Kristen Foxen (née Bicknell; born December 29, 1986) is a Canadian professional poker player. As of March 2025, her total live tournament earnings exceed $9.4 million.[3]
In 2017, Foxen was the highest-ranked female poker player in live tournaments, accumulating 2,627.75 GPI points., ranking ahead of Maria Ho.[4]
Early life
Foxen was born on December 29, 1986, in St. Catharines, Ontario.[5]
Foxen grew up drawing inspiration from poker legend Jennifer Harman, admiring her composure and the respect she commanded at the poker table. Watching Poker After Dark in its early days, she was motivated by Harman’s strong female presence in high-stakes poker. Seeing a woman compete at that level made Foxen feel that she could achieve the same success in the game.[6]
Poker career
Early career
Foxen began playing poker during her freshman year of college. In 2006, she started playing online under the aliases "krissyb24" on PokerStars and "krissy24" on Full Tilt Poker.[citation needed]
Foxen achieved Supernova Elite status on PokerStars in 2011, 2012, and 2013, a milestone that required playing approximately 2.5 million hands per year. She primarily focused on online games at the $1/$2 to $2/$4 stakes. Due to the high volume of hands she played, she referred to herself as the "Ultimate Grinder."[7]
World Series of Poker (WSOP)
In 2013, she won the $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship at the 2013 World Series of Poker, earning $173,922.[8]
In 2016, Foxen won the $1,500 No-Limit hold'em bounty event and earned $290,768.[9]
In 2021, Foxen was one of the more prominent players who protested the WSOP decision to require players to be vaccinated against COVID-19.[10]
In 2020, Foxen won her third WSOP bracelet during the WSOP Online series, earning $356,412 in the $2,500 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Handed event. In 2023, she became the first female player to win a fourth WSOP bracelet by claiming victory in the WSOP Online $888 No-Limit Hold'em Crazy 8’s event.[11]
In October 2024, Foxen won Event #19: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max tournament on WSOP Online. Playing under the screen name "Saraswati," Foxen claimed the largest share of the $290,785 prize pool, earning $56,703 and a WSOP gold bracelet.[12] This win marked Foxen’s fifth World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet. Foxen's five WSOP bracelets include two won at live events in Las Vegas (2013, 2016) and three won online (2020, 2023, and 2024).[13]
Year | Event | Prize Money |
---|---|---|
2013 | $1,000 Ladies No Limit Hold'em Championship | $173,922 |
2016 | $1,500 Bounty No Limit Hold'em | $290,768 |
2020 O | $2,500 No Limit Hold'em 6-Handed | $356,411 |
2023 O | $888 No Limit Hold'Em Crazy 8's | $92,142 |
2024 O | $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em 6-Max | $56,703 |
An "O" following a year denotes bracelet(s) won during the World Series of Poker Online
PokerGO Tour (PGT)
In 2019, Kristen Foxen recorded eight six-figure cashes. Her final major victory of the year came in November at the Poker Masters series, where she earned $408,000 after defeating Chance Kornuth heads-up for first place. Her overall performance that year contributed to her winning her third consecutive GPI Ladies Player of the Year title, accumulating 3,175.37 points.[citation needed]
With the COVID-19 pandemic halting most live poker tournaments in 2020, Kristen Foxen competed in several online poker series throughout the year. She cashed nine times in the online Super High Roller Bowl series, including a third-place finish in a $25,500 buy-in event, earning $236,000.[citation needed]
In January 2024, Foxen won Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em at the PGT Kickoff Series, securing the $165,000 first-place prize after a competitive final table.[14] She eliminated her husband, Alex Foxen, in fifth place and later gained a decisive chip lead after knocking out Samuel Laskowitz in third. In heads-up play against Daniel Negreanu, Foxen won key hands, including a crucial river call and an overbet that left Negreanu with just six big blinds. She clinched the victory when her jack-six prevailed against Negreanu’s king-nine.[15] The win marked her second career PGT title and 12th career tournament victory.[16]
In January 2025, Foxen successfully defended her title by winning Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em at the PGT Kickoff Series, earning $197,625 after a heads-up deal with Joao Simao.[17] Throughout the tournament, Foxen maintained a dominant chip lead, briefly relinquishing it during heads-up play. In the final hand, she called Simao's all-in bluff with two pair to secure the victory. Foxen had also won the same event in the previous year's PGT Kickoff Series, making this a consecutive title defense.[18]
In February 2025, Foxen won PokerGO Cup Event #7: $15,100 No-Limit Hold'em, earning $348,300 and moving into first place on the 2025 PokerGO Tour leaderboard.[19] Entering the final table with the shortest stack, she overcame the deficit and ultimately defeated Patrick Leonard heads-up with a 4-1 chip advantage. This victory marked her second win of the year on the PokerGO Tour, following her $197,625 win in the $10,100 PokerGO Tour Kickoff Series finale in January. It was also her third cash in seven events during the PokerGO Cup.[20]
Year | Event | Prize Money |
---|---|---|
2024 | PGT Kickoff Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em | $165,000 |
2025 | PGT Kickoff Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em | $197,625 |
2025 | PokerGO Cup Event #7: $15,100 No-Limit Hold'em | $348,300 |
World Poker Tour (WPT)
In December 2017, Foxen won WPT Five Diamond Series Event #13: $5,200 No-Limit Hold'em at the Bellagio.[21] She outlasted a field of 147 players to claim the first-place trophy and a prize of $199,840.[4]
Other Notable Tournaments
In March 2018, Foxen won the APPT National High Roller in Macau, earning HKD $2,192,000 (approximately USD $279,549). At the final table, she defeated David Peters heads-up to secure the title, topping a field of 117 players who each entered for HKD $80,000.[22]
Poker After Dark
Foxen (formerly Bicknell) appeared in Poker After Dark's "Femme Fatale" week, playing high-stakes cash games on January 3 and 4, 2018. On the first day, she eliminated J.J. Liu in a queens-versus-aces hand but later lost a significant pot to Tracy Nguyen after Nguyen hit a nut flush. Foxen also faced a major preflop confrontation, ultimately folding to a five-bet from Nguyen. Despite some setbacks, she finished the session with over $100,000 in winnings, making her one of the top earners of the event.[23]
Sponsorships
That same year, Foxen signed with partypoker as a sponsored pro.[24] However, in August 2021, she and partypoker parted ways, with no official reason provided for the departure.[25]
Personal life
Kristen Foxen (née Bicknell) married fellow professional poker player Alex Foxen in April 2022 in the Florida Keys. Shortly after, the couple opted to forgo a honeymoon and instead competed in the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open in Hollywood, Florida. Foxen described the wedding as a small, intimate ceremony attended by close friends and family. The timing of their wedding coincided with the poker tournament, making for a seamless transition into their next competition.[26]
References
- ^ "Kristen Foxen". WSOP.com. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ "Kristen Foxen". World Poker Tour. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
- ^ "Kristen Foxen: Hendon Mob Poker Database". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 7, 2023.
- ^ a b Cross, Valerie (March 8, 2018). "Celebrate International Women's Day with Female POY Kristen Bicknell". PokerNews. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ Team, WPF Editorial (February 6, 2024). "Kristen Foxen Interview". World Poker Federation. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kristen Bicknell: Humble, Driven and Competitve | PGT". PokerGO Tour. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ Bicknell, Kristen (November 1, 2012). "Why They Call Me an 'Ultimate Grinder'". cardplayer.com. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ Collson, Brett (August 15, 2013). "Interview: WSOP Bracelet Winner Kristen Bicknell Chases Supernova Elite at PokerStars". PokerNews. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ Peters, Donnie (June 30, 2016). "Kristen Bicknell Proves She's Not a One-Hit Wonder, Wins 2016 WSOP Bounty Event". PokerNews. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ Burnett, Andrew (September 3, 2021). "Anti-Vaxxers Unhappy with WSOP COVID-19 Mandate and Rules". PokerTube. Retrieved October 26, 2024.
- ^ Fast, Erik (September 19, 2023). "Kristen Foxen Makes History As First Female Four-Time World Series of Poker Bracelet Winner". Card Player Magazine.
- ^ "Kristen Foxen Wins Record-Extending Fifth World Series of Poker Gold Bracelet - Poker News". www.cardplayer.com. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Two World Series of Poker Bracelets in Three Days for the Foxens". www.pokernews.com. October 27, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "PGT Kickoff 2024: Kristen Foxen Defeats Daniel Negreanu Heads-up in Series Finale, Wins Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em ($165,000)". PokerGuru. January 17, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kristen Foxen Bests Negreanu & Cracks Husband's Aces to Win PGT Kickoff Finale". www.pokernews.com. January 17, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kristen Foxen Wins PGT Kickoff Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em | PGT". PokerGO Tour. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kristen Foxen Wins PokerGO Tour Kickoff Series $10k Finale for Second Straight Year". www.pokernews.com. January 25, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kristen Foxen Repeats as PGT Kickoff Event #5: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em Champion | PGT". PokerGO Tour. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kristen Foxen Weathers the Storm to Run Away With Event #7: $15,100 No-Limit Hold'em Title | PGT". PokerGO Tour. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kristen Foxen Wins $15K PokerGO Cup Event; Erik Seidel Out in 4th". www.pokernews.com. February 19, 2025. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "World Poker Tour - WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic, No Limit Hold'em - ( Event #13 ): Hendon Mob Poker Database". The Hendon Mob. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "APPT Macau: High Roller victories for Alex Foxen, Kristen Bicknell, and Marius Gierse; Shuize Cai lands a Platinum Pass - SOMUCHPOKER". somuchpoker.com. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kristen Bicknell and Melanie Weisner Make Splashes on Poker After Dark". www.pokernews.com. January 5, 2018. Retrieved March 1, 2025.
- ^ "Kristen Bicknell - Team partypoker". partypoker.com. Archived from the original on March 15, 2018. Retrieved March 15, 2018.
- ^ Sofen, Jon (August 20, 2021). "Kristen Bicknell, Partypoker Part Ways: 'It's Been a Great Four Years'". PokerNews.com. Retrieved March 24, 2024.
- ^ "Newlyweds Foxen & Bicknell Waste No Time Getting Results at WPT Seminole Hard Rock". www.pokernews.com. April 10, 2022. Retrieved March 1, 2025.