Controversy arises following Hawkins' win at the WSOPC, after alleged dealer mistake

Title: A Slip-Up at the World Series of Poker Circuit: The Fateful Hand That Changed the Game

Author: Yannick Schroth, Edited by Angela Burke | Published: March 11, 2025 (Last Updated: April 30, 2025)

Image: Javon Swaby/Pexels

The Unseen Error: A Third-place Finish Stolen

In an unexpected turn of events at the World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC), Divyam Satyarthi (27) was shockingly eliminated during the Main Event in Maryland, despite having the superior hand, finishing third. This unfortunate series of events paved the way for Maurice Hawkins (45) to claim victory. Neither the players, the dealer, nor the reporters noticed the error in time. The incident ignited passionate discussions within the poker world.

Maurice Hawkins secures his 18th WSOP Circuit ring, momentarily equaling the record set by Ari Engel (41), thanks to a crucial dealer's mistake [The Overlay].

The Showdown of Fate: A Hand Too Good to Win

According to The Overlay, during a critical hand against Satyarthi, the dealer erroneously declared Hawkins the winner of the pot, even though Satyarthi held the superior hand, a flush. Neither the players nor the dealer caught the error, resulting in Satyarthi's elimination and a prize of $64,458 (approximately €59,000). Hawkins went on to clinch the tournament and the $140,752 (approximately €129,000) first prize.

The blunder was only discovered hours later by some attentive live reporters reviewing the hand's video footage. By then, it was too late to rectify the decision as WSOP rules state that a decision cannot be overturned once a new hand has begun [Link]. Furthermore, the tournament director reinforced that it is the players' responsibility to correctly analyze their own hands.

The Role of Poker Reporters: To Intervene or Not?

Due to this unfortunate incident, a hot debate surged within the poker community regarding the role of reporters in these circumstances. Renowned tournament director Matt Savage advocates that reporters should step in, whereas others, such as poker legend Norman Chad (66) and poker journalist Brad Willis, argue that reporters should remain impartial observers. interference may inadvertently lead to undesirable consequences.

Supporting this view, six-time WSOP bracelet winner Shaun Deeb (39) shared a sports analogy on X, stating that sports commentators do not interfere in the game, even when they detect referee errors [Link]. A poll by poker pro DJ MacKinnon among nearly 4,000 respondents on X revealed that approximately 65% of poker enthusiasts believe that reporters should intervene in such situations [Link].

The Perspective of Affected Players

Both Maurice Hawkins and Divyam Satyarthi have shared their insights on the incident. Satyarthi confessed to losing track of the game and relying on the dealers' call. Upon reviewing the footage later, he realized that he had incorrectly been declared the loser. He acknowledged his own error in not verifying his hand thoroughly. Nonetheless, he criticized the lack of intervention by the pit staff.

Hawkins, too, admitted that he relied on feedback from the dealer and fellow players. Despite the error being pointed out later, he was assured by the tournament staff that the decision could not be reversed. Both players agreed that the occurrence served as a vital reminder for every poker pro to meticulously analyze their own hands.

This was not the first mishap at the WSOPC: a similar incident occurred in 2023 when the pot should have been split, but the mistake went undetected.

The Responsibilities of a Poker Dealer: Upholding Integrity at the Table

Dealers bear a significant responsibility for ensuring the game runs smoothly. In addition to shuffling and dealing the cards, they must enforce the rules and calculate the pots accurately.

Proper Card Mixing and Dealing: They must mix the cards thoroughly before each hand and deal according to established rules.
Vigilant Monitoring of Play: Dealers are responsible for examining player actions to quickly identify potential violations or uncertainties.
Correct Hand Evaluation: Dealers must assess the winning hand correctly at showdown. Errors, like the one in the WSOPC Maryland Main Event, can have severe repercussions. The rule of thumb: Cards speak – the cards decide the winner, regardless of what the players or dealers say.
Neutrality and Rule Knowledge: Dealers should avoid giving strategic advice or interfering in gameplay. If there are any uncertainties, the relevant staff, such as floor managers or tournament directors, should be consulted immediately.
Error Management: If an error occurs, it should be corrected as soon as possible – before a new hand starts. Once significant action has been taken, a wrong decision typically cannot be reversed in most tournaments.

It should be noted that these rules may differ based on the tournament organizer.

This seemingly innocuous error sparked a flurry of discussions within the poker world, shedding light on the importance of dealer diligence, player responsibility, and reporting accountability.

The poker community was divided, with some advocating poker reporters should step in to correct errors like the one that occurred in the WSOPC Maryland Main Event, while others argued for impartial observation.
Divyam Satyarthi admitted he had relied on the dealers' call during the critical hand against Maurice Hawkins but later, upon reviewing the footage, realized he had been incorrectly declared the loser of the pot.
Sharing insights on the incident, both Maurice Hawkins and Divyam Satyarthi agreed that the occurrence served as a reminder for every poker pro to meticulously analyze their own hands in future games.