Hayward Wins Council Bluffs Circuit
Connor Hayward wins his first WSOP Circuit ring in the Horseshoe Council Bluffs Main Event, while Daniel Lowery and Ari Engel each reach 21 career rings.
The WSOP Circuit wrapped up nearly two weeks of tournament action at Horseshoe Council Bluffs, awarding 18 gold rings and producing a Main Event champion alongside a notable milestone in the all-time Circuit ring race.
Hayward Battles Back for First Ring
Connor Hayward emerged as the $1,700 Main Event champion, earning his first WSOP Circuit ring and a career-best $76,797 payday. He topped a field of 232 entries that generated a $351,480 prize pool, defeating John Ypma heads-up for the title.
Ypma, who already owns a Circuit ring from a victory at Texas Card House Social Austin earlier this year, earned $50,593 for his runner-up finish. Matthew Riffel took third place for $34,304.
Hayward entered heads-up play facing a significant challenge, beginning the final duel with Ypma holding approximately a 2-to-1 chip disadvantage. He battled back before ultimately securing the victory when his king-three offsuit connected with the board against Ypma's jack-ten of spades.
The win capped a memorable Main Event performance for the Kansas City cash-game player, who has only recently begun making a larger push into tournament poker.
Main Event Final Table Results
- 1st: Connor Hayward - $76,797
- 2nd: John Ypma - $50,593
- 3rd: Matthew Riffel - $34,304
- 4th: Jake Flores - $23,961
- 5th: Nick Barksdale - $17,257
- 6th: Nicholas Stille - $12,828
- 7th: Robert Wilson - $9,852
- 8th: Kevin Berhelsen - $7,826
- 9th: Ryan Brown - $6,438
Lowery and Engel Reach 21 Rings
The Main Event was the final major highlight of a series that also featured historic performances from two of the WSOP Circuit's most decorated players.
Daniel Lowery captured his 21st career Circuit ring in Event #7: $400 Big O, topping the field and earning $8,607. Ari Engel finished third in that event before returning the following day to claim his own 21st ring.
Engel defeated all opponents in Event #9: $400 No-Limit Hold'em, earning $6,613 and joining Lowery at 21 career rings. Engel entered the final day as the chip leader and eventually defeated Theresa Morley heads-up after overcoming a substantial chip deficit.
The back-to-back victories made Lowery and Engel the latest players to reach the 21-ring milestone, adding another notable chapter to the all-time WSOP Circuit ring race.
WSOP Paradise Packages for Every Ring Winner
The stop continued the 2026 Circuit tradition of awarding a $5,000 WSOP Paradise package to every ring winner, giving each champion an opportunity to continue their Circuit journey at WSOP Paradise in The Bahamas.
All 2026 WSOP Circuit ring winners receive the package, which includes a seat in the 2026 WSOP Circuit Championship Mystery Bounty ($2,750 buy-in) and complimentary accommodations at Baha Mar Resort in The Bahamas.
The added prize gives every WSOP Circuit ring winner the opportunity to compete on one of poker's biggest international stages while enjoying a world-class tropical resort experience. The value of this promotion was showcased at WSOP Paradise 2025, where Mark Darner turned his qualification into a career-defining victory, capturing the $2,750 WSOP Circuit Championship No-Limit Hold'em Mystery Bounty title for his second WSOP gold bracelet along with the tournament's $350,000 first-place prize.
Full List of Council Bluffs Ring Winners
- Event #1: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Monster Stack - Ryan Remmes - $18,849
- Event #2: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Mini Main Event - John Juby - $23,117
- Event #3: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - Jacob Long - $8,061
- Event #4: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 40/40/40 - Jon Marsa - $18,675
- Event #5: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - Jacob Long - $6,401
- Event #6: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Seniors Event - Jeffrey Pierce - $17,996
- Event #7: $400 Big O - Daniel Lowery - $8,607
- Event #8: $400 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max - Roger Eggers - $9,776
- Event #9: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - Ari Engel - $6,613
- Event #10: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack - Matthew Alexander - $14,929
- Event #11: $400 Pot-Limit Omaha - Jared Ward - $5,962
- Event #12: $1,100 No-Limit Hold'em - Jonathan Lawson - $16,637
- Event #13: $500 No-Limit Hold'em Black Chip Bounty - Matthew Serefko - $10,641
- Event #14: $1,700 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event - Connor Hayward - $76,797
- Event #15: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - Nicholas Rife - $8,337
- Event #16: $600 No-Limit Hold'em Deepstack - Kenneth Gregory - $9,523
- Event #17: $400 No-Limit Hold'em Double Stack Closer - Jamar Adams - $9,860
- Event #18: $400 No-Limit Hold'em - John Rogers - $5,630
Series Depth on Display
The 18-ring series at Horseshoe Council Bluffs once again showcased the depth of the WSOP Circuit, bringing together established champions, emerging tournament players, and regional poker enthusiasts for nearly two weeks of competition. With Hayward claiming his first ring in the Main Event and Engel and Lowery each reaching 21 career rings, the stop provided plenty of memorable moments from start to finish.
FAQ
- Connor Hayward won the $1,700 Main Event, earning his first WSOP Circuit ring and $76,797 after topping a field of 232 entries and defeating John Ypma heads-up.