We're just five days away from the start of the 2024 World Series of Poker, and we're getting excited. Each day until the start of the series on May 28, we'll bring you tips and insider info from some of the biggest names in the game.
Alex Foxen won his first WSOP bracelet and largest payday to date ($4,563,700) in the $250K Super High Roller event in 2022. He has career cashes totaling more than $32,000,000 and ranks 21st on the all-time money list. He's a two-time GPI player of the year and is one of the co-founders of the popular training site Chip Leader Coaching. You can follow Alex on X and Instagram.
How should players prep for the long WSOP grind?
I guess it may be harder for some people to replicate than others because I see it as constant preparation. The preparation just never stops for me. I try to keep my mind and body ready to play all the time, year-round.
Preparing for the Vegas WSOP series is business as usual for me. I'm not making any significant changes to my daily life or anything like that.
The only thing that I will try to pay extra attention to is my sleep schedule. Normally, I rotate my sleep schedule pretty significantly with the sun's rising and setting. But during the WSOP, I will not have that luxury. Some days, you’ll play until 2am. So, I'll cycle my sleep as the WSOP approaches and stay up a little bit later each night. That's one adjustment that I make.
I think getting your body ready is crucial to performing at the tables to your very best. I believe that being in good shape, eating well, and having good routines are very important.
However, the issue that I would say most people run into is that they try to do this using a kind of cramming method. They're desperately trying to reach this new fitness level before the WSOP. That's not really how I think you should be going about your preparation.
The World Series is not the time to be making changes to your diet or your exercise routine. I think a lot of people make that mistake. Self-discipline is a muscle that needs to be exercised to a large extent. You want to be deep into these consistent daily habits before the series so you're not using as much energy to maintain them during the WSOP. They should be second nature.
Exercising, eating well, and sleeping well are super-crucial to your ability to perform at the highest level. But without those things being a part of your habitual nature, I think it can be a draining force on your ability to perform. Mainly because you are more fatigued from all of this willpower that's going towards not eating the food you usually eat and not being as stagnant and sedentary as you typically are.
Alex Foxen with wife Kristen and a sparkly gold bracelet at the WSOP
What's the biggest event you'll play?
I think the biggest one this year is the $250K. I got my first bracelet at that event in 2022. I just love the big buy-ins. I like the tough competition. The average strength of the field is high. It's just a lot of fun.
Have you got any WSOP bets with Kristen?
Honestly, not really. I'm a hyper-competitive person, probably to an unhealthy degree. But I don't feel that way with friends and people that I'm close with. Of course, we are competitive if we're at the same table. But at the same time, I want Krissy to win if I don’t.
I don't want to anti-sweat them in any capacity. I do want to perform better than they do. I want to get first and then for them to get second. I'm not directly competing with either of those two people or anyone I'm close with unless I'm put in a situation where I have to.
Check out the full schedule for the 2024 WSOP and plan which events you're going to target this summer. If you're looking at the lower end of the buy-ins, check out The Rec's guide to the WSOP. If you're looking for action with a bigger budget, follow what Jennifer Tilly is doing.
Additional image courtesy of PokerGO
