WSOP broadcasts have greatly benefited from the always insightful commentary of player Maria Ho. According to The Hendon Mob, she has over $5.5 million in live circuit earnings. Last season, the player dedicated herself to motherhood, but that did not stop her from following the success of women in poker.
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Thus, in an interview with “Poker.org,” she spoke about the growth of several female players in the mind sport scene. “It’s amazing, some of these women have not only established themselves as regular figures in the game but also in the High Rollers circuit”, said Ho, citing Kristen Foxen, Cherish Andrews, and Shiina Okamoto.
However, the player and commentator also stated that this moment was unthinkable when she started playing, but it should have happened faster. “It’s definitely happening at a turtle’s pace. Women represent such an important part of this demographic”, she declared.
When asked about what changes could accelerate the growth of women in poker, Maria Ho believes there is still much work to be done. “I want to encourage those who play online to go out and play live. There is still a lot of work to make the environment more friendly among women”, she added.
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Maria Ho’s motherhood and work as a commentator
However, last season Maria Ho stepped away from the WSOP. The reason was quite noble: she became a mother for the first time. On social media, the player and commentator published a beautiful text on Mother’s Day. She revealed that she fought infertility for five years before fulfilling the dream of motherhood.
Back to the commentary of the so-called Poker World Cup, she mentioned in the same interview with “Poker.org” that she manages to balance the work on broadcasts but not to compete in tournaments for several consecutive days. “I feel it’s the best job in the world, I get paid to watch the best poker players in the world”, she stated.
Finally, Maria Ho also highlighted that the work as a commentator is very important to help further popularize poker. “I like the idea of being able to serve as a kind of bridge for recreational players. I can help them decipher the reasoning of an elite player and try to explain it in a more accessible way for them”, she concluded.
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