Maurice Hawkins was within reach of a record-tying 17th WSOP Circuit ring at this week's Cherokee stop, but he will have to wait for another chance after a clash with new Final Boss Susan Faber.
Both players were battling for the title and the top score of $33,493 in Event #5: $600 NLH, but it was Faber who emerged victorious after heads-up play.
"Oh it was wonderful," Faber said in her post-win interview with PokerOrg. "Especially that I beat Maurice."
As an added bonus, Faber succeeded in denying Hawkins the opportunity to tie Ari Engel at the top of the all-time WSOP Circuit ring leaderboard. The 16-time champ will settle for the second-place prize of $22,329.
The victory brings Faber's career earnings to an impressive total of just over $290K, according to The Hendon Mob. She is previously known for capturing the Salute to Warriors bracelet at the 2019 WSOP for $121K.
Weekly game sends friends to WSOP
Elsewhere at the WSOP Circuit stop at Cherokee, two hobby shops are helping people experience the WSOP for free.
Dakota Green from Camden Cards and Kenny Long from New Wave Hobbies — both from Tennessee — took a moment to talk with PokerOrg about their league that sends around 30 players to the WSOP every season.
"We have a weekly game and it's free," Long said about the meetup game in an area about 100 miles west of Nashville.
They work with small businesses from around the area to sponsor the league and send the winners to Las Vegas every summer. The league runs for 10 weeks and the top players lock up a free $400 buy-in at the WSOP.
"We wanted everyone to get that experience," Green explained. "Not everyone can even say they had the opportunity to go play a $400 buy-in at the WSOP.
The annual trip isn't just for winners, Green said. "We encourage everyone, whether they place in the league or not, to come down with us."
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