All through the historical past of contemporary poker, ladies have shattered expectations, dominated tables, and constructed legacies. From Annette Obrestad conquering on-line video games as an adolescent to Vanessa Selbst reaching world primary in 2014, ladies have performed pivotal roles in poker’s evolution.
Names like Maria Ho, Liv Boeree, and Gaelle Baumann spotlight the depth of feminine expertise that has enriched the sport.
In 2024, no title shone brighter than Kristen Foxen.
Kicking Issues Off on the PokerGO Tour
Whereas most individuals spend January recovering from vacation excesses, Foxen hit the bottom operating over the primary fortnight of January 2023. These two week noticed her money for over $300,000 and win a title within the PokerGO studio in Las Vegas, establishing store over the course of the Final Likelihood and Kickoff festivals.
Her largest end in January got here within the PokerGO Tour Kickoff, defeating Daniel Negreanu heads-up to win $165,000.
“One participant that at all times has a smile on their face is Kristen Foxen”
One man who is aware of Foxen’s exploits within the PokerGO Studio effectively is PokerGO Director of Dwell Occasions & Content material Tim Duckworth.
“There’s a wide selection of personalities that frequent the PokerGO Studio for PGT occasions, and one participant that at all times has a smile on their face is Kristen Foxen,” Duckworth informed PokerNews. “However you possibly can’t let that smile idiot you, as she’ll fortunately minimize you up on the poker desk if you happen to stand in the best way of her dragging chips.
“Simply ask her husband Alex who has been on the dropping finish of many tussles towards Kristen the PokerGO Studio.”
Foxen has gained one title, cashed 23 occasions, and earned $1,966,728 in PGT occasions, whereas it’s the 2024 PGT season that has been her finest.
“As we method the top of the 12 months, we’re all wanting on the GPI Participant of the 12 months awards,” mentioned Duckworth. “Foxen has gained 4, and is a favourite to win her fifth inside seven years if she will be able to fend off Cherish Andrews’ late push. 5 WSOP bracelets, 4 GPI Participant of the 12 months awards, one PGT title, and lots of extra of every to come back.
“Simply don’t let that smile make you suppose Foxen isn’t attempting to win each one in all your chips if you happen to’re unlucky to be seated at her desk!”
Extra cashes in early 2024 adopted for Foxen, heading to the Fortunate Hearts Poker Open, ending fourth in a $25k for $117,325, and three extra cashes on the PokerGO Tour together with a $204,750 rating within the PokerGO Cup Occasion #7, ending second to David Peters.
Time for the World Collection of Poker
With a blazing begin to the 12 months, Kristen Foxen carried her momentum into poker’s grandest stage: the World Collection of Poker. Although her summer season noticed her money ten occasions and not using a single ultimate desk, these numbers hardly inform the total story.
One in every of simply seven ladies to enter Occasion #26: $25,000 Excessive Curler, Foxen exemplified the rising power of ladies in poker’s larger buy-in occasions. “The numbers are rising yearly,” she informed PokerNews, calling this the strongest feminine presence she’d seen in a $25k. “I’ve at all times wished to play excessive rollers to make poker extra welcoming for ladies. Simply exhibiting up as this little, not very intimidating lady could make a distinction.”
Foxen’s summer season reached its crescendo with an exciting deep run within the 2024 WSOP Principal Occasion. Beginning on Day 1d, she doubled her stack by the top of the day and entered Day 3 effectively throughout the prime 500 as the cash bubble loomed.
By the top of Day 5, Foxen had climbed the leaderboard, sitting thirty sixth out of 160 remaining gamers. Halfway by Day 6, she informed PokerNews, ‘At the moment it began to really feel actual.’
“I preserve telling myself that it is simply 10 hours of poker,” she mentioned. “And with 10 hours of poker with such a sluggish construction I do know what to do on each hand. I am simply reminding myself of that.”
“That is the stage within the match the place you possibly can’t go unsuitable in being a little bit conservative in choices after they come up. There may be that component of excessive ICM in play that I do not suppose many individuals perceive. So I really feel like I am unable to go unsuitable and I do know what to do.”
Foxen would survive Day 6 and Day 7, ending that day fifth in chips with three tables left.
“I’m simply hoping that I can present different ladies to not be intimidated. To really feel assured, like we belong right here. Let’s beat them if we need to,” Foxen mentioned on the time.
Many gamers and trade personnel had been rooting for Foxen, together with Poker Corridor of Famer Barbara Enright, who informed PokerNews it was time for a girl to win the WSOP Principal Occasion.
“Not simply make the ultimate desk!” she mentioned, “For therefore a few years, it was a person’s sport. If she wins, I feel it should deliver extra ladies into the sport. Poker’s grown so much. I feel it will develop much more.”
“It’s going to Make Me a Higher Participant” says Foxen
Sadly for Foxen, her Principal Occasion run would finish in thirteenth place, busting to Joe Serock to take residence $600,000. Earlier this 12 months, PokerNews caught up with Foxen at WPT Seminole and she or he mirrored on the craziest week of her life.
“It was all very surreal,” she mentioned. “The Principal Occasion is such a singular, grueling expertise, and taking part in on stream for thus many days, I used to be very drained. You are simply operating on adrenaline and after you bust it looks like a kind of dying virtually.”
Was Kristen Foxen’s Bustout Hand GTO Wizard Accepted?
The highlight on Foxen prolonged past the feminine poker group to the trade as an entire. Whereas the psychological problem was immense, Foxen expressed gratitude for her deep run.
“Essentially the most type of strain and highlight I’ve ever felt in poker”
“It is simply an expertise that can construct my psychological muscle and character going ahead. And, you realize, I used to be taking part in for the win and made a nasty learn, went with my learn, and there you go. That is type of poker. That is what received me there within the first place.”
“It was a really attention-grabbing expertise. Essentially the most type of strain and highlight I’ve ever felt in poker. So it was robust, however I feel it should solely make me a greater participant transferring ahead.”
On-line Success
Foxen might have come up brief in her try to win the WSOP Principal Occasion bracelet, however WSOP success would come simply three months later. On the net felt, she gained Occasion #17: $500 Pot-Restrict Omaha Thriller Bounty 6-Max for $20,064 (plus $19,207 in bounties), making her a five-time WSOP champion.
Ladies in Poker Corridor of Fame Induction
5 bracelets and greater than $8.5 million in lifetime earnings are achievements that should be commemorated, they usually had been in November 2024 with Foxen inducted into the Ladies in Poker Corridor of Fame.
In her acceptance speech, Foxen mentioned that she has at all times been fueled and cherished the expertise of being underestimated whereas taking part in on the poker desk.
“In my profession I made a decision I used to be fairly decided to try to present that girls can compete,” she mentioned. “I simply wished to achieve success as I may very well be and right here I’m virtually 20 years later.
“I attempt to battle with one of the best and play the best I can. Not just for my very own ego or profit, but in addition simply to signify ladies in poker and attempt to encourage different ladies to do the identical.”
Image courtesy of Hayley Hochstetler
Will Shillibier
Managing Editor
