2024 WSOP Online Bracelet Series: Foxens Dominate, Engel Makes History and Konnikova Silences Critics

The fifth edition of the WSOP Online Bracelet Series concluded on November 12, marking another successful run for the popular online poker festival. The series, which ran for over six weeks beginning on September 29, awarded 33 coveted gold bracelets on WSOP.com to players competing on the shared liquidity platform available to those geo-located in Michigan, Nevada, and New Jersey (and four more in Pennsylvania!). This wasn’t just another online series; it was a proving ground where the best of the best battled it out, new stars were born, and a few players rose above the rest.

Alex and Kristen Foxen proved that poker power runs in the family. The husband-wife duo each snagged a bracelet within days of each other, bringing their combined total to an astounding seven WSOP bracelets.

Ari Engel, the all-time WSOP Circuit ring winner, showed his incredible versatility by winning his fourth bracelet. He did it in unprecedented fashion, playing the online event while competing in a live tournament at the NAPT Las Vegas.

Maria Konnikova, the bestselling author turned poker pro, finally added a WSOP bracelet to her long list of accomplishments. Her victory was met with some unexpected criticism from commentator Norman Chad, but Konnikova handled the situation with grace and class, proving she’s a true champion in every sense of the word.

Online poker superstar Jesse Yaginuma added another bracelet to his impressive collection, while Anthony Zinno etched his name in poker history by winning his fifth WSOP bracelet, joining an elite group of only 43 players who have achieved this incredible feat.

2024 WSOP Online Bracelet Series List of Winners

Foxen Firestorm: Power Couple Sweeps Series With Consecutive Bracelets

Alex and Kristen Foxen achieved a remarkable feat at the 2024 WSOP Online Bracelet Series, winning consecutive bracelets in separate events. Their victories cemented their status as two of the most skilled and successful poker players in the game.

Alex Foxen, competing under the online alias “Serapis11,” won WSOP Online Event #17 – PLO $200K GTD Mystery Bounty 6-Max. He navigated a tough field and defeated poker legend Dan Smith heads-up. Smith, a Poker Triple Crown winner with over $55 Million in career earnings, presented a formidable challenge, but Foxen came out on top, adding a second WSOP bracelet and $39,271 to his poker accolades. This victory follows a recent second-place finish in the €25,000 NLH GGMillion€ and builds upon his previous success, including a 2022 WSOP Europe $250,000 Super High Roller win worth a career-best $4.50 Million.

Just days later, Kristen Foxen, playing online as “Saraswati,” claimed victory in WSOP Online Event #19: $1,000 NLH 6-Max. She bested 311 opponents to capture her fifth WSOP bracelet and $56,703 in prize money. This accomplishment extended her lead for the most WSOP bracelets held by a woman. Her final opponent, ‘dmatkr,’ played well but had to settle for second place and $42,163.

This win marked Kristen’s third consecutive online bracelet victory. With almost $8.50 Million in career tournament earnings, she is the second-highest-earning female poker player in history, behind only Vanessa Selbst. Her recent induction into the Women in Poker Hall of Fame (WiPHoF) Class of 2024 highlights her significant contributions to the game.

We are proud to announce the WiPHoF Class of 2024 @krissyb24poker & @jeanriders also a new Pioneer category for trailblazers aren’t well known. Our first posthumous Pioneer Induction goes to Starla Brodie. Congratulations all! Details at https://t.co/fJ0S3KciW2 pic.twitter.com/fDCCoxaxjv

— Women in Poker Hall of Fame (@WIPHOF) November 11, 2024

Ari Engel Does the Unthinkable: Wins WSOP Bracelet While Playing Live Poker!

Ari Engel, the Canadian poker pro who holds the record for most WSOP Circuit rings, pulled off an incredible feat. He won his fourth WSOP gold bracelet while simultaneously playing a live poker tournament!

Engel was competing in the $550 Cardplayer Lifestyle H.E.R.O.S. event at the North American Poker Tour in Las Vegas when he decided to fire up WSOP Online Event #29: $400 NL Hold ’em Turbo.

And winning this online event was no small feat. With a turbo format and a massive field of 500 entries, the competition wasn`t easy. But Engel, unfazed by the pressure, navigated the online field with his trademark flair, winning his second online bracelet (his fourth overall) in just over six hours for $34,200.

And just for good measure, he also cashed in the live H.E.R.O.S. event, finishing ninth for $1,510.

Maria Konnikova Wins First WSOP Bracelet, Slams Sexist Comments on X

Maria Konnikova, the bestselling author and poker pro, recently added a WSOP bracelet to her already impressive resume! She took down WSOP Online Event#12: $888 NLHE Fall Crazy 8’s on WSOP.com, proving she can dominate at the poker table just like she does the bestseller lists. After a gruelling ten-hour battle, she emerged victorious, winning $68,477.

Konnikova’s final opponent, ‘JGP729,’ put up a good fight, but couldn’t match her skills, scoring a respectable $49,645 for second place.

But just as the celebrations began, a storm of controversy erupted. Norman Chad, the WSOP commentator known for his sharp tongue and sarcastic jabs, decided to stir up some drama on X (formerly Twitter).

Chad posted a tweet that seemed to undermine Konnikova’s victory by pointing out that she used too many re-entries in the tournament. The poker community wasn’t having it, with many accusing Chad of being sexist and downplaying Konnikova’s accomplishment.

TOURNAMENT POKER 2024

This is not to throw shade at @mkonnikova, who just won her first @WSOP bracelet.

But here is how it happens:

She played in the $888 NLHE Fall Crazy 8s event, online.

You had to be in Michigan, New Jersey or Nevada to enter. Online.

She ran out of…

— Norman Chad (@NormanChad) October 14, 2024

Poker legend Erik Seidel, who mentored Konnikova, came to her defence, praising her dedication to the game and questioning Chad’s motives. The online world erupted in a heated debate about sexism in poker and the legitimacy of Konnikova’s win.

Konnikova herself addressed the controversy in a powerful Substack article, expressing how proud she was of her victory and calling out Chad’s tweet for what it was.

This wasn’t just a poker tournament; it was a battle against online negativity. And Maria Konnikova showed everyone that she’s not just a great poker player, but a strong and inspiring woman who can hold her own against anyone!

Jesse Yaginuma is an Online Poker Beast: Wins Third WSOP Bracelet!

Jesse Yaginuma, a highly successful online poker player, added a third bracelet to his collection by taking down WSOP Online Event #23: NLH Spooky Monsterstack for $59,396. All three of Yaginuma’s bracelets have been won in online events, proving he’s one of the best in the virtual poker world.

Yaginuma first burst onto the WSOP scene in 2022 when he won the Online Event #12: No-Limit Hold’em Ultra Deepstack. He followed that up with another victory in the WSOP Online Event #12: NLH 6-Max next year.

With over $2.50 Million in tournament earnings and a tenth-place ranking on Maryland’s all-time money list, Yaginuma is a true online poker crusher.

The Spooky Monsterstack attracted a competitive field, with some of the biggest names in poker vying for the title. David Funkhouser, winner of the 2024 WSOP Event #63: $1,500 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw, finished as the runner-up, earning $43,968. The final table also featured Chris Hunichen, champion of the 2024 WSOP Event #47: $100,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold’em, who finished in third place for $33,169, and Brandon Zuidema, who was looking for back-to-back wins after taking down Event #22: NLH Fall Crazy 8’s but ultimately finished fourth for $23,913.

Anthony Zinno Wins Fifth WSOP Bracelet, Joins Poker’s Elite!

Anthony Zinno, who already boasts three WPT titles, recently added to his poker legend status by taking WSOP Online Event #33: NLH Fall Saver to win his fifth WSOP gold bracelet, a feat accomplished by only 43 players in the game’s history.

Zinno outlasted a field of 572 runners to take home the top prize of $48,649. This win brings Zinno’s lifetime tournament earnings to a staggering $11.97 Million, making him the fourth most successful poker player to come out of Massachusetts.

He has a history of impressive wins, like his $1.122 Million victory in the 2015 WSOP Event #60: $25,000 PLO High Roller and his dominant performance in the 2019 WSOP Event #60: $1,500 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi/Lo 8 or Better, where he won his second bracelet. Zinno’s poker career is full of highlights.

And who could forget his excellent 2021 WSOP performance, where he won both Event #19: Seven Card Stud Championship and Event #27: H.O.R.S.E., proving he’s a master of multiple poker variations.

In this latest win, Zinno faced tough competition, including WPT commentator Tony Dunst, who finished second for $35,650.

Content & Images Courtesy: World Series of Poker