Kristen Foxen Defends Title In Final PokerGO Tour Kickoff Event

Kristen Foxen already sits atop one of the most prestigious leaderboards in poker, with her five World Series of Poker bracelet wins being the most of any female player. The 38-year-old is now also on the verge of becoming the highest-earning female poker player ever.

The Canadian poker pro took down the $10,000 buy-in finale of the 2025 PokerGO Tour Kickoff series on Saturday, Jan. 25 for a $197,625 payday, bringing her lifetime tournament haul to $10,676,511. As a result, she now sits just $222,516 behind current women’s money list leader Vanessa Selbst ($10,899,027).

This was her second consecutive victory in this event, having also won the finale of last year’s PGT Kickoff Series as well, that time beating Daniel Negreanu heads-up for $165,000.

Foxen overcame a field of 93 entries in this no-limit hold’em event to secure her 14th recorded title and her 248th lifetime cash. This victory also came with 540 Card Player Player of the Year points.

It was her second final-table finish of the new year, with a runner-up showing in the $10,000 finale of the PGT Last Chance festival a couple of weeks earlier for $187,550 and 550 points. With 1,090 total points, Foxen is now ranked 10th in the 2025 POY standings presented by Global Poker.

Foxen cashed in three of the five PGT Kickoff events on this year’s schedule, accumulating a total of 525 PGT points along the way. As a result, she surged into first place on the tour’s season-long leaderboard.

The 93-entry turnout for this event built a $930,000 prize pool, with the top 14 finishers receiving a share. By the end of day 1 action on Friday, just seven players remained in contention.

Foxen held the chip lead when day 2 got underway inside the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino Las Vegas. Two-time bracelet winner Joao Simao scored the first knockout of the day, eliminating event no. 3 runner-up Neil Warren in seventh place ($37,200).

Nick Seward was the next to fall, with his A-J suited running into the A-K of Foxen. Neither player connected with the eight-high runout and Foxen’s superior high cards earned her the pot. Seward was awarded $46,500 for his sixth-place showing.

Foxen pulled even further ahead during early five-handed action, only to take a hit via a big three-way all-in. 2021 Wynn Millions champion Andrew Moreno’s last chips went in with AK racing against Foxen’s 33 and leading Simao’s A9. The board came down 77449 to see Simao river nines up for the win. Moreno was eliminated in fifth place ($65,100) while Simao doubled up to move into second on the leaderboard behind Foxen, who was still out in front despite taking a hit in the hand.

Reigning PGT Player of the Year and recent PGT Championship winner Jeremy Ausmus bowed out in fourth place ($83,700). He lost the majority of his stack in a clash with Foxen, risking all but one 25,000 from his stack with a three-bet holding A-4 suited. Foxen called with A-J and made a queen-high straight on the end after it checked through on the flop and turn. Ausmus folded to her river bet and was left with a fraction of a small blind. He was automatically all-in from the small blind on the following hand and Foxen, who was in the big blind, made queens up to end Ausmus’ latest deep run. The six-time bracelet winner now has more than $24.7 million in career earnings to his name.

Bracelet winner and reigning European Poker Tour Barcelona champion Stephen Song got the last of his stack in with a cold four-bet shove from the big blind holding AK. He was looked up by Simao, who had three-bet from the small blind with 55. Song flopped a gutshot straight draw to go along with his overcards, but blanks on the turn and river resulted in a third-place finish for the $111,600. He now has nearly $9.2 million in total cashes.

The final two players ended up making a deal that evenly split the remaining prize money, resulting in $197,625 payouts for both Simao and Foxen. They then played out the tournament to determine who would secure the trophy and the ranking points that came with it.

The final hand of the tournament began with Foxen limping from the button for 200,000 with 97. Simao raised to 700,000 from the big blind with A10 and Foxen made the call. The flop came down 743 and Simao checked. Foxen fired 550,000 with top pair, only to be met with a check-raise to 1,700,000 from her Brazilian opponent. Foxen called and the 8 rolled off on the turn. Both players checked and the 8 completed the board. Simao moved all-in for 4,025,000, sending Foxen into the tank. She eventually made the call to lock up the title with her eights and sevens with a nine kicker. Simao grew his career earnings to nearly $8.2 million after collecting his negotiated payout.

Incredible Call! Kristen Foxen Wins PGT Kickoff Event #5 for $197,625 pic.twitter.com/FbKaoinhO1

— PokerGO (@PokerGO) January 26, 2025

Here is a look at the payouts and rankings points awarded at the final table:

Photo credit: PokerGO / Antonio Abrego.