The first World Series of Poker Circuit tournament was held in 2005 and over the years, it has become among of the most prestigious poker series attracting avid fans and skilled poker players. The tournament is held every year in casinos located around the United States. The winners of the events are given a gold ring. In 2016, they are also given the chance to secure a seat into the inaugural WSOP Global Casino Championship.
And here are six of the WSOP Circuit regulars who have collected the most gold rings in the history of the prestigious competition.
Alexandru Masek
Back in 2015, Alexandru Masek added another WSOP Circuit gold ring to his already extensive collection. He topped a field of 143 entrants and won his ninth gold ring. Up to now, Masek has made a total of 51 circuit cashes and his circuit earnings amount to $637,900. His latest accomplishment is the third place in the 2015/16 WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee $365 No-Limit Hold’em Turbo where he finished third and scooped the amount of $12,755 for his efforts.
In point of fact, Masek has not always been keen on playing poker. In his youth, he was a fan of another card game – bridge. Back in 2007, he got his Marketing and Finance degree and decided to attend the San Diego University and study law. Meanwhile, poker has become his primary focus. He won his first WSOP Circuit gold ring in 2009.
Ari Engel
Ari Engel was the winner in Event #7: $580 No-Limit Hold’em that took place in Harrah’s Atlantic City in March. He managed to defeat 123 players and win the eighth WSOP Circuit gold ring in his professional poker career. He also got the amount of $17,221 from the accumulated prize pool.
It seems 2016 has been one of the most successful years in his career so far. Apart from the eighth WSOP Circuit gold ring, he also bested the field of the 2016 Aussie Millions Poker Championship Main Event and made his biggest cash of A$1,600,000.
Chris Reslock
A few days before Ari Engel won his eighth gold ring, Chris Reslock emerged victorious and won the WSOP Circuit opening event at Harrah’s Atlantic City. Apart from the amount of $16,502, he captured won the eighth gold ring in his career.
Reslock is not new to the world of poker. He has been playing poker for 20 years and his WSOP and WSOP Circuit earnings total $1,102,229. Reslock used to work as a cab driver in Atlantic City and he actually started playing poker with the aim of making some extra money. It did not take long before he started playing poker professionally. A couple of years later, he could take pride in having generated substantial profits thanks to his poker skills.
Valentin Vornicu
A few months after winning the seventh WSOP Circuit event in his career, Valentin Vornicu won his eighth one, which tied him with Ari Engel and Chris Reslock who also hold eight WSOP Circuit gold rings each.
Vornicu finished first in the final event at the Bicycle Casino, Los Angeles. He managed to defeat a total of 115 entrants and won $17,255 of the generated prize pool. Up to now, he has made 37 circuit cashes. His circuit earnings amount to $413,701.
It is a curious fact that Vornicu is a good friend of Alexandru Masek’s, but a few years ago, they had to compete against each other and Masek won the gold ring after heads-up play against Vornicu.
Cory Waaland
At the beginning of March, Cory Waaland won the seventh WSOP Circuit gold ring in his career after finishing first in the 2015/16 WSOP Circuit Bally’s Event #13: $365 No-Limit Hold’em.
Before the start of the series, Waaland has set a goal to break the record and achieve what nobody has ever done before. He has won a total of four WSOP Circuit rings in the 2015/16 season so far. In other words, Waaland is now between the top performers in two separate races. He shares the third place all time gold ring record with Maurice Hawkins and holds the record for the most gold rings won in a single season.
Maurice Hawkins
Maurice Hawkins’ performance throughout the season has also been impressive. After the two consecutive victories at WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Council Bluffs, the 2015/16 WSOP Circuit Harrah’s Cherokee brought him the seventh gold ring as well as the amount of $279,722.
What makes Hawkins’ wins so notable is the fact that no other player has ever won two WSOP Circuit Main Events in a row.
Hawkins, who holds a degree in biology, intended to become a doctor, rather than a professional poker player. However, it turned that poker was his true calling and up to now, his total WSOP and WSOP Circuit winnings total more than $2 million.
