All In on Empowerment: How Maria Ho Outplayed the Best to Become the Ultimate ‘Game of Gold’ Champion

The stakes were sky-high, the competition was elite, and when the final card was dealt, it was Maria Ho standing alone at the top. The internationally renowned poker pro recently made history on GGPoker’s hit reality series, Game of Gold: Poker All Stars, walking away with a staggering $456,000 USD prize and a major win for women in the sport. Her victory on the Canadian primetime debut wasn’t just about the chips—it was a masterclass in skill, strategy, and the power of owning your seat at the table in a traditionally male-dominated arena.

We sat down with Maria to talk about the intensity of the Game of Gold finale, her rise to the top of the professional circuit, and why the modern game of poker is all about trusting your gut and playing without apology. —Noa Nichol

You’ve mentioned that Game of Gold felt like a “psychological war” compared to standard tournaments. Looking back at the finale against Dan “Jungleman” Cates, what was the specific “tell” or moment of intuition that gave you the confidence to pull off those ice-cold bluffs? 

One key to winning was my mindset, trusting myself and adapting to plays in the moment. Jungleman was such a formidable opponent and has much more heads-up experience than I do, but in poker you can never doubt yourself in the moment. Confidence in my own abilities went a long way. I had to trust my gut to make thoughtful decisions and manage my own emotions to stay present and aware of everything happening around me.  

This victory earned you over $588,000 CAD. Beyond the prize money, how does being the inaugural champion of a survival-reality poker series rank against your 80 WSOP cashes and Hall of Fame induction? 

Game of Gold showed a different side of poker, the team element really added a different dynamic to the social aspect of the game and in some ways increased the pressure I put on myself to do well. It was nice to get some redemption in a reality competition show format after having been on The Amazing Race in the United States and finishing 6th out of 12 teams. Game of Gold reminded me why I love the game of poker and why it’s exciting to keep pushing myself as a competitor. Competing and winning against some of the best players in the world reinforces how inclusive the modern poker landscape has become.  

You hold the record for being the WSOP Main Event “Last Woman Standing” four times. When you are the only woman left in a field of thousands, do you feel an added responsibility to represent, or does that pressure help sharpen your focus? 

If you look at my résumé, you’ll see that for me, passion, drive, and trying to improve and continually get better and more skillful at the game has been my primary focus. Being the “Last Woman Standing” is an honor, and while I’m aware of what it represents, my focus at the table is always on decision-making and execution and being the last person standing, man or woman. Pressure is part of the game, and if anything, it sharpens me. I loved that Game of Gold highlighted skill, strategy, and decision-making rather than who was sitting at the table. That’s how I approach every tournament – I want my results to speak for themselves. 

At the same time, I understand the visibility that comes with being the last woman in the field. If that helps young women see themselves represented and believe they can compete at the highest level, that means a lot to me. It’s incredible to see more women entering the game and shifting perceptions, proving that not gender, but skill, defines success in this industry. 

You once advised female players to “err on the side of aggression” because opponents often stereotype women as playing tighter. How did you exploit that specific stereotype during your run on Game of Gold? 

Any poker player has to believe they belong at the table and carry confidence in their decisions. Poker is both social and strategic. It demands discipline, resilience, and the ability to apply pressure at the right moments. Aggression is a powerful tool when used intentionally. What made Game of Gold especially challenging was that I had to balance team dynamics and strategy while realizing that there would be a turning point in the game where the focus would shift back to the individual game and making sure I was setting myself up to be in a good spot when that happened.  

There’s still a lingering stereotype that women play tighter or more conservatively. I’ve always been aware of that dynamic, and on Game of Gold, I was able to use it to my advantage. The key isn’t just being aggressive, it’s choosing the right moments, understanding your table, and recognizing when the pressure will have the greatest impact. 

You were the first woman hired as a lead strategic commentator for a major poker broadcast. How has being a “Broadcaster of the Year” changed the way you analyze your own play while you’re actually sitting at the table? 

Being a broadcaster has helped me further analyze not only my own game but given me ample opportunities to study my opponents and see what they are doing that represents out of the box thinking that can help reshape my own approach. When I am not actively competing myself, doing commentary and watching the best poker players in the world help keep me sharp. 

You’ve spoken about the “menial labor” jobs you had, like cleaning bathrooms at Tony Roma’s, before your poker stardom. How did that early “grind” help you develop the “thick skin” you say is necessary for women to survive in the professional poker industry? 

Like all jobs, poker requires discipline and a willingness to start from the bottom and work your way up. A strong work ethic is important and helps teach resilience and choosing to stick with something, even when it’s not the ideal situation builds character.   

You’ve noted that poker still carries a “whiskey and cigars” connotation for many. What is the one thing the industry could do tomorrow to make the live casino environment feel less like a “head-turner” for a woman walking in? 

Poker has traditionally been a male-dominated space and shows like Game of Gold help people connect with the personalities and the psychology behind the game, which opens the door for a wider audience. My hope is that the win reinforces the idea that strategic mastery, psychological discipline, and competitive excellence aren’t gendered traits. One of the things I loved about Game of Gold was that it put the focus on decision-making, mindset, and skill. When the focus shifts from who’s at the table to how they play, everyone benefits.  Poker is a game that should appeal to everyone, and it’s important as stewards of the game to build a welcoming and inclusive environment for all. 

You’ve taught seminars and done TED Talks on how to make decisions like a pro, noting that “taking more time doesn’t equal better decisions”. Can you share a moment from the Game of Gold finale where you didn’t want to make the mistake to “think long, think wrong” and stick with your gut instinct? 

Every round of Game of Gold presented different challenges and required real-time strategic adaptations in order to survive and move forward. One of the moments that stuck out the most was in my heads-up match with Charlie Carrel. We both flopped trips, but he had me outkicked. I used all my time banks thinking about the decision, since theoretically it didn’t feel like a fold, but my initial instinct told me I was beat. I still wanted to give myself ample time to reconstruct the action in the hand, but in the end, I deferred to what my gut told me. 

For a young woman watching your Game of Gold win on Canadian primetime TV, what is the most important “poker skill” she can practice in her daily life before she ever picks up a deck of cards? 

Believe you belong and have the confidence to take your seat at the table. Focus on learning, surround yourself with supportive people, and don’t let outdated expectations define your limits. The skills poker demands, including focus, discipline, and resilience, go far beyond the game. Poker is evolving, and it’s becoming more visible as a social, strategic form of entertainment, so there’s more opportunity than ever to find your place in it.