Daniel Lowery Captures 22nd WSOP Circuit Ring, Moves Into Sole Second Place

Daniel Lowery has turned the fall of 2026 into one of the most dominant stretches the World Series of Poker Circuit has ever seen from a single grinder. The 52-year-old from Peter Pender, Arkansas, closed out another title run by capturing his 22nd gold ring at the WSOPC Choctoaw festival, a victory that lifted him into sole possession of second place on the all-time rings leaderboard.

A Historic Autumn Surge

Lowery’s current heater began on September 21 when he claimed his 21st ring in a $400 Big O event at the Horseshoe Council Bluffs stop. That win alone was enough to tie him with Ari Engel for second on the rings chart, trailing only the prolific Maurice Hawkins. Just a day later, Engel matched that total, briefly knotting the three-way race for the sport’s most decorated Circuit grinders.

Rather than settle for a tie, Lowery kept rolling. He traveled to the Arkansas Poker Showdown in October and walked away with two more titles, including a win in the $600 main event. Those victories pushed his ring count to 23… but more importantly for this story, they set the stage for his latest triumph at Choctaw, where he broke the deadlock with Engel for good.

Breaking Down The Choctaw Win

Lowery’s 22nd ring came in the $400 40/40/40 event, a popular age-restricted format open only to players 40 and older. The tournament drew a robust 449 entries, and Lowery outlasted the entire field to collect the top prize of $28,710.

The final table featured a mix of recognizable grinders and newcomers looking to make a mark on the Choctaw festival leaderboard. Andrew Chubick finished as the runner-up for $18,940, while Daniel Biddle rounded out the podium in third for $13,270. John Valkenaar ($9,460) and Jason Williams ($6,870) completed the top five, with Steven Johnson, Michael Hamblin, Raed Abualfilat, and Ayman Alqarqaz filling out the remaining places and each taking home four-figure payouts.

Final Table Results — WSOPC Choctaw $400 40/40/40

Where Lowery Stands In The Rings Race

With his 22nd gold ring now secured, Lowery has pulled clear of Ari Engel, who remains stuck on 21. The only player still ahead of him is Maurice Hawkins, who notched his 26th ring back in July and continues to headline the all-time leaderboard. The current standings among players with 20 or more rings read as follows: Maurice Hawkins with 26, Daniel Lowery with 22, and Ari Engel with 21.

What makes Lowery’s push even more remarkable is its concentration. Since late September, he has reached five final tables and converted four of them into titles, a conversion rate that speaks to both his form and his comfort grinding smaller buy-in events across multiple regional stops. Across six cashes in that span, Lowery has banked close to $121,000, a figure that underscores how lucrative a hot stretch on the Circuit can be even without a marquee main event score.

Consistency Across Formats

Part of what separates Lowery’s run is the variety of formats he has conquered. His 21st ring came in a Big O event, a mixed-game variant that rewards versatility, while his most recent win came in an age-restricted No-Limit Hold’em event tailored to a specific demographic of players. Sandwiched between those two was a main event title at the Arkansas Poker Showdown, proving his game translates across structures, buy-in levels, and player pools.

Mirando hacia el futuro

With Hawkins still eight rings clear at the top, Lowery’s next challenge will be closing that gap over the coming Circuit calendar. Given the pace he has set since September, few would bet against him adding to his total before the year is out. Grinders hoping to build their own bankroll before chasing live tournament glory can also check out the Road to the Showdown freeroll for a no-cost shot at real tournament experience.

Preguntas frecuentes

How many WSOP Circuit rings does Daniel Lowery have?

Lowery now holds 22 WSOP Circuit gold rings after his win at the Choctaw $400 40/40/40 event, placing him second on the all-time list.

Who leads the all-time WSOP Circuit rings list?

Maurice Hawkins leads the list with 26 rings, a total he reached back in July.

How much did Lowery win at Choctaw?

Lowery earned $28,710 for topping a 449-entry field in the age-restricted 40/40/40 event.

How much has Lowery earned during his recent run?

Since late September, Lowery has accumulated close to $121,000 across six cashes and four title wins.