Maurice Hawkins Files For Bankruptcy

All-time WSOP circuit ring leader** Maurice Hawkins** has filed for bankruptcy. The 24-time ring winner filed for bankruptcy in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida on April 23rd.

The filing came just three weeks after Hawkins won his 24th ring at Grand Victoria Casino in Elgin. That ring was his third of the year, just a third of the way through the year, winning two rings in Tunica in January. These rings have already made 2026 one of the most successful years of his career, as he has amassed over $200,000 in four months.

The bankruptcy filing seeks a discharge of all debts associated with assets Hawkins valued at between $500,000 and $1 million.

Bankruptcy For Absolution From Debt?

Despite the success at the tables, Hawkins still filed for bankruptcy, raising questions as to the motivation behind the filing. Many believe it is to absolve himself from his debts to Randy Garcia, which has been a multi-year back-and-forth saga and has led to questions about whether he is actually bankrupt.

_PokerNews _reported yesterday that it had heard from a player at the Tunica event that Hawkins’ winnings had been garnished.

Hawkins has been involved in multiple backer and money disputes through the years. He was also involved in a debt situation with Denise Pratt, who ended up dropping arbitration in order to de-escalate.

Hawkins Getting Confrontational

One day after his bankruptcy filing, Hawkins went on X to point out the difference in negativity he faced compared to what David Peters had faced with his recent debt controversy. He made insinuations that it was race-related targeting. But many noted that the reason was that it was the first time Peters had faced such accusations. Conversely, Hawkins has developed a reputation after years of repeated accusations.

This confrontational manner on X has followed a recent pattern for Hawkins, who has also been more vocal in recent months.

He called out Daniel “Jungleman” Cates in early April and challenged him to a UFC style match.

Ah @junglemandan since you can’t keep my name out your mouth and you like challenging people. I challenge you to a UFC style match. Three months from now. Put up or shut up

He was widely blasted on X following that post, with multiple other players and people in the poker world calling him out and challenging him to their own challenges, including Jay Farber.

The Jungleman callout came the same day that he personally attacked Shaun Deeb on X.

Jeffrey McMillan

Poker Writer

Jeffrey is an Expert Sports and Poker Writer with poker being his specific scope for the better part of five years. He has worked in various capacities at the biggest poker events in the world, WSOP, EPT, local tournaments and more. He has worked with PokerNews, Poker.Org, 888poker and the WSOP itself through the years. Jeff is also a fervent follower of many sports, professional, collegiate and international, with a particular interest in tennis. He received a Master's in Sports Management from the University of the Incarnate Word (UIW) and a Bachelors in the same field from Clemson University.