Monday, November 21, 2016 5:55 PM Local Time
Maurice Hawkins wins his third WSOP Circuit Main Event of 2016.
West Palm Beach, Fla. (November 21, 2016) -- "Three in a year, beat that," said Maurice Hawkins.
Hawkins has made World Series of Poker Circuit history in his hometown of West Palm Beach, Florida. He has become the first player in the history of the Circuit to earn eight career gold rings and win three Circuit Main Events. Hawkins defeated a 261-player field Monday at the Palm Beach Kennel Club to earn his eighth career Circuit gold ring, which puts him tied for second all-time. The victory was also his third career Circuit Main Event win of 2016.
This was Hawkins' first ring of the season, but his fourth of 2016. At the end of last season Hawkins went on a heater of a lifetime. In early April Hawkins traveled Council Bluffs, Iowa to catch the end of the series there. The first event he played in was the monster stack event and he won it for just under $20k and his 5th career Circuit gold ring. The next day Hawkins played in the Main Event and he ended up winning that too. The victory was Hawkins' first career Circuit Main Event win and earned him his 6th career gold ring.
The full winner story can be found by clicking here.
Monday, November 21, 2016 3:35 PM Local Time
Main Event Winner Maurice Hawkins
Khoan Ho moves all in for 250,000 on the button and Maurice Hawkins quickly calls in the big blind, flips over his , and stands up.
Ho turns over for a worse ace.
The board runs out . Hawkins' ten kicker plays and he shakes Ho's hand and tells him good job on making a comeback at the final table.
Hawkins high-fives his friends on the rail and repeats, "Three in a year, back to back, beat that!" This is Hawkins' eighth ring and third Circuit Main Event victory, which have all come in 2016. For his first place finish, Hawkins earns $95,921 and an entry in the 2017 Global Casino Championship.
Congratulations to Khoan Ho, who takes home $59,265 for his second place finish.
Second Place Finisher Khoan Ho
Monday, November 21, 2016 3:24 PM Local Time
Maurice Hawkins raises to 125,000 from the button and Khoan Ho three-bets from the big blind to 325,000 and Hawkins calls. The flop comes and Khoan leads for 150,000. Hawkins calls and the turn brings the . Ho thinks for about a minute and bets 300,000. Hawkins quickly calls and rivers is the . Khoan checks. Hawkins announces all-in and action is back on Khoan. Khoan has about 475,000 left. He thinks for about three minutes and then folds.
Hawkins extends his chip lead with that pot.
Maurice Hawkins - 4,750,000 (95 bb)
Khoan Ho - 475,000 (9 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 3:15 PM Local Time
With the elimination of Josh Hillock in 3rd place, Maurice Hawkins and Khoan Ho begin their heads-up battle for the ring. Here are the chip counts to start heads-up play:
Maurice Hawkins - 3,845,000 (76 bb)
Khoan Ho - 1,375,000 (27 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 3:13 PM Local Time
Josh Hillock Eliminated
Josh Hillock goes all in for 850,000 on the button and Maurice Hawkins instantly announces a call to put Hillock at risk.
Hillock:
Hawkins:
The board runs out and Hawkins is good with ace-king high.
Hillock is out in 3rd place, earning him $42,818 for his finish.
Maurice Hawkins - 3,845,000 (76 bb)
Josh Hillock - Eliminated
Monday, November 21, 2016 3:04 PM Local Time
Khoan Ho raises to 110,000 on the button, Maurice Hawkins calls in the small blind, and Josh Hillock calls in the big blind, making it three ways to the flop.
All three players check the flop.
The turn is the . Hawkins checks, Hillock checks, and Ho bets 110,000. Hawkins folds and Hillock calls.
The river is the . Hillock checks, Ho bets 150,000, and Hillock quickly folds.
Khoan Ho - 1,525,000 (30 bb)
Josh Hillock - 1,085,000 (21 bb)
Maurice Hawkins - 2,610,000 (52 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 3:01 PM Local Time
Maurice Hawkins opens to 150,000 under the gun and Khoan Ho is thinking in the big blind. After awhile, Ho moves all in and Hawkins snap-calls to put Ho at risk.
Ho:
Hawkins:
The board runs out and Ho's nines are good for the double up.
Khoan Ho - 1,400,000 (28 bb)
Maurice Hawkins - 2,575,000 (51 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 2:46 PM Local Time
Khoan Ho raises to 110,000 on the button and Josh Hillock calls in the big blind.
On the flop, Hillock checks, Ho bets 125,000, and Hillock calls.
Both players check the turn and the river is the .
Hillock bets out 290,000 and Ho folds.
Josh Hillock - 1,330,000 (26 bb)
Khoan Ho - 820,000 (16 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 2:43 PM Local Time
Maurice Hawkins completes in the small blind and Josh Hillock checks in the big blind.
The flop comes and both players check.
On the turn, Hawkins bets 75,000 and Hillock calls.
The river is the . Hawkins bets 250,000 and Hillock thinks for awhile before folding.
Hawkins shows for a turned set of eights.
Maurice Hawkins - 2,725,000 (54 bb)
Josh Hillock - 1,150,000 (23 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 2:17 PM Local Time
Level: 28
Blinds: 25,000/50,000
Ante: 5,000
Monday, November 21, 2016 2:08 PM Local Time
The remaining three players are on a 15-minute break. The current chip counts follow.
Seat 1: Khoan Ho - 1,350,000 (27 bb)
Seat 2: Maurice Hawkins - 2,625,000 (52 bb)
Seat 3: Josh Hillock - 1,240,000 (24 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 2:03 PM Local Time
Maurice Hawkins folds on the button and Josh Hillock moves all-in from the small blind. Khoan Ho quickly calls for less in the big blind and both players table their hands.
Ho:
Hillock:
The cards run out and Ho's ace-queen is the best hand. The dealer counts Ho's stack and the total comes to 500,000.
Khoan Ho - 1,035,000 (25 bb)
Josh Hillock - 1,530,000 (38 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 1:58 PM Local Time
Josh Hillock goes all in from the small blind, putting Khoan Ho to a decision for his remaining 500,000 chips. Ho thinks briefly and pushes chips forward to call.
Hillock:
Ho:
The board runs out , giving both players the same hand for a chop.
Josh Hillock - 2,075,000 (51 bb)
Khoan Ho - 510,000 (12 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 1:50 PM Local Time
Khoan Ho raises to 90,000 from the button and Maurice Hawkins calls from the small blind. Josh Hillock thinks for about 15 seconds from the big blind and then announces 300,000. Action is back on Ho. He thinks for about a minute and then folds. Hawkins folds too and Hillock wins the pot without seeing a flop.
Josh Hillock - 2,050,000 (51 bb)
Maurice Hawkins - 2,450,000 (61 bb)
Khoan Ho - 660,000 (16 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 1:45 PM Local Time
Josh Hillock completes in the small blind and Khoan Ho raises to 115,000 in the big blind. Hillock calls the raise and they go heads up to the flop.
On the flop, Hillock checks, Ho bets 80,000, and Hillock check-raises to 225,000. Ho thinks it over for awhile and folds.
Josh Hillock - 1,880,000 (47 bb)
Khoan Ho - 785,000 (19 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 1:28 PM Local Time
Lacy Wills Eliminated
Lacy Wills goes all in for 295,000 under the gun and Maurice Hawkins flicks in a chip to call in the small blind. Josh Hillock folds in the big blind and Hawkins has Wills all in and at risk.
Wills:
Hawkins:
The board runs out . Wills is drawing dead on the turn. He shakes hands and makes his exit.
Wills takes home a payday of $31,512 for his 4th place finish in the Main Event.
Maurice Hawkins - 2,675,000 (66 bb)
Lacy Wills - Eliminated
Monday, November 21, 2016 1:13 PM Local Time
Lacy Wills raises to 80,000 from the button and Maurice Hawkins calls in the big blind.
The flop comes and Hawkins quickly checks. Wills bets 105,000 and Hawkins announces all-in. Wills has a decision for his last 10 big blinds. Wills sends his cards to the muck and Hawkins rakes in the pot.
"I'll let you have that one," says Wills. "My ace is not that strong."
Maurice Hawkins - 2,500,000 (62 bb)
Lacy Wills - 400,000 (10 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 1:02 PM Local Time
Level: 27
Blinds: 20,000/40,000
Ante: 5,000
Monday, November 21, 2016 1:01 PM Local Time
In a heads-up raised pot, the flop comes . Khoan Ho bets 60,000 in the big blind and Josh Hillock calls on the button.
The turn is the and Ho fires out 125,000. Hillock calls again.
Both players check the river and Ho shows for queen-high.
Hillock tables for top pair, good for the pot.
Josh Hillock - 1,530,000 (51 bb)
Khoan Ho - 890,000 (29 bb)
Monday, November 21, 2016 12:56 PM Local Time
Hand 1:
Josh Hillock raises to 75,000 on the button and Khoan Ho makes it 195,000 in the big blind. Hillock thinks for several seconds and sends his cards to the muck.
Hand 2:
The next hand, action folds to Ho in the small blind and he raises to 85,000. Maurice Hawkins in the big blind looks at him for awhile before folding. Hawkins motions to Ho to show his cards and after Ho pushes his cards forward, he reaches in and flips them over, showing pocket aces.
Hand 3:
In the very next hand, Ho raises to 70,000 on the button, Hawkins three-bets to 195,000 in the small blind, and Josh Hillock folds his big blind. Ho puts together a raise of 425,000 and Hawkins quickly folds.
Khoan Ho - 1,265,000 (42 bb)