Dan Lowrey (cover image) has cemented his place in poker history by capturing his 16th World Series of Poker Circuit ring! This incredible feat came in Event #9: $250 Seniors No-Limit Hold’em at the Choctaw Casino and Resort on Monday, where he outlasted a massive field of 500 entries to claim the title and the lion`s share of the $100,000 prize pool worth $18,682.
Lowrey’s victory was a masterclass in poker strategy and experience. He navigated his way through the competition, ultimately defeating Brian Green heads-up. Green put up a valiant fight but had to settle for the runner-up spot and $12,451, while Eric Ritter rounded out the top three with a $8,630 score.
This latest victory puts Lowrey in a tie with Maurice Hawkins for second place on the all-time WSOP Circuit ring list, just one ring behind the current leader, Ari Engel.
Final Table Results
- Dan Lowery – $18,682
- Brian Green – $12,451
- Eric Ritter – $8,630
- Dan Biddle – $6,102
- Mark Hixon – $4,403
- David Coker – $3,244
- Todd McLane – $2,441
- Michael Hew – $1,877
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This win only adds to Lowery’s remarkable consistency and dominance on the WSOP Circuit. It also puts him in a prime position to challenge Engel for the top spot on the all-time ring list. “The ring race heated up about a year and a half ago,” Lowery said with a smile. “Me and Ari were talking a little playful, and it kind of got out of control because he just started winning everything. But we’re gonna try and catch him.”
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A Seniors Event Specialist
Lowery has clearly figured out the secrets to success in seniors events. “You have to adjust your strategy a bit,” he explained. “Don’t bloat the pots too much because they love to trap. I try to keep it simple, play ABC poker until the later stages, and then put the pressure on.”
Despite being one of the younger players in the field, Lowery believes his extensive experience gives him an edge. “I think I have more experience than most of them, even though they’re 30 years older than me,” he said. “But I’m having a blast playing with the seniors. I won my first seniors event just twelve days after I turned 50.”
When asked about what keeps him motivated to play and chase rings, Lowery’s answer was refreshingly simple: “Lately, it’s been about the places I get to travel to, the people I meet, and the friends I get to hang out with.” It’s clear that for Lowery, the poker journey is just as important as the destination.
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The Value of a WSOP Circuit Ring
Lowery’s 16th ring win has reignited the debate about the value of WSOP Circuit rings. Maurice Hawkins, who currently shares the second spot on the all-time list with Lowery, recently expressed his opinion that the rings have become “worthless” due to the increase in online events and smaller buy-in tournaments. “You have people winning rings where first place is like $4,000, $5,000, $6,000,” Hawkins argued. “With this whole online thing, you could play a $200 tournament with 60-70 people in it and win a ring – it’s just diluted, and it’s making it worse; it doesn’t even mean anything anymore. It used to mean something, but now it means nothing.”
While Hawkins raises a valid point, it’s unlikely that he’ll stop playing for them anytime soon, as he’s one of the Circuit’s most dedicated grinders. And with Lowery hot on his heels, the race for the top spot on the all-time ring list is sure to be an exciting one to watch.
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Content and Images Courtesy: WSOP and Poker.org