Kristen Foxen Wins US Poker Open Kickoff
The Canadian pro takes home $158,025 and locks in her third PokerGo Tour title in just 2025.
Kristen Foxen kicked off the 2025 U.S. Poker Open with a win, taking down the $5,100 No-Limit Hold’em kickoff event at PokerGo Studio in Las Vegas. The victory earned her $158,025, 158 PGT leaderboard points, and marked her third PokerGo Tour title of the year, making her the first player to achieve that milestone in 2025.
Foxen, a five-time WSOP bracelet winner and 2024 Women in Poker Hall of Fame inductee, now sits atop both the U.S. Poker Open series standings and the full-season PGT leaderboard.
Key Details of the Event
- Tournament: 2025 U.S. Poker Open – Event #1 – $5,100 No-Limit Hold’em
- Location: PokerGo Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas
- Dates: Two-day event, April 8-9
- Total Entries: 129
- Prize Pool: $645,000
- Top Prize: $158,025
- PGT Points Awarded: 158
A competitive field of veteran players and up-and-comers turned out, each aiming to gain early momentum in the U.S. Poker Open. In the end, the top 19 walked away with a payout.
Final Table Results
- Kristen Foxen – $158,025 (158 pts)
- Ping Liu – $96,750 (97 pts)
- Francis Anderson – $70,950 (71 pts)
- Anthony Hu – $51,600 (52 pts)
- Michael Arellano – $38,700 (39 pts)
- David Peters – $32,250 (32 pts)
- Justin Saliba – $25,800 (26 pts)
Notable cashes outside the final table included Erik Seidel (14th), Patrick Leonard (10th), and Dylan Weisman (18th), underscoring the depth of the field.
Foxen’s Road to Victory
Francis Anderson began the final table in the lead, but Ping Liu quickly thinned the field, knocking out Justin Saliba and David Peters.
Momentum shifted when satellite qualifier Michael Arellano ran A♣Q♣ into Foxen’s Q♦2♦ in a blind-vs-blind clash. The turn brought a deuce, and Arellano was eliminated in fifth place.
That hand marked the beginning of a turbulent three-handed battle. Foxen, the short stack at the time, weathered nine straight double-ups between the remaining players before regaining control.
Three Handed Grind
Three-handed play between Foxen, Liu, and Anderson lasted over two and a half hours, with chip leads changing hands several times.
Foxen gained the upper hand after calling Anderson’s river bluff with the nut flush. She followed up by flopping trips with A♠2♠ against his pocket tens, knocking him out in the third for $70,950.
Heads-Up Finish
Foxen entered heads-up with a 13:3 chip lead over Liu. He gained some ground early but faltered after folding a set to her turned straight.
In the final hand, Foxen’s A♥7♥ beat Liu’s K♦J♥ on a board that gave her a flush. Liu earned $96,750 as runner-up, bringing his live earnings past $2.8 million. For a detailed play-by-play of the final table, check out the official PGT coverage.
Why This Win Counts
Foxen’s victory is notable not just for the payout, but for what it represents in the broader poker landscape.
- Foxen currently sits atop the 2025 PokerGO Tour leaderboard, building on a strong 2024 campaign that saw her notch seven cashes and capture two major titles.
- Her lifetime live tournament earnings have surpassed $11.6 million, placing her firmly atop the women’s all-time money list–roughly $650,000 ahead of Vanessa Selbst.
- This win adds 528 points to her 2025 Card Player Player of the Year total, moving her into 11th place in the current standings.
Foxen’s latest win solidifies her position atop the 2025 PokerGo Tour leaderboard. For a complete breakdown of Foxen’s victory, check out PokerNews’ coverage of the event.
What’s Next?
Foxen will look to extend her momentum through the remainder of the U.S. Poker Open and the PGT season. The top 40 players at the end of the season qualify for the $1,000,000 PGT Championship, with starting chip stacks based on leaderboard points.
If Foxen winning the US Poker Open kicko current form is any indication, she’s well on track to be one of the top contenders come season’s end.
For continued coverage of the U.S. Poker Open and the latest PGT standings, visit the official PokerGo Tour site. And if high-stakes action is your thing, don’t miss our full WSOP 2025 coverage in July–your front-row seat to poker’s biggest stage.
