WSOP CIRCUITFrom Regional Start to Worldwide Future
WSOP Circuit Rings
Unlike the bracelets won by poker players during the WSOP, the WSOP Circuit bestows winners with a different kind of jewelry: WSOP Circuit rings.
Made by Jostens Inc., the same company that creates championship rings for the NFL and MLB, WSOP Circuit rings not only represent inclusion in the Circuit’s list of champions, but also represent an invitation to compete with fellow winners at the WSOP Circuit Championship.
Engraved with the name of the host property as well as the specific event a player has won, WSOP Circuit rings are proudly worn by poker players around the world, displaying their remarkable achievements on the felt.
From First Deal to World Fame
Many of the world’s most famous and successful poker players have gotten their start competing in WSOP Circuit events.
Famously, three-time WSOP bracelet winner Alex Foxen won the very first WSOP Circuit event he had ever entered during the Harrah’s (now Caesars) New Orleans WSOP Circuit series in 2012.
Before he was one of the best players in the world, three-time bracelet winner Alex Foxen won the very first WSOP Circuit event he played at Harrah’s New Orleans in 2012.
WSOP Circuit All-Time Ring Leaders
Just as Phil Hellmuth’s commanding all-time WSOP bracelet lead sets him apart from other WSOP greats, Maurice Hawkins has cultivated a similar legacy with the WSOP Circuit.
While the race for the all-time WSOP Circuit Ring record was white hot in 2025, in 2026 Hawkins continued to further the gap between himself and fellow WSOP Circuit legends Ari Engel and Daniel Lowery.
As of August 2026, Hawkins’ WSOP Circuit ring total stands at 26, having won 5 rings this year. Being 6 rings ahead for the all-time WSOP Circuit ring lead and having over $6 million in live tournament winnings from WSOP events, Hawkins remains the most decorated WSOP Circuit player of all-time.
All-Time Rings
View More| Rank | Player | Rings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | |
| 2 | 20 | |
| 3 | 18 | |
| 4 | 17 | |
| 5 | 14 |
Win Your Ticket To Poker Paradise
Every WSOP Circuit ring winner in 2026, whether crowned at a live Circuit stop or through an online event, earns more than a prestigious gold ring.
Each champion receives an exclusive WSOP Paradise 2026 package, providing a pathway to compete in the WSOP Circuit Championship at Baha Mar in the Bahamas. The package includes entry into the Circuit Championship along with accommodations at Baha Mar.
This unique reward gives Circuit champions the opportunity to take their success to an international stage while competing for a WSOP bracelet during the winter’s biggest poker festival.
At WSOP Paradise 2025, Mark Darner would win his second WSOP bracelet in the $2,500 WSOP Circuit Championship No-Limit Hold’em Mystery Bounty, taking home the $350,000 top prize.
The Legacy of the Tournament of Champions and WSOP Circuit Championship
The WSOP Circuit Championship has long served as the prestigious finale of the WSOP Circuit season, bringing together recent champions for a freeroll featuring at least $1 million in prize money. It remains one of the most unique freeroll opportunities in poker, giving WSOP Circuit ring winners a chance to compete for a major title without an additional entry fee.
Throughout its history, the event has undergone several name changes, including the Circuit National Championship, Global Casino Championship and, most famously, the Tournament of Champions.
The championship has also traveled to some of the most iconic properties in poker, with legendary players such like Mike Matusow, Huck Seed, and Mike Sexton adding the title to their resumes.
Even with several hiatuses and evolutions in it’s format, the Tournament of Champions remained one of the most unique and celebrated WSOP tournaments every year, which can still be felt in the modern era of the WSOP.
Starting in 2025, all WSOP Circuit ring winners received a free package to attend WSOP Paradise 2025 and compete in the $2,500 WSOP Circuit Championship No-Limit Hold’em Mystery Bounty.
Although under a new name, the yearly WSOP Circuit Championship at WSOP Paradise carries on the legacy of the WSOP Tournament of Champions, providing accomplished poker players the poker adventure of a lifetime and a chance to compete with fellow champions.
WSOP Circuit Seasonal Record
| Season Year | Stops | Total Rings | Total Payout (USD) | Season Champion (TOC Winner) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | 576 | $115,920,993 | Kevin Li  | |
| 2023-24 | 554 | $124,931,548 |   | |
| 2022-23 | 560 | $120,354,005 |  | |
| 2021-22 | 278 | $59,958,647 |  | |
| 2020-21 | - | - | -  | |
| 2019-20 | 548 | $99,880,696 |  | |
| 2018-19 | 557 | $104,486,673 |  | |
| 2017-18 | 472 | $87,222,116 |  | |
| 2016-17 | 416 | $77,946,424 |  | |
| 2015-16 | 261 | $50,742,094 |   | |
| 2014-15 | 264 | $41,549,845 |  | |
| 2013-14 | 264 | $45,156,710 |   | |
| 2012-13 | 247 | $45,645,428 |  | |
| 2011-12 | 210 | $38,209,604 | | |
| 2010-11 | 156 | $31,871,668 |  | |
| 2009-10 | 155 | $20,641,464 |  | |
| 2008-09 | 147 | $22,280,182 | - | |
| 2007-08 | 147 | $28,486,209 | - | |
| 2006-07 | 106 | $28,477,278 | - | |
| 2005-06 | 126 | $35,571,276 |  | |
| 2004-05 | 41 | $16,032,369 |  | |
| 2003-04 | - | - |  |
- Entry to the WSOP Paradise 2026 Circuit Championship
- 4-night stay at Baha Mar in the Bahamas
- Complimentary access to Player Dinner Buffet during your stay