We are only a few weeks into the 2024 tournament poker season, but one thing is quite evident – two players are looking to put their stamp on the upcoming season. Kristen and Alex Foxen have been doing well in the initial action of 2024, with Kristen picking up a tournament win at the PokerGO Tour’s Kickoff. Now Alex can put a notch in his belt for 2024 after winning the High Roller tournament at the Seminole Hard Rock Hollywood’s Lucky Hearts Poker Open.
Two For One Deal
Players may have lamented it, but it was a “two for one” deal with the Foxens at the $25,000 High Roller final table. The twosome was a part of the five-handed action at the final table (Viktor Ustimov had been eliminated the previous evening) who were vying for the $426,075 first-place prize. There were some tough customers that the Foxens would have to deal with, however, as Kevin Rabichow led the way and Justin Saliba was also in the mix (along with Thomas Bolvin).
One Foxen would make a move from the start. Alex put his chips to the center in a battle against Saliba and emerged from the race the winner. That left Saliba on the short stack and, soon afterwards, Foxen took care of the rest of Saliba’s chips to send him out of the tournament in fifth place.
Rabichow took care of one-half of the Foxen twofer by eliminating Kristen from the final table. On a board of K-Q-9-8-K, Foxen had to feel good with her K-J for trip Kings, but the case King was in Rabichow’s hand. He also held a Queen to go with that King, meaning he had made a full house on the river to upend Foxen’s trips. If there was going to be a Foxen win the tournament, it would be Alex as Kristen headed to the rail in fourth place.
Rabichow continued to run roughshod over the table. In three-handed play, he took out Bolvin when he caught a Queen with K-Q on a J-10-6-Q-3 board to top Bolvin’s pocket sevens. That sent Rabichow to heads-up play against Alex Foxen holding a 3:1 lead.
Alex Foxen got a key double to bring the stacks to even, then finished the tournament off after a break. On an A-A-7-4-9 board, Foxen would bet enough to put Rabichow all in and this forced Rabichow into the tank. After burning a couple of time bank chips, Rabichow made the call and, believing Foxen to be on a bluff, showed a Q-J. Foxen was not bluffing; he tabled pocket Jacks to take the hand and the title for his first win in 2024.
1. Alex Foxen, $426,075
2. Kevin Rabichow, $284,050
3. Thomas Bolvin, $172,900
4. Kristen Foxen, $117,325
5. Justin Saliba, $80,275
6. Viktor Ustimov, $61,750
7. Anton Wigg, $49,400
8. Stoyan Madanzhiev, $43,225
Foxen Dynasty Being Built?
The power play by the Foxens to start 2024 should not come as a surprise to those who watch the tournament poker world. The better half of the partnership, Kristen just came off a season in which she captured the Global Poker Index’s Ladies’ Player of the Year award. This was not the first time she had done that, either; Foxen had previously won the GPI Ladies’ POY on two other occasions. Add in three World Series of Poker bracelets and Kristen has staked her claim to being not only the best female player in the game, but overall player regardless of gender.
Alex is no slouch in this department, either. He has earned a WSOP bracelet and two World Poker Tour titles in his career, with his largest cash coming from his win in the 2022 WSOP Super High Roller for over $4.5 million. All totaled, Alex Foxen is one of the top all-time money earners in the world of poker with over $31 million in lifetime earnings (good for thirteenth all-time).
It is a long road for players on the tournament poker circuit, but it can also be said that you need to get off to a good start to HAVE a great year. So far, it looks like Casa Foxen has gotten the beginning of 2024 that they wanted!
