Kristen Foxen Wins Fexplorer slotsirst Event of the 2025 U.S. Poker Open

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Table Of Contents

• Foxen Wins Third of the Year
• U.S. Poker Open Event #1 Final Table Results

The 2025 U.S. Poker Open kicked off with Kristen Foxen taking down the first event — $5,100 No-Limit Hold'em — for $158,025.

The two-day event at PokerGO Studio in Las Vegas attracted 129 entrants, creating a prize pool of $645,000. Ping Liu, one of six Americans at the seven-player final table, finished runner-up. But it was the Canadian who closed it out.

Foxen Wins Third of the Year

Day 2 began with a tight race at the top of the chip stacks, with Liu and Francis Anderson out in front. Foxen, who had already won two PokerGO Tour events this year, wasn't far back. But the rest of the table was working with short stacks in the no-limit hold'em tournament.

The start-of-day short stacks never made much of a run and the top three stacks when play began at the final table would all finish in the top three. Liu clipped Justin Saliba in seventh place ($25,800) to get things started on Wednesday.

U.S. Poker Open Event #1 Final Table Results

Place	Player	Points
1	Kristen Foxen	$158,025 onl
2	Ping Liu	$96,750
3	Francis Anderson	$70,950
4	Anthony Hu	$51,600
5	Michael Arellano	$38,700
6	David Peters	$32,250
7	Justin Saliba	$25,800

Liu then won a 60/40 to send David Peters home in sixth place ($32,250). Foxen busted Michael Arellano in fifth place ($38,700) thanks to hitting a deuce on the turn after Arellano went all in preflop with A♣Q♣against the inferior Q♦2♦.

Anderson then took his turn to eliminate a player by winning a race against Anthony Hu, who received $51,600 for fourth place. The final three players then traded jabs. Foxen took the chip lead before doubling Anderson and then doubling back into the chip lead against Liu.

Anderson then doubled through Foxen and took over a sizable chip lead before losing a big pot to Liu, who moved back into the chip lead. Anderson would double-up against Liu with a middling pocket pair, but then Liu won a 60/40 to double right back against Anderson.

Despite the setback, Anderson remained in the lead and would soon increase his chip advantage. That is when Foxen doubled through Liu to essentially create a tie at the top.

Liu would go on a run to close the gap. Foxen then won a massive pot with Ax2xon a 5♦2♥2♠6♥6♦board against Anderson, who had 10x10x. The hand left Anderson with crumbs, and he'd bust in third place ($70,950) moments later to Foxen.

Foxen held better than a 4-1 chip advantage when heads-up play began. Liu quickly earned a near double, but he was eliminated a few hands later when A♥7♥hit a flush to beat K♦J♥. Liu received $96,750 for second place.

The champion claimed her third PokerGO Tour title already this year, just months after winning her fifth World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet and finishing 13th in the 2024 WSOP Main Event. She now has over $9.8 million in live tournament cashes, according to The Hendon Mob.

Action inside the PokerGO Studio on Wednesday also included the start of Event #2: $10,100 No-Limit Hold'em. The final table will take place on Thursday.

Top Stories of 2024, #4: Kristen Foxen Shines on Poker’s Biggest Stage

*Feature image courtesy of PokerGO.