On the back of Maurice Hawkins winning his 22nd record-breaking WSOPC Ring at Horseshoe Tunica, edging out Cody Stanford for $35,146, we look at who is the real WSOP GOAT.
Let’s be honest though, while a WSOPC Ring is nothing to be sniffed at (Hawkins has more than anyone, ever), when it comes to WSOP hard wear, a World Series of Poker bracelet is the real deal. Over 2,000 bracelets awarded since 1970, but only a select few have stacked multiples. Let’s dive into the stats and settle the debate!
Bracelet Kings: The Numbers Don’t Lie
Phil Hellmuth reigns supreme with 17 WSOP bracelets, his latest a $1,500 2-7 Lowball Draw No-Limit event in 2024. He has cemented a record that’s stood since Doyle Brunson and Johnny Chan in the ’70s/80s. Hellmuth’s haul spans 37 years (1989-2024), with 73 final tables and $18.5m WSOP earnings alone. Critics knock his ego, and there plenty to dislike about his past antics, but in a field exploding from 68 bracelets (1970s) to 70% growth last decade, consistency trumps flash.
Challengers? Doyle Brunson (10 bracelets, 1976-2005), shipping two Main Events back-to-back. Phil Ivey (11 bracelets, 2000-2024) with his mixed-game mastery, $12m WSOP cashes despite fewer finals (43). Johnny Chan (10, 1985-2003) won two Mains too (yes, we all know that famous hand against Seidel). Seidel himself is in the running though too, with 10 bracelets to his name.
Recent surges? Jeremy Ausmus (6, $11.6m), Brian Rast (7, $11.7m), and Shaun Deeb (7, grinder supreme with 210 cashes).
Player Bracelets WSOP Earnings Final Tables Span
- Phil Hellmuth 17: 1989-2024
- Phil Ivey 11: 2000-2024
- Doyle Brunson 10: 1976-2005
- Johnny Chan 10: 1985-2003
- Erik Seidel 10: 1992-2023
Beyond Bracelets: The Full GOAT Case
Love him or hate him, Hellmuth is the WSOP bracelet GOAT: record volume, longevity, adaptability across 100+ events yearly. Yet Seidel’s quite capable of catching up, as is Ivey. (10 bracelets at 65) challenge. Hawkins’ Circuit feat reminds are impressive, of course, but when factoring in the fields and the competition, his 22 WSOPC Rings bears no comparison to Hellmuth’s 17 bracelets.
