Jorden Fox
Jorden Fox won his first gold bracelet, more than $400,000, and all of the family bragging rights (WSOP photo)

Jorden Fox, a 32-year-old father-to-be, won his first World Series of Poker bracelet this summer. Fox had been close before, and in his final event of what was a shortened trip to Las Vegas, Fox grabbed gold, $420,693 in prize money, and the ultimate family bragging rights.

“It’s the most amazing thing,” Fox said following his win in Event #22: $1,000 Double Stack No-Limit Hold’em. “I’m about to have a baby next month, and I was only here to play three tournaments. This was the third one and I won it. It’s unbelievable.”

For Fox, it wasn’t the first time he was playing at the WSOP, it wasn’t his first cash at the Series, and he’s been close to a bracelet before, but one could certainly tell how much this meant to him.

“I’ve been playing for 12 years and to win a bracelet now at 32 years old is an absolute dream come true,” Fox said. “I can’t believe it.”

The emotion from Fox and his group of supporters filled the Amazon Room at the Rio All-Suites Hotel & Casino. Fox’s dad was on FaceTime yelling, “Jorden just won a bracelet! Jorden just won a bracelet!” His brother and cousin had smiles that might’ve been bigger than Fox’s as they hugged, shook, and slapped him on the back in celebration. Fox was clearly emotional himself, but he appeared to be more in a state of shock.

The exuberance was a breath of fresh air. Many poker players today feel that the prestige of a bracelet has gone down. Others would tell you that the money is more important. For some, both of these things are believed to be true. The $420,693 was tremendous, but this accomplishment was clearly all about the bracelet.

“I don’t have any more words,” Fox said. “It’s without a doubt the best achievement in poker and in my life, up until next month when I have a baby, for sure.”

The run marked Fox’s 11th WSOP cash and second final table. In 2015, he finished seventh in a $1,500 no-limit hold’em event for $50,985. Last summer, he placed 27th in the WSOP Main Event for $282,630. That alone, reaching the final three tables of the WSOP Main Event, is a run that most poker players would dream of having.

“I took 27th in the Main Event last year, which I thought was the best run ever, and it’s still very good, but to win this one was amazing,” Fox said, beaming from ear to ear. “The field was really good, and big, and the turbo structure when you have a lot of chips was fantastic. It’s just unbelievable.”

The summer that Fox took seventh at his first WSOP final table, 2015, was a big summer for the Fox family. Jorden’s father, Yosef Fox, placed 100th in the WSOP Main Event later and scored $46,890 for his efforts.

“My dad, my brother, my cousin… they were here playing with me,” Fox said. “Every summer, we come out here together and we make it our family thing. My dad took 100th in the Main Event in 2015, I took 27th in the Main Event last year, and I took seventh in a tournament [in 2015]. So every time we come here, we all get together and we coach and rally each other. I don’t know how I’d do it without the rail.”

The Fox family certainly seems like they do the World Series of Poker right. Some guys go on golf trips, others may go camping, hunting, or to a big sporting event. For the Fox family, this is a family affair. It’s all about the poker and they love it, especially Jorden’s father, who finds the trip as the perfect way to connect with his sons and nephew.

“I took 100th in 2015 and he railed me everyday,” Yosef told PocketFives. “It’s amazing the difference between 100th and 27th. That extra day, it’s so intense. I learned from him. It’s wonderful playing with him. My other son plays as well. It’s an amazing experience. People don’t understand it. They say, ‘you’re across the room, you’re three rooms away, how do you enjoy it?’ There’s nothing better than playing poker at the World Series with your kids. It’s fantastic.”

Yosef could not have been happier to watch his son win.The father-son duo has been playing poker together for 11 years and Yosef was quick to point out how much he thinks of Jorden’s play.

“He’s really become an exceptional player,” Yosef said. “This will not be his first bracelet. I promise you that.”

This summer, Fox won’t be winning a second bracelet, though. With the baby coming in the second half of July, of which Yosef hopes it arrives on July 28 so he can share the same birthday with his grandchild, Jorden now takes on the duties of a father-to-be. He won’t be able to defend his 27th-place finish in the WSOP Main Event, but he will, however, take with him the family bragging rights.

“They’re going to hear about it all year now,” Jorden said. “All year. I can’t come back and play the Main Event, so this was my Main Event.”

As you can imagine, boys will be boys, and there’s plenty of competition within this group. If you ask Yosef, he’ll tell you it’s only a matter of time before he takes back the bragging rights.

“I’m going to smoke him!” Yosef said when asked about Jorden having the bragging rights. “I’m going to play the Main Event. He can’t, but I can. I will smoke him, past 27th, and I will try and final table it. He’s going to be so bummed. If not this year, another year, but I’ll do it.”

The trip back home was likely filled with plenty of loving jabs thrown around in regards to who the better player is, but for now, Jorden has the trump card and it’ll only take a flick of his wrist to show it off.

As for the money, it will be put to good use.

“I’m going to buy a lot of baby diapers, probably presents for my wife, and just keep living nice and playing poker.”