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The race for the World Series of Poker Circuit’s all-time ring leader has seen another shift at the top.

Ari Engel has now pulled ahead of Maurice Hawkins, taking the lead with 19 WSOP Circuit rings. Just a week ago, the two were neck-and-neck, but Engel’s victory on Saturday has made him the frontrunner.

Engel reached an unprecedented milestone during the 2025 March Online Super Circuit on WSOP.com Pennsylvania, winning the $35,000 guaranteed NLH Big $500 event, which had 86 entries. His victory earned him $10,141 and put him in the lead on the all-time leaderboard—at least for now.

Meanwhile, Hawkins, who was tied with Engel just days ago, recently won the $1,700 Main Event at WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Baltimore, taking home $140,752. However, Hawkins’ win sparked controversy when, at the final table, he eliminated Divyam Satyarthi in third place despite Satyarthi holding the best hand.

Engel v Hawkins: A Timeline

Hawkins’ journey to the all-time ring leader status began in earnest in the early 2010s. By 2017, Hawkins reached the WSOP Circuit summit when he won his 10th ring. This victory officially established him as the all-time leader at the time.

However, Hawkins’ reign at the top was interrupted in 2018 by Valentin Vornicu. Vornicu briefly overtook Hawkins, securing his 12th ring to push Hawkins into second place. But Hawkins wasn’t to be outdone for long. By April 2019, he clinched his 12th ring, sharing the top spot once again. Just two weeks later, he achieved his 13th ring, officially reclaiming the number-one position where he would remain for a significant stretch of time.

Though Hawkins had cemented his place at the top, his reign was not without challenges. In 2021, Josh Reichard briefly tied Hawkins with 14 rings. Hawkins’ response was swift, as he quickly won his 15th ring in early 2023 to maintain his lead. At that point, Hawkins looked untouchable.

While Hawkins dominated the Circuit in the 2010s, a new challenger began to emerge on the horizon: Ari Engel. Engel’s ascent on the WSOP Circuit leaderboard was steady but unmistakable. By 2023, Engel was within striking distance of Hawkins. That year, Engel won an impressive five rings, pushing his total from 11 to 16 to take pole position for the first time.

Hawkins added another ring to his collection in 2023, bringing his total to 16 as well. The two players were locked in a dead heat, both vying for the top position.

Engel’s second breakthrough came in 2024. He secured his 17th ring, briefly pulling ahead of Hawkins to take the lead once again. Hawkins, who had long been the face of WSOP Circuit dominance, was now in a race to reclaim his position.

In January 2025, Engel won another ring in the online circuit, bringing his total to 18 rings. Despite Engel’s lead, Hawkins was far from done. In early 2025, Hawkins responded to Engel’s surge with two more WSOP Circuit victories, bringing his total to 18 rings—tied once again with Engel at the top. The rivalry was heating up once more, with each player answering the other’s success with impressive wins of their own.

Then, on March 8, 2025, Engel once again made his mark. He claimed his 19th ring in a victory during the March Online Super Circuit on WSOP.com Pennsylvania, regaining his position at the top of the all-time leaderboard. Engel’s victory in the $35,000 guaranteed NLH Big $500 event, which had 86 entries, pushed him ahead of Hawkins once more, at least for now.

Ari Engel WSOP Circuit Rings

Maurice Hawkins WSOP Circuit Rings

Calum has been a part of the PokerNews team since September 2021 after working in the UK energy sector. He played his first hand of poker in 2017 and immediately fell in love with the game. Calum has written for various poker outlets but found his home at PokerNews, where he has contributed to various articles and live updates, providing insights and reporting on major poker events, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP).

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