Maurice Hawkins Wins Record-Tying 19th Ring Amid Continued Backer Controversy
It's been a whirlwind of a week for Maurice Hawkins, who won his record-tying 19th World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) ring just days after he was once again called out publicly by a disgruntled backer.
Hawkins took down Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack at WSOPC Horseshoe Tunica for $34,711 as he defeated Arkansas' Dylan Crawford. The event drew 571 players and the final table also included Michael Mieszala (3rd - $15,081), Michael Costello (4th - $10,822) and Dave Alfa (5th - $7,931).
| Place | Player | Hometown | Prize (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Maurice Hawkins | West Palm Beach, FL | $34,711 |
| 2 | Dylan Crawford | Mountain Home, AR | $21,452 |
| 3 | Michael Mieszala | Mount Prospect, IL | $15,081 |
| 4 | Michael Costello | Warrensburg, IL | $10,822 |
| 5 | Dave Alfa | Las Vegas, NV | $7,931 |
| 6 | Adam Henning | Madison, AL | $5,939 |
| 7 | Connor Steinbrook | Plano, TX | $4,545 |
| 8 | Charles Dawson | N/A | $3,558 |
| 9 | Anh Nguyen | Nashville, TN | $2,849 |
Backer Says Hawkins Still Hasn't Paid
On April 21, just two days before Hawkins won his 19th ring to tie Ari Engel as the all-time ring leader, he was called out on social media by former backer Randy Garcia.
In 2019, a judge in Palm Beach County, Florida, awarded Garcia a $115,828 judgment, meaning Hawkins owed that amount to him. But several years later, the North Carolina restaurateur says Hawkins has only paid back a fraction of the money owed.
"So now I am working with a new lawyer to go after every penny he owes me (including 6 years of interest which I am entitled to per the judgment)," Garcia wrote on X. "I will do everything in my power not only to get my money back, but expose him for the fraud he is. He has now owed me for 6 years. I backed him and loaned him money when his bills were past due for his family and this is how he repays my kindness."
Garcia also shared a text message from Hawkins dated March 7 asking for "30 days" to pay the money back. Garcia claims Hawkins, who has long dismissed his critics as haters who envy his success, missed that April 7 deadline.
In light of Garcia's tweet, WSOP bracelet winner Denise Pratt shared a video of her interaction with Hawkins, who she claims owes her from a backing arrangement.
Hawkins' 18th ring victory was also marred in controversy, albeit unrelated to the polarizing poker player himself. In that victory, third-place finisher Divyam Satyarthi was incorrectly eliminated when his winning hand was accidentally mucked at showdown.
Chad Holloway, Kyna England and Mike Holtz discussed the Hawkins backing controversy on the latest PokerNews Podcast, which went live this morning.
*Photos courtesy WSOPC
