Just weeks after the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event wrapped up in Las Vegas, the action picked right back up as the WSOP Circuit made its second stop of the season at the Choctaw Casino Resort in Durant, Oklahoma. Over the course of 12 intense days, the festival awarded 18 coveted WSOP Circuit rings and culminated in the $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em Main Event.
The headline of the series was written by Alex Cruz of Midland, Texas, who secured his first-ever live tournament victory by conquering a 968-player field. Cruz not only earned his first WSOP Circuit ring, but also took home a life-changing $241,412 payday and 912 points toward the Card Player Player of the Year race presented by CoinPoker.
“It felt like destiny,” Cruz told Poker.Org after lifting the trophy. “My friend told me he had a feeling I’d win this one — and so did I.”
A World Series of Poker Comeback Story
Cruz’s path to victory was anything but easy. Deep in the tournament, he found himself with the shortest stack at the final table. Down to just 10 big blinds with A♠7♠ versus Eliaan Pilo’s A♦Q♥, Cruz looked poised to exit. But a dramatic runner-runner flush runout brought him back from the brink.
Riding that momentum, Cruz doubled again — this time with pocket aces against Alex Rindone’s A♣Q♥ — to pull even in chips. From there, his climb continued.
Momentum Shift and a Final Table for the Ages
With each hand, Cruz chipped away at his opponents. He eliminated Pilo holding K♥2♦ against 10♥9♣ on an A♥K♠6♣A♠J♣ board and then caught a straight to knock out Peter Clive in third place. In that hand, Cruz was behind with J♦6♦ against Clive’s dominating K♦3♦ on a Q♥10♦9♦ flop. But the 8♠ river gave Cruz a miracle queen-high straight.
Heads-up play saw Cruz facing Rindone, who managed two quick double-ups. First, Rindone’s A♠10♠ held against Cruz’s A♦5♦, and then his pocket sixes beat Cruz’s A♠J♣. Still, Cruz maintained composure and chipped away steadily.
On the final hand, Cruz shoved with Q♦4♥ and Rindone called with J♥10♦. A clean runout of A♠6♣3♣8♦4♣ sealed Cruz’s win and his place in World Series of Poker Circuit history.
Familiar Faces and Notable Finishes
In an interesting coincidence, two players at the final table shared a unique career achievement. Jacob Thibodeau (7th place) and Ahmad Popal (9th place) both previously finished 74th in the WSOP Main Event — in 2019 and 2023, respectively.
As for Rindone, the runner-up performance marks his second major cash. He previously won a $900 PokerAtlas Tour event in Dallas in 2024, topping a 1,670-entry field.
Final Table Results – WSOP Circuit Choctaw Main Event
| Place | Player | Payout | POY Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alex Cruz | $241,412 | 912 |
| 2 | Alex Rindone | $160,932 | 760 |
| 3 | Peter Clive | $111,537 | 608 |
| 4 | Eliaan Pilo | $78,692 | 456 |
| 5 | Marcus Dickey | $56,535 | 380 |
| 6 | Rohini Telukutla | $41,373 | 304 |
| 7 | Jacob Thibodeau | $30,853 | 228 |
| 8 | Bradley Ritschel | $23,453 | 152 |
| 9 | Ahmad Popal | $18,180 | 76 |
The excitement of the World Series of Poker continues to ripple through the poker world as fresh faces like Alex Cruz rise to the spotlight. With the WSOP Circuit back in full swing, poker fans can expect more breakout performances and unforgettable moments on the felt.
