Maria Ho, 2014 World Series of Poker "Last Woman Standing"

Maria Ho, who just took this year's 2014 World Series of Poker "Last Woman Standing" title (77 out of 6,683) and is also the most-cashing female at the world's top poker event currently airing on ESPN (Sunday's @ 9:00pm). Maria is currently ranked in the top 3 of the best female poker players in the world, to date having won over $1.6 million dollars in her whirlwind career. She is also working on her second season as the very first female strategic host for the Heartland Poker Tour.

Born in Taiwan, Maria moved to LA with her parents and sister at the age of 4. She attended the University of California at San Diego and received a degree in communication studies and a minor in law. It was then  that she picked up poker, playing occasionally for fun with friends. After graduating, Maria moved back to Los Angeles and built enough confidence and skill set to pursue poker professionally.  Taking the industry by storm just one year after launching her career, she played in The World Series of Poker and in 2007 was The Last Woman Standing, finishing 38th out of over 6,000 players. In 2011 she won the same title finishing 27th at the World Series of Poker Europe main event, which, to date, makes her the first and only player to ever hold both titles and the 2 tournaments' main events. Maria was also a contestant on CBS' award-winning reality show "The Amazing Race" partnered with Tiffany Michelle, her best friend and fellow Last Woman Standing winner. The duo were the only all-female team of the 15th season.