Hawkins Opens Up on Bankruptcy After Record 26th WSOPC Ring

Maurice Hawkins has rarely been far from the headlines in 2026. On the felt, he’s putting together the best run of his career. Away from it, he’s been navigating a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing that has drawn scrutiny throughout the poker world.

Just days after extending his own World Series of Poker Circuit record with a 26th gold ring at Choctaw, Hawkins sat down with PokerNews at the Borgata Summer Poker Open to discuss both sides of what has been a remarkable year.

Hawkins Says He’s Playing the Best Poker of His Career

“The best thing is I went bankrupt and then I had the best summer of my life”

The controversial poker pro arrived in Atlantic City fresh off another title run, having defeated a 400-entry field in the WSOP Circuit Choctaw Mini Main Event for his fifth Circuit ring of 2026.

The victory came over Brian Green in heads-up play, with 2026 WSOP Main Event star Will Givens finishing third ahead of Ari Engel and Biton Almog.

It capped a summer that has seen Hawkins earn $844,061 in live tournament cashes since May 1.

His World Series of Poker included two huge results. He booked a runner-up finish in the $600 No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha bracelet event for $135,864, followed by a fourth-place finish in the $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship worth a career-best $432,875.

“I feel like I can’t be stopped. Like I said in my last interview, I feel like I’ve got the recipe and I’m spreading it all over the world,” Hawkins commented on his heater. “I’m trying to maximize this, just keep going, keep going from stop to stop, and just see where we go with this.”

While many players measure success by WSOP bracelets, Hawkins said he doesn’t view them as the defining marker of his career despite coming agonizingly close this summer.

“I think it’s more important for other people because I base my game on just playing the best I can in every situation. If it happens to be in the summer, then that’s where I will win at. If it doesn’t happen to be in the summer, then it’s unfortunate.”

He also believes one result led directly to another.

“If I hadn’t got second, then I wouldn’t have gotten fourth for $400,000. Everything kind of builds on each other.”

Bankruptcy & the Randy Garcia Debt

“When you do a bankruptcy, all of your previous debt goes into it”

The remarkable run comes just months after Hawkins filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, something he addressed in a recent appearance on the PokerNews Podcast

The filing, submitted in April, sought relief from various debts, including a long-running judgment involving fellow poker player Randy Garcia.

“That’s the American way”

Garcia had previously obtained a judgment of more than $115,000 against Hawkins.

Earlier this year, Hawkins publicly agreed to repay $30,000 through monthly installments of $2,500, but Garcia later alleged those payments stopped, leading to renewed collection efforts before the bankruptcy filing temporarily halted proceedings.

Hawkins said the case is nearing its conclusion, though one legal challenge remains.

“I’m going to be discharged from my bankruptcy in maybe the next 60 days. There was a thing where the guy (Garcia) tried to sue me or he created a lawsuit for me, so I’ll have to fight that. I’m most likely going to be through with that and I’ll have a clean slate.

“The best thing is I went bankrupt and then I had the best summer of my life. So it kind of worked out in my favor. Basically, I just didn’t give up. I stayed focused and kept putting one foot in front of the other.”

Hawkins was also asked specifically about the court-ordered payments connected to Garcia’s judgment.

“When you do a bankruptcy, all of your previous debt goes into it. It depends on which one you file. So that would basically be taken care of in the bankruptcy. That’s the American way. Moving forward, I would have no debt or anything of that nature.”

Garcia’s legal team has previously indicated it intends to challenge aspects of the bankruptcy, arguing Hawkins should not receive a discharge if it can show the filing was made improperly. That matter remains before the court.

Back at Borgata Chasing More Hardware

After leaving Las Vegas, Hawkins made a successful detour to Choctaw before arriving in Atlantic City for the Borgata Summer Poker Open Championship, where he said Borgata continues to be one of his favorite stops on the circuit.

“The way that they run tournaments. I love that stream table. It’s a good feel. It’s professional. I got 13th or whatever it was last time (I was here). I don’t like getting 13th, so I want first.”

And he has a good shot and putting in another impressive performance at Borgata after bagging a top ten stack in Day 1b of the $2,700 Summer Open Championship.

Whether or not another title follows this week, Hawkins has already ensured 2026 will be remembered as one of the most eventful years of his career.

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).