Poker Player Profile – Poker Player Maria Ho

Professional poker player, Maria Ho, has seen a number of successes including being the last woman poker player standing at the 2007 WSOP.

Background of Maria Ho

Maria Ho was born in March 1983 in Taipei, Taiwan. She moved from Taiwan to the United States with her family when she was 4 years old. They began life in the US in New York, but soon after moved to Arcadia, California where she still lives. Ho studied at the University of California San Diego where she majored in mass communications and minored in law. After graduating in 2005, she traveled the world for a year. Before she began playing poker, Ho found one of her greatest interests and passions to be in the area of the performing arts. She plays several instruments including the piano and violin. She is now a female professional poker player.

The Early Poker Career of Maria Ho

Ho began playing poker in 2002, at the age of 19. She started playing games at home with friends, but as her game improved she began playing in Indian casinos in San Diego County using the time she was in college to improve her skills in the game. Ho's nickname is "Femme on Felt." Her favorite game is no limit Texas Hold'em and that is what she has found the most success in, in her professional poker career. She spends a lot of time practicing her poker skills at the Commerce Casino in Arcadia.

Poker Successes for Maria Ho

Maria Ho has had 3 World Series of Poker (WSOP) money finishes and 1 World Poker Tour (WPT) money finish. Her most outstanding poker success was during the 2007 38th annual World Series of Poker (WSOP) $10,000 buy-in no limit Texas hold'em world championship event 55. She placed 38th taking home $237,865 in prize money. She was the last woman standing in the event out of a field of 6,358 players. In the same WSOP in 2007, at the $1,500 buy-in no limit hold'em event 3, she placed 97th and won $5,729. In the 2006 Heavenly Hold'em $500 buy-in no limit hold'em event, she placed 3rd and won $12,855. In the 2008 Legends of Poker $10,000 buy-in no limit hold'em championship event of the World Poker Tour, she placed 23rd and won $21,125. In the 2009 LA Poker Classic event 35, $9,900 buy-in no limit hold'em championship, she placed 43rd to take home $32,740 in winnings. Ho has played in and cashed in several other tournaments including a $5,030 win at the 2007 Big Poker October event, a $338 win at the 2006 Holiday Bonus Tournament event, a $1,664 win at the 2005 Cal State Championship event and a $2,780 win at the 2005 36th annual World Series of Poker $1,500 buy-in no limit hold'em event 22.

Current Stats for Maria Ho

Maria Ho's total career winnings are more than $320,000. She ranks within the top 50 in the Top 100 Women's All Time Money List. Recently, Ho has decided to reduce her poker playing time in order to pursue other interests which include opening her own business, pursuing real estate development and singing in a band.