Cherish Andrews Turns ‘Big Sad Downswing’ Into U.S. Poker Open Victory

Cherish Andrews wasn’t even going to play this week’s Occasion #3: $5,000 NLH on the 2026 U.S. Poker Open (USPO) in Las Vegas and even joked that she was retiring amid a crushing downswing. However she confirmed up anyway and it resulted in her taking down the occasion for $117,407 and her second PokerGO Tour (PGT) title after defeating fellow professional Adam Hendrix throughout heads-up play.

Andrews, an achieved professional and two-time GPI Feminine Participant of the 12 months, bested a last desk that included Day 1 chip chief Sam Laskowitz, poker vlogger Ethan “Rampage” Yau and Michael Berk, who ran about as poorly as is feasible at a last desk to exit in sixth place for $28,750.

“I have been on a very massive unhappy downswing to the place I truly informed my associates over the weekend I wasn’t coming to play the final $5k,” Andrews informed PokerNews in a winner’s interview. “I used to be like ‘I am retired. I am not coming again.'”

The occasion, the ultimate $5,000 providing of the USPO, was the largest of the three and drew 115 runners for a prize pool of $575,000.

Occasion #3 Remaining Desk Outcomes

*Denotes heads-up deal

“You Simply Need to Hold Displaying Up”

“I believe you may see … her within the winner’s circle once more, hopefully quickly.”

Brock Wilson made this daring prediction final week about Andrews, his girlfriend, after his victory in Occasion #1. And it solely took three days to manifest.

“It feels actually good as a result of poker’s arduous,” Andrews mentioned. “It’s actually arduous to win. And having folks like Brock and my family and friends in my nook nonetheless rooting me on and figuring out I can do it, it means loads.”

Poker is certainly tough and unforgiving. Berk had revenge on the thoughts after getting crushed by “Rampage” twice within the late levels of Day 1. However he would don’t have any rampage of his personal as he took one more beat to start out the day, having his ace-king lose to Andrews’ ace-queen regardless of having his opponent dominated.

Berk’s nemesis Yau was the subsequent to go as he ran pocket threes into the tens of Andrews, which adopted He getting a miraculous double-up with six-five towards Yau’s pocket jacks.

Day 1 chip chief misplaced a flip to Hendrix forward of He going out in third place by the hands of Hendrix, who held an honest chip lead over Andrews as the 2 mentioned and reached an ICM deal that left them taking part in for the trophy and $9,000.

Hendrix, who final 12 months completed sixth within the WSOP Most important Occasion for $1.9 million, could not get something going throughout heads-up play and shortly surrendered the chip lead.

“I am getting scammed,” Hendrix mentioned at one level earlier than asking Andrews what she deliberate to do with the additional $9,000.

“I do not know. Pay taxes.”

Andrews chipped away at Hendrix earlier than he discovered himself pipped with pocket eights towards pocket nines to be denied the trophy. Andrews credited a scorching run of playing cards throughout heads-up play for serving to her win the event, however she was locked in lengthy earlier than the ultimate desk. On Day 1, she folded a giant hand on the stone bubble after appropriately surmising that He had flopped a set of nines.

“I do not wish to say what I folded, I had a very massive hand. However it type of simply felt prefer to me queens or nines.”

*Pictures courtesy of PokerGO

Connor Richards is a Senior Editor U.S. for PokerNews and host of the Life Outdoors Poker podcast. Connor has been nominated for 3 World Poker Awards for his writing.