In the final showdown of the World Series of Poker Circuit Horseshoe Las Vegas $1,700 main event, Alex Foxen and Bin Weng went head-to-head. It was Weng who emerged victorious, claiming the title and the coveted gold ring. However, fate had another meeting in store for them just a few months later, on May 12, with a six-figure grand prize at stake. This time, Foxen came out on top, defeating Weng in a thrilling battle to win the $25,000 no-limit hold’em high roller event of the 2023 Lodge Championship Series. His triumph earned him a significant cash prize of $235,000, pushing his total career tournament earnings to nearly $29.3 million.
Both Alex Foxen and Weng have been standout performers on the tournament circuit throughout the year. Foxen’s victory marked his third title and 12th appearance at a final table in 2023. Meanwhile, Weng’s achievement in winning the $5,000 main event at Borgata in ‘The Return,’ followed by his triumph at the WSOPC main event, solidified his status as a top contender for Player of the Year (POY). Currently placed ninth in the standings, Weng boasts two titles and five final-table finishes, amassing nearly $1.4 million in POY earnings this year. His prospects for further success are bright, especially considering his presence at two delayed final tables of the World Poker Tour—WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown and WPT Choctaw—where he has the opportunity to win up to $1.5 million.
The high-stakes competition took place at The Lodge Poker Club in Round Rock, Texas, attracting 20 participants and generating a prize pool of $480,000. In the end, the top three finishers secured cash prizes. Daniel Rezaei fell victim to Foxen’s pocket jacks, with his K-Q suited unable to improve on the turn and river, eliminating him on the bubble. Lodge co-owner Doug Polk claimed the third-place spot after failing to connect with his outs on the river, falling to Weng’s pocket aces. Polk walked away with $100,000 for his commendable performance.
Entering the heads-up battle, Weng held a chip advantage of 562,000 to Alex Foxen’s 435,000. Although Weng initially extended his lead to more than 8:1, Foxen staged a remarkable comeback. With a crucial bluff and a fortunate pocket kings against Weng’s A-J, Foxen narrowed the gap to less than a 3:2 advantage for Weng. Foxen then seized the lead when his flush and straight draw prevailed over Weng’s bottom two pair. Securing a 2:1 advantage, he maintained his momentum until the final hand.
The final hand saw Foxen’s K♥ Q♦ triumph over Weng’s A♣ 5♠. With the board showing J♥ 9♥ 4♠ 9♣ Q♣, Foxen secured queens up on the river, solidifying his victory and clinching the title. Weng earned a commendable $145,000 as the runner-up.
Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded in this event:
| Place | Player | Earnings | POY Points |
| 1 | Alex Foxen | $235,000 | 252 |
| 2 | Bin Weng | $145,000 | 210 |
| 3 | Doug Polk | $100,000 | 168 |
