Ari Engel Captures 21st WSOP Circuit Ring, Matching Daniel Lowery’s Mark

At Horseshoe Council Bluffs this week, Ari Engel secured his 21st World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) ring with a win in the $400 No-Limit Hold 'em event, just 24 hours after Daniel Lowery reached the same milestone by taking down the $400 Big O. Both players have now closed in on Maurice Hawkins’ all-time lead, but Hawkins remains several rings ahead.

Historic Milestones for Engel and Lowery on the WSOP Circuit

The week proved pivotal for two of the most prolific WSOP Circuit competitors. Daniel Lowery took down Event #7: $400 Big O on Tuesday, overcoming a short stack at the outset of Day 2 in a field of 96 entries. He collected $8,607 and achieved his 21st WSOP Circuit ring, marking his third title in non-hold’em variants and his first ring since March 2026, when he won the $300 Seniors Event at Hard Rock Tulsa (his fourth victory at that property).

Ari Engel finished third behind Lowery in that Big O event, taking home $3,672. The horseshoe Council Bluffs $400 Big O final table paid out as follows:

• Daniel Lowery – $8,607
• Sean Moore – $5,502
• Ari Engel – $3,672
• Baxter Wirth – $2,562
• Dee Wampler – $1,873
• Steven Schulte – $1,437
• Timothy Garles – $1,161
• Kristopher Wilcox – $990

Ari Engel Wins 21st WSOP Circuit Ring in $400 NLH

Within a day of Lowery’s success, Engel seized his own WSOPC milestone in Event #9: $400 No-Limit Hold 'em, starting with the chip lead at 367,000. In a final table that included 68 entries, Engel ultimately faced Theresa Morley heads-up, falling behind to a 4-to-1 deficit. He rallied with a crucial hero call on the turn, holding second pair despite the risk of elimination:

"It was definitely scary, because I thought I had an edge in the heads-up game. It was tough, but the pot was really big. Ultimately, I thought I was good, so I called, but she had me covered, so if I was wrong, I was out. I was trying to play low variance, but this was not low variance at all, and I wanted to win," Engel reflected after clinching the title.

Engel won $6,613, his first ring at Council Bluffs since his $1,100 NLH victory last year. The final payouts for the $400 NLH event were:

• Ari Engel – $6,613
• Theresa Morley – $4,094
• Mark Fink – $2,790
• Jarryd Hawkins – $1,992
• Matthew Alexander – $1,493
• Jesse Keel – $1,178
• Jacob Long – $981
• Daniel Biddle – $866
• Donnie Phan – $811

Maurice Hawkins Extends All-Time WSOP Circuit Ring Record

While Engel and Lowery’s recent wins bring them both to 21 rings, they still trail Maurice Hawkins, who now sits at 26 after adding five rings this year. Hawkins first reached the 20-ring mark in New Orleans in August last year and has been pulling ahead since:

"Lowery just shows up at one or two stops a year and always wins a ring or two, but he doesn’t play very much. Maurice wins enough that it's tough for me. I’m five behind, so I don’t think we can say the chase is on yet, but maybe if I get a couple more,” Engel commented on the long-term prospects of catching Hawkins.

The current top of the WSOP Circuit ring leaderboard:

• Maurice Hawkins: 26 rings
• Ari Engel / Daniel Lowery: 21 rings each
• Mike Setera: 18 rings
• Josh Reichard / Mike Lavin: 17 rings each

The Ongoing Race Among WSOP Circuit Greats

Engel and Lowery remain among the most consistent performers in WSOP Circuit history, each with multiple non-hold 'em victories in addition to countless no-limit hold 'em successes. Despite their achievements, both acknowledge the challenge in chasing down Hawkins’ record, given his current five-ring advantage.

Recent results at Horseshoe Council Bluffs illustrate how swiftly ring counts can change, with back-to-back victories propelling two of the major contenders to new career heights. As the 2026 WSOP Circuit season unfolds, the race to the top remains one of the most closely watched stories in live poker. For more on industry records and player achievements, see recent news updates.

WSOP Circuit Structure and Historical Context

The World Series of Poker Circuit, operated by Caesars Entertainment, hosts stops across the United States with multiple ring events per venue. Circuits like Council Bluffs and Hard Rock Tulsa have become familiar grounds for repeat winners such as Engel and Lowery. Event buy-ins and formats continue to draw diverse player pools, with both hold 'em and mixed games contributing to all-time leaderboards.