Stuart Fox, from Birmingham, has undoubtedly been seen as one of British Poker’s rising stars since he burst on to the live circuit as recently as 2004 after being a successful online player. However, 2006 has seen his transition from 'rising star' to 'leading light' following two WSOP final table appearances including 3rd in the $5,000 PLHE event this summer and yet he is still only in his early twenties. Stuart is a famously aggressive player with great instincts but very friendly and engaging table company too. Perhaps this is because he has been described as “a bloody good player for someone who drinks like he is on a stag do when playing!” He himself said in his interview with Jen on blonde this year: “You need position and aggression to win pots. These two can be a great winning formula if used correctly, wisely and when sober!”
2005 saw plenty of signs of Stuart’s potential. Throughout the year he achieved top five finishes in main events at Walsall and Luton and the Grosvenor Grand Prix as well as three WSOP cashes. It was in the Luton event, the one which secured Mickey Wernick’s rankings victory, that I saw at first hand Stuart’s terrific temperament at the table.
He has raised in MP with Q-Q and was flat called by the player on his immediate left and re-raised by the small blind. Acting out of turn the flat caller then declares “all in” leaving Stuart with a tricky decision. Making the correct pass the other two players turn over A-K and K-K only for the two case Queens to fall on the flop. Winning that pot would have virtually secured Stuart, lethal with a big stack, victory in the main event. With a quick shrug and an unaffected chuckle Stuart carried on to gain a high finish and accepted with politeness the genuine error of the player acting out of turn.
Interestingly for a young player who enjoys life to the full Stuart has a well rounded moral compass that underlies his play. I was interested to read his comments about live cash games in his blonde interview:
“I don't enjoy knocking players out of tourneys - I try to make it as easy as possible for them to leave the table with ease and grace and never get up in their face: I normally say unlucky and you played well even if it’s not the case. I have stopped playing live cash games as I find it hard to bluff a huge pot from a friend that just brought you a drink at the bar or seeing a losing player run to the cash machine to get more funds that he needs to get his kids new shoes but will soon be yours to buy a new Breitling. This happens online but at least you don't see it and you can sleep a night” In this year’s World Series Event 32 Stuart reached the final table but drew the short straw being on the immediate right of big chip leader Jason Lester (4th in Moneymaker’s main event behind the winner, Farha and Harrington) that cramped Stuart’s style somewhat as Lester was determined to put Stuart to the test at every opportunity by meeting aggressive fire with fire. Showing impressive maturity Stuart changed style, and sat patiently waiting for the field to thin and deciding to pick his spots rather than go all guns blazing to counteract his poor table position. With three players left he made his stand and made his moves to win the event. Although ultimately unsuccessful, his third place finish won him over $140,000. Following on from this Stuart then finished second in Event 42, $1,500 NLHE for a further $79,000.
All those who have followed Stuart’s live progress in his two short years will no doubt confidently expect Stuart to gain WSOP bracelet success in the coming years and win many other events. I think they will be proven right.