOP Circuit Caesars New Orleans. With the Tunica victory, he has firmly separated himself from the rest of the pack and raised the question of just how far he can extend his own record.
The WSOP Circuit Tunica festival began on January 22 and runs through February 2. Several other players have already claimed rings at the stop, including Charles Dawson, Michael Byers, and Weston Wallace, but the spotlight firmly belongs to Hawkins — once again proving that when it comes to Circuit success, he’s operating in a league of his own.
