Canada, Oh, Canada – Liu and Foxen Make Poker History in Montenegro

Nine greats of the game made the final table of the WPT Global Slam Main Event in Montenegro as the Triton Poker Series welcomed its first-ever female tournament champion insto the winners circle. As Kristen Foxen fell just short, she passed $10m in live winnings as Xuan Liu took the crown in her debut Triton event.

Bumper Numbers in WPT Global Slam

The World Poker Tour’s WPT Global Slam event became part of the Triton Poker Series in Montenegro this week and the slogan ‘where luxury meets high-stakes poker’ could be added to by a boast that both men and women are now Triton winner. Xuan Liu was the slightly unlikely player to break that curse as another big-hitter in female poker – Kristen Foxen – came fourth.

The Triton Montenegro stop at the luxurious Maestral Resort is one of the most stunning locations on the planet to play poker at, and while representing WPT Global, Xuan Liu ended the WPT Global Slam event top of 155 entries in total as she went past $3 million in lifetime earnings on The Hendon Mob.

Amazingly, Liu’s win also put her above legendary Poker Hall of Famer and Full Tilt Poker icon Jennifer Harman on the female All-Time Money List up to 15^th place. It wasn’t only a celebration for Liu, as Kristen Foxen’s tournament finish in fourth means she has exceeded $10 million in live poker earnings, with only Vanessa Selbst – now retired – having earned more than Foxen in the game.

Early Risers, Late Winner

With a massive $3,875,000 prizepool, the WPT Global Slam Triton Event saw 27 players reach the money, with stars such as Orpen Kisacikoglu (27^th for $39,000) Jesse Lonis (26^th for the same amount) and Alex Foxen (21^st for $42,500) sneaking into profit. A little higher up but outside the final table, Mikita Badziakouski (17^th for $52,000), Seth Davies (13^th for $64,000) and Chris Soyza (10^th for $74,000) missed out on the final nine.

At the final table, there were quick exits for Theodore McQuilkin (9^th for $86,500) and Lithuanian high roller regular Paulius Plausinaitis, who busted in eighth place for a score of $105,000, the first six-figure result of the event. Soon, eight became seven, as Chinese player Zhang Yu busted for $144,500, the final Chinese player to leave the tournament.

Into the final six, Mike ‘Sir Watts’ Watson was one of the most experienced players still in with a chance of winning, but he departed in sixth place for $199,000. Tom Fuchs left in fifth place for $259,000 after losing a big coinflip to Daniel Dvoress. The Canadian’s pocket sevens held against Fuchs’ king-jack and that gave Dvoress the chip lead after a board of Q-Q-8-5-6 sent home the German.

Liu Sees it Out

“We should have got heads-up, it would have been so good for poker.”

With four remaining, two were women but a clash between both female players ended with only one player still in with a chance of the Trident trophy. King-eight lost to king-jack and the field was three-handed as Foxen wished Liu good luck on her way to collecting $325,000.

“We should have got heads-up, it would have been so good for poker.” Liu said.

It would, but the cards didn’t care as they so seldom do.

David Peters bet with king-four on a flop of K-9-5 with two clubs and Dvoress shoved with the flush draw of a suited ten-seven. With a massive 13.25 million in the middle, Peters needed to miss a club but one rolled right onto the turn and play was heads-up. Peters left with $398,000 in third place.

Daniel Dvoress had an almost 4:1 chip lead but Xuan Liu had nothing to lose in shooting for the $860,000. Slowly but surely, she reduced her arrears as a 4:1 deficit became 3:1, then just 2:1. A massive shove from Liu with pocket fives was called by Dvoress with ace-queen as almost all the chips were in the middle.

Whoever won it would have a 10:1 lead and it was Liu who did so, a flop of T-8-8 no help to Dvoress. A deuce on the turn kept Liu safe, and when a four came on fifth street, Liu took an overwhelming lead. Dvoress shoved with ten-three, Liu called with seven-six and a board of J-7-5-K-9 meant that Xuan Liu prevailed and stands alone as the only ever female winner on the Triton Poker Tour… in her first-ever event!

The Champion in Her Own Words

“Women are playing small stakes and mid-stakes, but in a few years, they’re going to be playing high stakes.” ~ Triton winner Xuan Liu.

Having conquered a brilliant field along the way, coming back from 4:1 down to win, the top prize of $860,000 was the biggest in her career and Liu was thrilled.

“I came only to play this one event, and I told myself I was going to make it really count,” she told reporters. “Obviously, this is beyond my wildest dreams.”

Despite winning, Liu was modest in the extreme about her place at the felt.

“I ran really hot. I know I really can’t hang on a day-to-day basis,” she smiled. “But this is what the beauty of poker is all about – anybody can get lucky on any given day. Sometimes when doors close for you, other ones open.”

Triton’s Henry Kilbane asked Liu what she felt about helping other women to play the game.

“This is a career highlight, I don’t know if I can ever top this,” she said. “I think this is going to happen more and more. I know so many talented women. They’re playing small stakes and mid-stakes, but in a few years, they’re going to be playing high stakes.”

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