Kristen Foxen was inducted into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame this week, and we caught up with the talented pro at the Triton Poker Series in Monte Carlo to find out what it means to her and how she feels now about her deep, deep run in the 2024 WSOP Main Event.
Congratulations on your induction into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame. How does it feel?
It's a real honor to be inducted. I've always been motivated to succeed in poker largely because I understood I was representing women in poker. This is meaningful to me because its a reminder that all of my time spent on poker and hard work has been recognized.
Do you have a poker player who was an inspiration to you getting started, man or woman?
Jennifer Harman was always an inspiration to me. I love the way she carries herself while playing, and I think she is such a good role model for women in poker.
What was the most pivotal moment that shaped your journey in poker?
Winning the WSOP Ladies Championship in 2013 was definitely one of them. I got a nice taste of victory in such a big arena, and it gave me some financial freedom to play more. It was such a fun experience that ultimately shifted my focus from cash games to tournaments.
You've just been playing the Triton Monte Carlo series – where are you happiest playing now, at the top levels like this or the bigger field $10K events?
There are definitely pros and cons to smaller buy-in, larger fields, and larger buy-in, smaller field events. I appreciate them both. My favorite place to play right now is at the PokerGO studio back home in Las Vegas. After dipping my toes in a few Triton events this week, my husband and I will certainly be at the next Triton stop. It is a very nice environment to play, and everything is executed perfectly. My favorite event would probably be something like a huge $10K WPT or a large field $25K.
You just won your fifth WSOP bracelet – congrats! Do you have a number in mind that you want to achieve? Any goals in that regard?
I don't have an exact number in mind, but I'm certainly happy to add to it and will keep trying!
Looking back, what do you think about your amazing Main Event run this summer?
The first two things that come to mind are that sleep is very important and the Main Event is VERY long. The whole experience was surreal, and unfortunately it didn't end in a typical way, like getting your aces cracked or losing a flip with AK vs. QQ. I was playing for the win, was running on fumes and adrenaline, made a bad read and took a line in a hand I've probably never taken my whole life. So, it really took a lot of mental toughness to deal with that. I didn't realize how much people were rooting for me until afterwards, and it was hard to not feel like I let so many people down. I'm so thankful to Alex firstly and all the other people in my life who were incredibly supportive. It was definitely an experience that I'll come out stronger from.
You can follow Kristen on X and Instagram, and get coaching from both Kristen and Alex Foxen at Chip Leader Coaching.
