Maurice Hawkins Wins WSOPC Cherokee Main Event To Claim His 16th Ring

Following three days of intense battles, Maurice Hawkins emerged victorious in the $1,700 buy-in WSOP Cherokee Main Event. He overcame a competitive field of 981 entries that resulted in a prize pool of $1,486,215, claiming his 16th ring, a seat holder in the 2024 Tournament of Champions, and $259,160 in top prize money. This happens to be his second final table in the North Carolina casino in this event as Hawkins finished third there during the same event last series for $178,870 in February.

Hawkins now sits in the second spot,  behind Ari Engel on the all-time ring leaderboard. On his way to victory, he overcame a star-studded final table featuring the likes of bracelet winner James Calderaro and five-time ring winner Matt Higgins, who finished runner-up, pocketing $160,176 for his efforts.

$1,700 buy-in WSOP Cherokee Main Event Final Day Recap

Hawkins began the third and final day fourth in chips among nine players. However, the very first hand set the momentum for his victory. Holding pocket kings, Hawkins faced off against Trace Henderson‘s pocket eights. Both players moved all-in and Hawkins emerged victorious to deliver an early knockout. Hawkins then busted Mark Merritt, who shoved with Ax 9x. Hawkins called with Ah Kh, which prevailed. Hawkins eliminated two players out within the first 10 minutes of the final table.

The next player to fall was Michael Lawrence whose Ad 5d lost to the pocket nines of Kris Duren. About an hour later, Derek Nold jammed his jack-nine and lost to the pocket queens of Matt Higgins to finish in sixth place. After just busting Nold, Higgins took Kris Duren who shoved his pocket jacks against the As 10d of Higgins, who found an ace on the board to eliminate Duren in fifth place.

Hawkins scored his third elimination when he busted the start of the day chip leader Chris George in fourth place. The latter held Kx 9x, which failed to prevail against the big slick of Hawkins. Next to go was James Calderaro whose Kh 10d lost to the Ac 9s of Higgins, who hit trips with aces to win it.

Eventually in the heads-up, Hawkins clashed with five-time ring winner Matthew Higgins. The two of them were very friendly and bantering throughout the duel. However, it was Hawkins who prevailed in the end. On the final hand, Higgins shoved his remaining 25 big blinds with As 5s against Hawkins’s Ad Qd. The board ran 3s 6d 10d 7c 6s, giving Hawkins the coveted title and the $259,160 top prize.

$1,700 buy-in WSOP Cherokee Main Event Final Table Results (USD)