3-Bet: Bin Weng & Edwin Dela Cruz Win Live Titles, PokerGO Studio to Host One Step Closer Charity Event

Bin Weng, Edwin Dela Cruz, One Step Closer cerebral palsy research event
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  • Naman Sharma February 25, 2023
  • 5 Minutes Read

Today we bring updates from two live stops, the WSOP Circuit stop at Horseshoe Las Vegas, the USOP Poker2U Taiwan Series, and news of an upcoming charity tournament at the PokerGo Studio in Las Vegas.

Pennsylvania resident Bin Weng bested an 833-player field in the $1,700 buy-in World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Main Event, winning his first WSOP Circuit ring for $227,344 (his second-largest live tournament score). WSOP bracelet winner Alex Foxen finished runner-up for $140,512.

Filipino pro Edwin Dela Cruz emerged victorious in the first-ever U Series of Poker: Poker2U Taiwan Series Main Event hosted at Taiwan`s Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP Club). Cruz bested the 1,043-player field, eventually defeating Jia Song Liu (2nd for TWD2,165,500) heads-up to collect a career-best TWD 3,060,000 (~$100,800) payday.

On March 4, the PokerGO Studios in Las Vegas will host the celebrity charity poker tournament, “All in for CP,” organized by the One Step Closer Foundation. Half of the $1,000 entree fee in the tournament will be donated for awareness of cerebral palsy research, and the remainder as tournament prizes to players.

 

Bin Weng Defeats Alex Foxen Heads-up to Book WSOP Circuit Horseshoe Main Event Victory

The 2023 World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Main Event registered an 833-strong starting field across three starting flights. Following three days of action, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania resident Bin Weng came out on top after defeating Alex Foxen heads-up to win his maiden WSOP Circuit ring and a second-best career score worth $227,344.

Bin Weng
Bin Weng

 

Weng was among the final 14 players who returned on the final day. On the last hand of the tournament, with the board open , Foxen jammed with . Weng had him covered and called off holding for a flopped straight that held up. Weng collected the tournament title, while Foxen secured a runner-up payday of $140,512.

Weng’s latest victory landed him his second major tournament title this year. Last month he shipped The Return Poker Championship Main Event at the Borgata Hotel and Casino for $1 Million. His tracked live tournament winnings currently stand at $3.150 Million.

In the post-win interview, Weng said – “This tournament meant a lot to me. I have won four or five titles but never a WSOP tournament. Getting a ring means a lot to me. I’m kind of speechless, right, because I’m just so excited. Alex Foxen is one of my poker idols. We are originally from the same area, Long Island. I just feel so thankful to take this down and get the chance to play with Foxen. He is one of the best players right now.”

The $1,700 buy-in Main Event collected a $1,261,995 prize pool. The top 125 finishers earned at least $2,559.

 

Final Table Results (USD)

  1. Bin Weng – $227,344
  2. Alex Foxen – $140,512
  3. Evan Sandberg – $104,505
  4. Kenneth Mapoy – $78,532
  5. Anthony Huntsman – $59,634
  6. Alex Condon – $45,764
  7. Nick Pupillo – $35,497
  8. Jared Jaffee – $27,832
  9. Aaron Massey – $22,061

 

Edwin Dela Cruz Wins Inaugural USOP Poker2U Taiwan Series Main Event For TWD3,060,000

The first-ever U Series of Poker: Poker2U Taiwan Series was hosted at Chinese Texas Hold’em Poker Association (CTP Club). Grabbing the eyeballs was the TWD20,000 (~$660) buy-in Main Event that recorded a field of 1,043 players – the largest turnout in an international poker tournament held in Taiwan. Filipino pro Edwin Dela Cruz emerged as the champion, banking a personal-best TWD3,060,000 (~$100,800).

Edwin Dela Cruz
Edwin Dela Cruz

 

“Overwhelming! I feel great! I prayed for this. This is precious! I love this trophy! I am so happy. I studied hard for this,” Cruz said after the tournament got over.

Talking about the turnaround hand on Day 2, Cruz recalled when the play was down to the final 14 players, Korea’s Seong Su Kong bet half pot on the river, and Cruz tank-called with ace-king. Kong missed the board, and Cruz collected the massive pot, boosting his stack significantly.

Cruz had a turbulent ride on the final table, but his fate turned when he eliminated Tiong Lek Lim in seventh place, with pocket queens dominating the latter’s pocket sixes. Cruz then scooped a big pot off Yu Che Liu during the four-handed play to drive into the chip lead. Shortly after that, Cruz scored a double knockout, eliminating Yu Che Liu and Jia Song Liu in a single hand.

The heads-up against Jia Song Liu lasted all of two hands, and in the final hand, Cruz three-bet shoved with pocket kings. Liu snap-called with ace-king. A king on the river handed Cruz the title.

The Main Event ran from February 15 to 19. It featured a TWD 10,000,000 (~$329,600) guarantee but crushed it comfortably by collecting a massive TWD 18,210,800 (~$600,200) prize pool.

Final Table Results (New Taiwan Dollar)

  1. Edwin Dela Cruz – TWD3,060,000
  2. Jia Song Liu – TWD2,165,500
  3. Yu Che Liu – TWD1,404,600
  4. Eric Chan – TWD1,038,200
  5. Kun Han Lee – TWD786,700
  6. Beng Wei Ong – TWD632,300
  7. Tiong Lek Lim – TWD522,600
  8. Jason Lee – TWD414,700

 

PokerGO Studio Partners With One Step Closer Foundation For Star-Studded Celebrity Charity Poker Event in Support of Cerebral Palsy Research

The PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas has partnered with the One Step Closer Foundation to host the celebrity charity poker tournament, “All in for CP,” on March 4. The event will feature a $1,000 buy-in with rebuys and add-ons priced at $500. Half of the entry fees will be donated towards awareness for cerebral palsy research, while the other half will be returned to players as tournament payouts.

 

A PokerGO spokesperson said- “We’re thrilled to partner with the One Step Closer Foundation to host this event, and we’re confident that it will be a huge success. The PokerGO Studio offers a perfect setting for this fundraiser, and we’re proud to be part of such an important cause.”

Several top Hollywood A-listers and top poker pros, including Ted Danson, Cheryl Hines, Richard Kind, Kevin Pollock, and the 2009 WSOP Main Event champion Joe Cada have already confirmed their participation, while Jessa Hinton will be hosting the red carpet welcome.

Though PokerGO Studio offers limited seating for special events, entries are still available, and players interested in joining the action can sign up online via the One Step Closer Foundation’s website.

Founded in 2007 by Jacob Zalewski, a passionate poker player and cerebral palsy patient, the One Step Closer Foundation is a leading organization that funds cerebral palsy research. Zalewski said about the upcoming event, “The One Step Closer Foundation is committed to making a difference in the lives of those affected by cerebral palsy. We’re grateful for the support of PokerGO and everyone who has joined us in this fight against this condition. Together, we’re one step closer to finding a cure for cerebral palsy.”

 

Images and Content Courtesy: Cardplayer, somuchpoker, poker.org

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