Maria Ho

{{short description|Taiwanese-American poker player and television host/commentator}}

{{Infobox poker player

| name = Maria Ho

| nickname = None

| image =Maria Ho WPT bestbet Bounty Scramble 2019.jpg

| caption =

| residence = Arcadia, California, U.S.

| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|March 6, 1983}}

| birth_place = Taipei, Taiwan

| wsop bracelet count = None

| wsop money finishes = 80{{Cite web |title=Maria Ho |url=https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerID=4368 |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=WSOP.com}}

| wsop final tables = 8

| wsop main event best finish rank = 38th

| wsop main event best finish year = 2007

| multi-year wsop winner

| wpt titles = 1

| wpt final tables = 4

| wpt money finishes = 14{{Cite web |title=Maria Ho |url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/maria-ho/ |access-date=2023-12-11 |website=World Poker Tour |language=en-US}}

| updated = 2021-08-08

|module={{infobox Chinese

| child = yes

| s = 何亭雨

| t = 何亭雨

| p = hé tíng yǔ

| showflag = stp

| order = ts}}}}

Maria Ho (traditional Chinese: 何亭雨; simplified Chinese: 何亭雨; pinyin: Hé tíng yǔ; born March 6, 1983, in Taipei, Taiwan){{cite web |url=http://www.mariaho.com/Site/Bio.html |title=Maria Ho Bio |publisher=MariaHo.com |access-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815121230/http://www.mariaho.com/Site/Bio.html |archive-date=August 15, 2010 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |title=职业奖金2700万女牌手Maria Ho真实人生{{!}}德州扑克资讯、视频、赛事直播 - 您最全面的德州扑克平台中扑网{{!}}德州扑克资讯、视频、赛事直播 - 您最全面的德州扑克平台中扑网 |url=https://www.dzpknews.com/p/39625?utm_source=chatgpt.com |access-date=2025-06-08 |website=www.dzpknews.com}} is a Taiwanese-American poker player and television host/commentator. One of the top-ranked female poker players in the world and a Women in Poker Hall of Fame inductee,{{Cite web |last=Cross |first=Valerie |date=May 1, 2018 |title=Lupe Soto, Maria Ho Selected for Women in Poker Hall of Fame Class of 2018 |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2018/05/lupe-soto-maria-ho-selected-for-women-in-poker-hof-class-of-30644.htm |access-date=July 6, 2018 |website=PokerNews.com}} she has won more than $5,000,000 in live tournaments.

In 2011, she was the No. 2 ranked female player in the world.{{Cite web |title=Women 2011 Money List |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/4052/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}} She has remained on the Top 20 Women's Yearly Leaderboard since 2016.{{refn|{{Cite web |title=Women 2016 Money List |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/4397/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Women 2017 Money List |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/4676/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Women 2018 Money List |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/4895/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Women 2019 Money List |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/5341/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Women 2020 Money List |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/7697/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Women 2021 Money List |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/7699/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Women 2022 Money List |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/7701/ |access-date=2024-04-10 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}}}

Ho's live tournament poker record includes 80 World Series of Poker cashes, eight WSOP final tables (including WSOPC and WSOPE final tables), 14 World Poker Tour cashes, four WPT final tables, one WPT title, and numerous additional final tables on the professional poker circuit.{{Cite web |title=Maria Ho's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=39790 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

She is a Global Poker Award winner for Broadcaster of the Year{{Cite web |date=April 13, 2019 |title=Notable Winners from the 2019 Global Poker Awards |url=https://www.pokernews.com/video/notable-winners-from-the-2019-global-poker-awards-and-more-p-11879.htm |access-date=March 21, 2023 |website=PokerNews.com}} and the only player to be the World Series of Poker Main Event (US and Europe) "Last Woman Standing” four times; her highest finish was 38th out of 6,458 players in 2011.

She has been seen on many primetime television shows, making it to "Hollywood Week" on season 3 of American Idol, competing on the fifteenth season of The Amazing Race,{{cite web |url=http://www.cbs.com/primetime/amazing_race/cast/?season=15 |title=Amazing Race Cast, season 15 |publisher=CBS.com |access-date=May 14, 2011}} and appearing as a celebrity guest on Deal or No Deal in January 2019.{{Cite web |last=Schult |first=Steve |date=January 9, 2019 |title=Maria Ho Makes A Return to Reality TV Wednesday Night On CNBC |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/23524-poker-pro-maria-ho-makes-appearance-on-deal-or-no-deal-wednesday |access-date=April 1, 2019 |website=CardPlayer.com}}

Early life

Born in Taiwan, Maria moved with her family to the United States when she was four. She grew up outside Los Angeles in Arcadia, California. She is fluent in Mandarin.

Maria's older sister is media personality and psychologist Judy Ho, who hosted the CBS syndicated talk show Face The Truth.{{cite web |url=https://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/ctd-gets-ready-to-face-the-truth |title=CTD Gets Ready to 'Face the Truth' |publisher=Broadcasting Cable |date=August 9, 2018 |access-date=April 1, 2019}}

Ho started playing poker in college.{{cite web |url=http://tritonmag.com/maria-ho-05-goes-all-in/ |title=Alumna Maria Ho Goes All In |publisher=Triton Mag |date=May 10, 2016 |access-date=June 7, 2016}} She was drawn to the psychology and competitive spirit of the game and soon went from playing games with college friends to playing limit cash games at nearby Indian casinos.{{Cite web |last=Horton |first=Steve |date=August 17, 2007 |title=The PokerNews Interview: Maria Ho |url=http://www.pokernews.com/news/2007/8/PokerNews-Interview-Maria-Ho.htm |access-date=May 14, 2011 |website=PokerNews.com}} When Maria graduated from UCSD in 2005 with a major in communications and a minor in law, she had gone from playing low limits to high-stakes cash games and had grown her poker bankroll to the point that she decided to become a professional poker player.

Career

=World Series of Poker=

Ho's first major tournament success came at the 2007 World Series of Poker, where she was the last woman remaining in the Main Event field, placing 38th out of 6,358 players and earning a $237,865 payday. In 2014, she finished 77th of 6,683 players. Her 27th-place "Last Woman Standing" finish at the 2011 World Series of Poker Europe Main Event{{cite web |url=http://wickedchopspoker.com/2011-wsop-europe-main-event-antonius-cody-seidel-still-alive |title=2011 WSOP Europe Main Event |publisher=wickedchopspoker.com |access-date=October 19, 2011}} and a 6th-place final-table finish at the 2017 WSOP Europe Main Event{{Cite web |last=Harrington |first=Brent |date=November 9, 2017 |title=Maria Ho Bags Chip Lead Again with Six Remaining in WSOPE Main Event |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2017/11/maria-ho-wsop-europe-main-event-29323.htm |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=PokerNews.com}} make Ho the only player to hold the WSOP Main Event Last Woman Standing title four times over (between the US and Europe Main Event).

At the 2011 World Series of Poker, Ho achieved the best finish by a woman during the entire 57-event series{{cite web |url=https://www.wsop.com/news/2011/Oct/3580/AND-THE-BRACELET-GOES-TO-ELIO-FOX-WINS-THE-2011-WSOP-EUROPE-MAIN-EVENT.html |title=And The Bracelet Goes To |publisher=wsop.com |date=October 20, 2011|access-date=March 21, 2023}} with her 2nd place in Event #4: $5000 No-Limit Hold'Em, for a payday of $540,020. It was the closest Ho has come to winning a World Series of Poker gold bracelet.

At the 2012 World Series of Poker, Ho was the Most-Cashing Female of the series, with six individual tournament cashes.{{cite web |url=http://news.bluffmagazine.com/wsop-video-main-event-snapshot-with-maria-ho-33081/ |title=Main Event Snapshot with Maria Ho |publisher=bluffmagazine.com |date=July 8, 2012 |access-date=July 31, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130119140727/http://news.bluffmagazine.com/wsop-video-main-event-snapshot-with-maria-ho-33081/ |archive-date=January 19, 2013 }} At the 2014 WSOP, she earned eight cashes.{{Cite web |title=WSOP 2014 Number of Cashes |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/3773/ |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

As of 2023, Maria is ranked 3rd on the WSOP Women’s All-Time Money List.{{cite web |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/ranking/169/ |title=WSOP Women All Time Money List |publisher=wsop.com |access-date=March 21, 2023}}

=World Poker Tour=

In March 2019, for a second year in a row, she final-tabled the LA Poker Classic $25,000 High Roller tournament;{{Cite web |date=March 6, 2019 |title=Maria Ho Scores Birthday LAPC High Roller Win After Defeating Kristen Bicknell Heads-Up |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/23696-maria-ho-scores-birthday-l-a-poker-classic-high-roller-win-after-defeating-kristen-bicknell-heads-up |access-date=April 17, 2019 |website=CardPlayer.com}} her victory earned her second-highest live tournament score of $276,690. The following month she made the 6-handed TV final table of the WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Main Event,{{cite web |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/23801-james-carroll-and-maria-ho-lead-final-six-at-the-2019-wpt-seminole-hard-rock-poker-showdown-final-table |title=James Carroll and Maria Ho Lead The 2019 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown Final Table |publisher=CardPlayer.com |date=April 17, 2019 |access-date=April 17, 2019}} taking 3rd place for $344,960.{{Cite web |last=Cross |first=Valerie |date=May 31, 2019 |title=James Carroll Wins Second WPT Title in Seminole Hard Rock Poker Showdown |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2019/05/james-carroll-wins-second-wpt-title-seminole-hard-rock-34322.htm |access-date=June 2, 2019 |website=PokerNews.com}}

=Host and Commentator=

Ho's commentary career began in 2013 when she joined the Heartland Poker Tour season 9 broadcast team as a co-host and strategic commentator.{{cite web |url=http://www.bluffeurope.com/poker-news/en/Maria-Ho-Joins-HPT-s-Talk-Team_12715.aspx |title=Maria Ho Joins HPT's Talk Team |publisher=bluffeurope.com |date=December 11, 2012|access-date=March 21, 2023}} She was the first woman to be hired by a poker television broadcast as the resident strategic commentator,{{cite web |url=https://www.pokernewsreport.com/mario-ho-joins-heartland-tour-broadcasts-11220 |title=Mario Ho Joins Heartland Tour Broadcasts |publisher=pokernewsreport.com |date=December 11, 2012|access-date=March 21, 2023}}

Ho has since commentated for CBS Sports The Final Table,{{cite web |url=http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-night-in-america-crew-to-launch-new-show-the-final-table-17489 |title=Poker Night In America Crew To Launch New Show The Final Table |publisher=pokerlistings.com |date=February 23, 2016 |access-date=March 1, 2016}} ESPN's coverage of the World Series of Poker, and Amazon eSports Mobile Masters Invitational series.{{Cite web |last=Collson |first=Brett |date=June 23, 2017 |title=Maria Ho Partners with Amazon to Host Mobile Masters Invitational |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2017/06/maria-ho-mobile-masters-invitational-poker-28264.htm |access-date=November 16, 2017 |website=PokerNews.com}} She has been an in-house commentator for PokerGO since it started in 2018, regularly contributing to live broadcasts including the US Poker Open, Super High Roller Bowl, and Poker Masters.

In 2019, Ho won the Global Poker Award for Broadcaster of the Year,{{Cite web |last=Op de Woerd |first=Frank |date=April 6, 2019 |title=Global Poker Awards Results |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2019/04/global-poker-awards-results-33828.htm |access-date=April 6, 2019 |website=PokerNews.com}} then co-hosted the ceremonies the following year.{{Cite web |last=Kleinsman |first=Hans |date=February 27, 2020 |title=Maria Ho and Drea Renee to host Global Poker Awards |url=https://www.globalpokerindex.com/awards/maria-ho-and-drea-renee-to-host-global-poker-awards/ |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=Global Poker Index}}

She has also written for several print publications, and wrote a chapter in the book Winning Women of Poker: Secret Strategies Revealed.{{cite web |url=http://www.seasidepublishing.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=91&Itemid=99 |title=Seaside Publishing – Winning Women in Poker |publisher=seasidepublishing.com |access-date=July 19, 2011}}

=Awards and accolades=

In 2018, Ho was inducted into the Women In Poker Hall of Fame, the first year she was eligible.{{Cite web |last=Shillibier |first=Will |date=2018-05-02 |title=Maria Ho on her Induction to the Women in Poker Hall of Fame |url=https://www.pokernews.com/tours/ept/2018-pokerstars-and-monte-carlo-casino-ept/feature-coverage/chips.204703.htm |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}

In 2019 and 2020, she received nominations for a Global Poker Award as Broadcaster of the Year, taking home the award in 2019.{{Cite web |last=Burton |first=Earl |date=April 5, 2019 |title=Inaugural Global Poker Awards Honor Poker Finest From 2018 |url=https://www.pokernewsdaily.com/inaugural-global-poker-awards-honor-poker-finest-from-2018-32797/ |access-date=2024-05-10 |website=Poker News Daily}}

Early in her career, the World Poker Tour named Maria in their WPT "Ones to Watch", during seasons 9 and 10,{{cite web |url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/news/world-poker-tour-introduces-wpt-season-x-ones-to-watch/ |title=World Poker Tour Introduces WPT Season X Ones to Watch |publisher=World Poker Tour |date=February 7, 2012 |access-date=April 1, 2019}} and from 2012-2014 she received three consecutive nominations from the Bluff Reader's Choice Awards, for "Favorite Female Poker Player".

=Invitationals=

Ho has received invitations to play in various types of games all over the world. In 2008, she traveled to Hong Kong to play in the World Mahjong Tour, going head to head with Chinese and Taiwanese celebrities and professional Mahjong players.{{cite web |url=http://www.worldmahjongtour.com/media-4.html |title=World Mahjong Tour Announces its Celebrity Invitational Televised Tournament |publisher=worldmahjongtour.com |access-date=May 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090105155212/http://www.worldmahjongtour.com/media-4.html |archive-date=January 5, 2009 |url-status=dead }}

For two consecutive years, she participated in the World Team Poker Invitational as a member of Team China, helping her team win in 2010.{{Cite web |date=May 21, 2010 |title=China Wins World Team Poker |url=http://www.bluffeurope.com/poker-news/en/China-win-World-Team-Poker_7536.aspx |access-date=May 14, 2011 |publisher=bluffeurope.com}}

In 2016, Ho was named one of 12 Team Managers (for Team LA Sunsets) in the inaugural season of the Global Poker League,{{Cite web |last=Fiorvanti |first=Tim |date=2016-01-13 |title=Global Poker League reveals 12 franchises and managers |url=https://www.espn.com/blog/poker/post/_/id/2433/global-poker-league-reveals-12-franchises-and-managers |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Newell |first=Jennifer |date=April 3, 2016 |title=Maria Ho: A GPL Team that is the Epitome of Strength |url=https://www.pokerupdate.com/interviews/433-maria-ho-gpl-team-epitome-strength |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812081050/http://www.pokerupdate.com/interviews/433-maria-ho-gpl-team-epitome-strength/ |archive-date=August 12, 2022 |access-date=April 1, 2019 |website=Poker Update}} drafting Emmy-winning actor Aaron Paul as one of her Wild Card picks,{{Cite web |date=April 11, 2016 |title=Aaron Paul joins professional poker team Los Angeles Sunset of the Global Poker League |url=http://www.globalpokerleague.com/2016/04/aaron-paul-joins-la-sunset-gpl/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160617084725/http://www.globalpokerleague.com/2016/04/aaron-paul-joins-la-sunset-gpl/ |archive-date=June 17, 2016 |access-date=June 17, 2016 |website=Global Poker League |df=mdy-all}} and coaching her team to the championship match.

She has won four PokerGO No-Limit Hold Em Sit-N-Go Invitationals:

2022: $10,000 "No Gamble, No Future" SNG ($50,000 win){{Cite web |title=No Gamble, No Future Season 1 Sit and Go, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=890951 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
2019: $5,000 Poker After Dark "RGPS Showbound" Event 1 ($25,000 win){{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season X, No Limit Hold'em - Week 11 - RGPS Showbound! Event #1 |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=622743 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
2018: $10,000 Poker After Dark "888poker Week" Event 1 ($50,000 win){{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season IX, No Limit Hold'em - Week 17 - 888poker Week Event #1 |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=588763 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |publisher=thehendonmob.com/ |language=en}}
2017: $10,000 Poker After Dark "Holidays with Hellmuth" Event 1 ($77,000 win) {{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season VIII, No Limit Hold'em - Week 10 - Holidays with Hellmuth Event #1 |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=473073 |access-date=2024-03-29 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}