On March 3, American live poker regular Maurice Hawkins won his 18th WSOP Circuit ring. His victory in the $1,700 buy-in tournament earned him $140,752.
"I got patience," Hawkins said after his victory. "I'm a psycho, I got game theory, I got luck, and I got God. I can't be stopped."
Hawkins is truly consistent. He hardly plays expensive tournaments and this year alone he has already cashed 15 times in tournaments with buy-ins from $130 to $1,700.
Maurice often gets into scandalous stories. For example, in 2022, his backer Randy Garcia told this story:
– “Maurice has screwed over so many people. He tries to act like a tough guy at the table by constantly talking down and degrading people like he is the best poker player there is. Who cares if he has 14 rings if he is broke. I think the poker community should kick Maurice out as he is a jerk to everyone and has lied and screwed so many people over. I have backed other players with zero issues because they have integrity and high character. Maurice has neither. So, he can continue to hit the circuit and act like he is the best there is and degrade people. Things will catch up to him sooner or later, if the court doesn't get him first.”
The last victory also turned out to be scandalous, although this time Hawkins’ relationship with the backers and his financial (un)scrupulousness had nothing to do with the matter.
With three players left in the tournament, Divyam Satyarthi moved all-in from the small blind , Hawkins made the call in the BB with .
The dealer put out , quickly folded Satyarthi's cards and handed the chips to Maurice.
No one noticed the flush (although on social networks almost everyone is sure that Hawkins saw everything perfectly well), Satyarthi was content with third place ($64,458).
The hand was covered in a text report by Poker.org and was even captured on video.
But journalists discovered the error when the tournament was already over. They immediately contacted the organizers, but it was too late.
"Nobody noticed the flush in the moment," Poker.org reporter Jeff MacMillan wrote after the tournament. "It was a confusing moment where the 3rd place finisher thought his pair held at first until the wheel was deemed the winner and Hawkins given the pot."
“Obviously dealer and whoever else should catch this,” says offline regular DJ McKinnon, “but the reporter shouldn’t ever say anything, imo.”
"Absolutely wrong," Carter King disagreed. "The cards are on their backs, on the table. The pot should be pushed to the best hand and if not, anyone who notices should speak up."
MacKinnon put the question to a vote :
– A poker media member is observing a hand being played in an event.
The media member sees the dealer misread the winning hand and the pot is pushed incorrectly, with no other participants at the table noticing the mistake.
Should the media member inform the table of the mistake?
At the same time, a categorical “no” was given in the comments by former and current PokerNews employees and other journalists.
"Absolutely not, under no circumstances, never," wrote Poker.org editor-in-chief Brad Willis.
Players' opinions were divided.
"I was always taught that cards on their backs speak for themselves…" wrote Chance Kornuth. "I dont see why this would only be for people seated at the table, but could be convinced otherwise."
"Can't even believe this is a debate," Matt Waxman said, surprised. "If you like the person, tell them they have the best hand. If you don't like them, say nothing."
One of the most respected and experienced tournament directors, Matt Savage, reminded that the rules do not limit journalists in such situations. At his tournaments, he only welcomes such intervention :
– Literally the only people that don’t want poker media to speak up is the poker media. I understand why many of you feel like it’s not your job or isn’t your place but I still prefer your involvement to the wrong player winning the pot especially if the player collecting it knows.
In a column for Poker.org, Matt reiterated that in such situations, one cannot remain silent:
– "I'm telling you that in the future, when you see a similar situation, a reporter or an observer should make that correction because it's for the integrity of the game."
MGM's Director of Poker Strategy and Development Sean McCormick has a different opinion :
– "I’ll probably get roasted, but I’m firmly on the side that poker media not only shouldn’t but MUST not assist players or staff during a hand … yes, even at showdown."
Shaun Deeb also sided with those who believe journalists should not interfere :
– For everyone questioning my take see every media is taught to not speak up, yes, Savage wishes it was different but i much rather have reporter speak up instead of be able to pick who to speak up vs or not
Patrick Leonard carefully studied the video of the scandalous hand and came to the conclusion that the main culprit was the tournament director:
There’s just so much wrong lol
1- how is QT not just absolutely sweating his hand?
2- why is dealer turbo mucking?
3- when qt says he thought he won why does dealer not flinch?
4- how does reporter stay so steady
5- where the hell is the floor?
– "Btw who were the guys in the 5/6 seat?" – Patrick added a little later. – "They 100% saw this, it’s not their duty to say something but it’s still scummy imo. Def more their job than the reporter lol is there video afterwards? They just all moved on from this? There must have been a smile or something . How the hell have 5 people all missed this? Is this some early pokerorg April fools 1 month early or something?"
“Well one of them is Maurice, so,” Matt Berkey reminded pointedly.
Rachel Kay Winter wrote that in her four years as a poker reporter, there were two occasions when she noticed an error. Both times she quietly reported it to the dealers, who were very grateful.
Many people supported her in the comments, but not Shaun Deeb :
– I’m sorry but that’s just awful every media I’ve ever talked to they are supposed to be fly on the wall can’t effect the tourney at all. You should of been reprimanded/fired for effecting the tourney even tho you even showed you did it against a friend.
"’I'm not saying it’s the same thing but do you think if a player literally steals chips from another players stack, but no one notices, the reporter can/should say something?" David Yan asked.
– If you remember the Partouche cheater with fake reporters other reporters noticed on day1 alerted stars and nothing was done until a later tourney
– Slightly before my time, but rings a bell. That doesn’t answer the question?
– I'm sure reporters have noticed men do stuff and he still is allowed to play. (Editors note – probably referencing Men the Master)
Poker.org reached out to those directly involved in the hand for comment .
"I think the primary responsibility falls on myself," admitted Satyarthi. "As a player, I had a responsibility to double-check my hand.
Maurice Hawkins placed the blame on the organizers:
– Half the time at final tables there's no floor. So, I mean, I think it's one of those things where that's what the dealer is for and that's what the players are for. But if you are in a pot, it's probably a good idea to protect your equity and look and pay attention.
