Over the weekend of March 16-17, Maria Ho emerged victorious in the Celebrity Poker Tour Game Night I, held at the PokerGO Studio within the ARIA, just off the bustling Las Vegas Strip. In this exclusive event, the seasoned poker professional and commentator outshone a diverse and talented field of competitors. With a career tournament earnings exceeding $4.5 million, Ho clinched the $10,000 prize along with the prestigious gold CPT title belt.
This triumph marked the third consecutive win by a woman in a CPT event. Preceding Ho, Princess Love claimed victory in the February event, while Qiyu “Nemo” Zhou secured the inaugural event in 2023.
Despite entering as an alternate, Tommy Unold secured the runner-up position, earning $5,000. NFL star running back Austin Ekeler landed in third place at the final table, followed by prominent poker influencer and vlogger Brad Owen in fourth. Alexander “Wolgang” Selbt, boasting the largest following among poker vloggers, rounded up the top five.
The remaining spots in the final three were occupied by influencers Trent “BookItWithTrent” Attyah (sixth), Bryce Hall (seventh), and Ethan “Rampage” Yau (eighth).
Following their eliminations from the tournament, many participants stayed to enjoy the open bar and complimentary refreshments, contributing to the lively ambiance captured in numerous videos shared on the CPT Twitter/X account, curated by the attending social media influencers.
In the climactic stages of the tournament, former Los Angeles Charger and recent signee with the Washington Commandeers, Ekeler, held the chip lead among the final three players. However, Ho seized control, eliminating Ekeler in a showdown where her superior kicker secured victory. With a significant chip advantage, Ho proceeded to dominate the heads-up final against Unold, culminating in a final hand where her pocket threes formed a winning set against Unold’s Q-9.
Following the event, many invitees, including Ho, transitioned to the poker room at Resorts World Casino to partake in cash games, concluding an exhilarating and enjoyable night for all involved.
