Alvidrez Wins Round 5 of World Finals, Moves to No. 4 in World Title Race

By: Darci Miller

FORT WORTH, Texas – Following Round 5 of the 2023 PBR World Finals in Fort Worth, Texas, Andrew Alvidrez stood in the back hallways of Dickies Arena and took off his belt.

He replaced the one he was wearing with the Round 5 winner’s buckle he had just received moments earlier.

“Wasting no time,” he said with a grin, refastening his belt with the shiny new hardware.

The round win was the first in Alvidrez’s World Finals career, and it was as much a personal accomplishment as it was a professional one.

Yes, it bumped him up to 10th in the event aggregate. Yes, it earned him 89 points towards the Unleash The Beast standings (and a cool $35,000), where he’s now ranked No. 4, just 276 points behind world No. 1 Kaique Pacheco.

But it was also the fulfillment of a dream he’s had since he was a kid.

“The feeling, you can’t articulate it,” Alvidrez said. “It’s something I always dreamt of as a kid. I can go back and tell that 8-year-old, ‘You were right the whole time. No matter how many times people try to discourage you, you stay true to yourself, and you listen to that big voice inside your head.’”

The World Finals got off to a very frustrating start for Alvidrez, as he had gone 0-for-4 in the first four rounds before converting aboard Red Mosquito in Round 5. His 91.5 points is the highest score of the World Finals thus far.

Alvidrez and Red Mosquito had faced off once before – in Albany, New York, in December, where he earned the event win and overtook the No. 1 ranking.

In Fort Worth, Alvidrez gritted his way to the 8-second whistle with one thing on his mind.

“I was trying to break that bull’s spirit,” he said.

The ride, he said, reminded himself of who he is.

“It was a reminder of who I am as a rider,” Alvidrez said. “I’ve never been the guy that went out and got 90s back-to-back. I’ve always been that guy grinding and grinding, and I’ve accepted that I’m that man. It was just going to be a matter of time before it really clicks and I’m going to be a dominating force. That’s what I believe.

“There’s times where you get to bucking off and doubt tries to creep in. But you just keep trusting the process and understand that everything happens for a reason.”

Alvidrez clearly wasn’t his usual self in the first four rounds of competition. This wasn’t the rider who earned the first two premier series event wins of his career and was riding at a 40% (24-for-60) clip.

“I believe it was focusing on the outcome too much,” Alvidrez said. “Focusing on the gold buckle, the world title, instead of just showing up and doing my job. When I showed up today, I didn’t even think about the standings or the points. I just thought, ‘Do what you love.’

“I’ve been dreaming of this since I was a little kid, and when it’s right there within your grasp, it’ll play with your mind. But not today, it didn’t.”

He admits that he was frustrated with his lack of success inside Dickies Arena thus far but was proud of himself for not giving up.

“You put all this time into your craft, and you believe you’re doing everything you’re supposed to do, but then the outcome isn’t what you’ve been preparing for, and that’s when trusting the process comes in,” Alvidrez said. “Because a lot of guys, they don’t like the process. They quit. And I never quit. I don’t care if I’m not even in the PBR. I made that decision a long time ago. I asked God, ‘I don’t care if I’m a bum. As long as I’m riding bulls, I’m happy.’ And that’s when it started turning around.”

Moving forward, Alvidrez says he doesn’t care about the points or the standings. He trusts that he’ll win a world title when God deems him ready to, whether this year or next year or beyond, and is content to treat each day of the World Finals like any other. Tomorrow, like today and like yesterday, he’ll go to the gym and do Bible affirmations before heading to the arena.

Alvidrez is finally in the zone, focused and motivated, and if he stays the course, a world title could very well be in his sights. Action continues with Round 6 on Saturday (9 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network)

“The spark is back, my reassurance is back, and the job’s not done,” he said. “I was pretty excited, but after I leave the arena, I bring the energy back down. The job’s not done.”

Photo courtesy of Andy Watson/Bull Stock Media

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