It’s been seven years since Ema Zajmovic broke the glass ceiling as the first woman to win an open World Poker Tour event. Unfortunately, she’s still in a party of one but Kristen Foxen’s tenacity, talent and experience should have her breaking through sooner than later.
Foxen is, arguably, the top female poker player on the planet. The Canadian has $8.4 million in tournament earnings, five World Series of Poker bracelets and is fresh off her 13th-place finish in the 2024 WSOP Main Event.
On to the next one
Foxen is playing in the $3,500 World Poker Tour Seminole Rock ‘N Roll Poker Open Championship and isn’t feeling the effects of a Main Event hangover. “There’s so much poker going on right now, with so many series – it’s on to the next one,” she said.
“It was obviously a massive spot, and I’ve got some mixed feelings,” Foxen continued. “It kind of feels like a bad dream, but it was very fun at the same time. It was a fun experience, but really, I just moved on to the next tournament.”
Foxen ranks third among women for the WPT in total earnings, final tables and cashes. She trails Kathy Liebert and J.J. Liu respectively, in all three categories.
“It would be fun (to catch them), and I hope to do what I can with my poker career,” said Foxen. “I don’t know how much of my career is left. I’m not sure how much I’ll be able to play going into my 40s and 50s.”
“I would love to get a WPT title,” she continued. “I’ve made a few final tables, and they haven’t gone that well for me. So, I hope that changes one day.”
Creating a legacy
“For the most part, I try to take each tournament and hand one at a time and do my best,” said Foxen. “Poker is always a learning experience – with the Main Event it was a huge experience to get under my belt. Playing with that much stress and pressure, now I feel prepared for anything.”
Foxen played under the bright lights and unblinking eyes of cameras for four days. “I was on TV a lot – it was crazy. People don’t really understand what that’s like unless you’ve been there,” she said.
“That was a long, long tournament – what happens is, each day you’re sleeping less and less, your adrenaline is up,” she said. “I don’t know that there’s ever been anyone that said they played their best on Day 6 or 7 of the Main. It’s just kind of the nature of it. I wish the WSOP, in general, respected sleep more. But it is what it is, right?”
Kristen Foxen playing at the 2024 WSOP Main Event.
Matthew Berglund
Marital bliss off the felt
She’s also one half of poker’s top-performing power couple with her husband Alex. How do they keep their relationship healthy while navigating a zero-sum game as a profession?
“Honestly, we both love poker so much; it’s a huge part of our lives right now, and we’re both pretty happy with that,” she said. We love the gym, nature, and just enjoying life.”
As the poker calendar is about to close on 2024, what does Foxen have planned for the next year?
“I’m focused on what we have coming up – the Bahamas and Triton Jeju,” she said. “I would love to have a successful WSOP Paradise and Triton runs – that would be fun.”
“We’re going to be traveling a bit more for that next year,” Foxen said. “I’m hoping to have success in the bigger high roller events. I feel like in my career, I’m just getting my foot in the door. That’s where my focus and ambitions are at the moment.”
All photos courtesy of the WPT