Ari Engel has built a reputation as a tournament grinder in every sense of the word. He has two World Series of Poker bracelets, and won the 2016 Aussie Millions Main Event for over $1.1 million, but Engel is perhaps best known for chasing value in tournaments all over North America.
His primary focus this year has seemingly been the WSOP Circuit, and he’s put in a tremendous amount of miles and dollars behind chasing rings in 2023.
After starting the year chasing Maurice Hawkins and Josh Reichard at the top of the all-time list, Engel won his third WSOPC ring of the year in a $400 HORSE event at Graton Resort and Casino in Northern California Wednesday night. That win put Engel at 14 career rings, tied with Reichard and one behind Hawkins for the No. 1 spot.
Engel wasted little time getting into the mix in yet another non-Hold’em tournament, late registering for a $400 Pot Limit Big O Wednesday night. He once again reached the final table, with a chance to make history by going back-to-back.
And that’s exactly what happened, as Engel won his record-tying 15th WSOPC ring and fourth of 2023 so far.
While Engel has had his fair share of success in No Limit Hold’em events, including one of his two WSOP bracelets, he excels in non-No Limit Hold’em tournaments. Seven of his 15 WSOPC rings have come in such tournaments, and with five consecutive mixed game tournaments on their schedule Graton became a particularly strong draw for Engel during a stretch with multiple WSOP Circuit stops going on simultaneously.
The competition for the top spot on the all-time WSOPC ring list has been particularly compelling thus far in 2023. In mid-April, Reichard tied Hawkins for No. 1 at 14, with Hawkins regaining sole custody of the top spot a month later. And while Hawkins hasn’t yet been spotted in Graton, Daniel Lowery, who is just behind Engel, Reichard and Hawkins at 13 WSOPC wins, has made a run at a 14th ring of his own.