Maria Ho Makes History, Claims Second Celebrity Poker Tour Title With Tequila and a Touch of Magic!

Maria Ho (cover image), the queen of the felt, has done it again! The poker diva brought her A-game (and maybe a little tequila) to the PokerGO Studio at ARIA Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, clinching the Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) Championship title for the second time this year. This victory wasn’t just impressive; it was historic! Ho outlasted a 59-entry field, snagging a sweet $50,000 – a cool $10,000 more than her previous win in March – and becoming the first-ever two-time CPT champion.

Brian Quinn, the hilarious star of Impractical Jokers, gave chase till the end, eventually finishing as runner-up and taking home $20,000. Not bad for a guy who claims to only play poker once in a blue moon!

The moment @MariaHo became the first TWO TIME CHAMPION in CPT history! 👏🏻

Watch the full recap on the Celebrity Poker Tour YouTube! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/1lZw3yNeVR

— Celebrity Poker Tour (@celebpokertour) November 21, 2024

Maria’s Secret Weapon? Tequila and Not Overthinking It!

Known for her charisma both on and off the felt, Ho, the Poker After Dark: Game of Gold champion, attributed her CPT success to a rather unconventional strategy: tequila and not overthinking it. While these might not make it into poker’s next strategy guide, they’ve undeniably worked for her, delivering wins that make history.

The secret to beating newb poker players? @MariaHo shares her secret sauce…err strategy. 🥃😵‍💫

📍@celebpokertour pic.twitter.com/ARxNryz7kd

— Poker Org (@pokerorg) November 21, 2024

“This is all about the fun,” the 41-year-old poker superstar said after her first CPT win. “If anybody’s watched a CPT stream, they know that everybody here is trying to have a good time. They want to win, but it’s not going to be the stone-faced sunglasses, hoodie situation.”

A Hand That Will Go Down in CPT History

This tournament had its fair share of drama, especially one insane hand that sent Sofie Dossi, the incredibly talented contortionist, to the rail in third place ($10,000).

Dossi, holding , was all-in and well ahead of Ho’s , who shoved from the small blind. The flop came , giving Dossi the nut straight. With a 96% chance of winning, she looked destined for victory. But then, the poker gods intervened.

The turn brought the , and suddenly, a glimmer of hope emerged for Ho. And then, the river card – the – delivered a miracle, completing Ho’s runner-runner full house and sending shockwaves through the studio. Dossi, the contortionist who had seemed so flexible just moments before, was suddenly sent to the rail in third place.

“I definitely got a lot of big hands as you could see at the final table,” the Women in Poker Hall of Famer told PokerGO’s Natalie Bode and CPT’s Blake Wynn after her victory. “But everybody played really well. Like a lot of the women especially. We hung in there, we were trying to get an all-women final table today. It didn’t quite happen, but I’m super proud of everybody’s showing tonight.”

The Biggest and Boldest CPT Event Yet Brings Celebrities, Drama, and an Unforgettable Finale

The eighth Celebrity Poker Tour (CPT) event of 2024 didn’t just raise the stakes—it stole the spotlight! With a star-studded lineup of celebrities and their entourages gathering at the PokerGO Studio, this event became the grandest spectacle of the year. From high-fashion ensembles to quirky costumes, the energy was electric. But one person stole the pre-show buzz: Texas-based streamer Sketch, who showed up dressed as one of Santa’s elves—a few weeks too early.

Christmas came early for @thesketchreal https://t.co/FQUxVj23TQ

— Celebrity Poker Tour (@celebpokertour) November 21, 2024

“I was feeling it today,” Sketch joked. “I can wear it more than once. I might wear it the full month of December.”

Stars Collide at the Poker Tables

The studio was divided by profession, with athletes commanding the west, streamers and poker pros dominating the east, and a feature table packed with heavyweights like Ninja, Impractical Jokers stars Brian Quinn and Joe Gatto, and CPT regulars Hila Klein and Bryce Hall. The setup promised fireworks, and the action delivered.

One of the most memorable moments was when Adrian Peterson went on a tear, eliminating Joe Gatto and winning a huge pot against Ninja, sending the crowd (and online fans) wild.

Adrian Peterson is crushing the table! He knocks out @Joe_Gatto and scoops a big pot vs @Ninja ! pic.twitter.com/lfymsh4vc1

— Celebrity Poker Tour (@celebpokertour) November 21, 2024

Rapper Maxo Kream Brings the Heat

Joining the ranks of athletes was Houston rapper Maxo Kream, who revealed he’d only learned poker a week ago via Twitch. His approach? Confidence and flair.

“I do a lil’ some’some. I play poker more with finesse,” Kream said, adding that he’s usually more of a craps player. “As long as you’ve got your finesse game right… there’s time and opportunity. You just get the hand that’s dealt to you. But I’m a’ight.”

Our in-house music aficionado @crichards1995 caught up with Houston-based rapper @MAXOKREAM before the start of play in tonight’s @celebpokertour 2024 Championship.

He streams poker and has been honing his no-limit Hold’em in the Texas poker rooms! pic.twitter.com/D0lAdSRI4b

— PokerNews (@PokerNews) November 21, 2024

Learning Moments for the Newcomers

It wasn’t all smooth sailing for poker newcomers. At one table, Bibby needed help understanding why his trip aces lost to tens full of aces. At another, CJ So Cool didn’t realize he’d doubled up with ace-high after his opponent’s pocket threes were counterfeited by a double-paired board.

The Veterans Shine

Among the field were seasoned CPT champions like Qiyu “Nemo” Zhou and Princess Love. The latter made a strong run but was eliminated on the money bubble by none other than her poker coach, Maria Ho. After sharing a heartfelt hug with her apprentice and a surprise appearance from 17-time bracelet winner Phil Hellmuth, Ho turned her focus to the final table, which included top guns like Hila Klein, Lena Ayad, and CPT co-founder Hayes Pullard.

Ho Dominates the Final Table

Maria Ho’s run was legendary. Riding the momentum of her earlier bad beat against Sofie Dossi, Ho entered heads-up play with a commanding 37:1 chip lead over Brian Quinn. Despite Quinn doubling up once with less than ten big blinds, his was no match for Ho’s .

The flop almost sealed the deal for Ho, but Quinn, ever the optimist, pointed out, “I could still get two twos or two fours.” Sadly, that wasn’t meant to be as the improved Ho’s flopped two pair to a turned full house. The was inconsequential. Maria Ho was the champion!

“I’ve played poker like once a year every five years,” Quinn remarked after his runner-up finish. “The fact that I went this far is insane. It makes no sense.”

Want to relive all the excitement and drama? Check out all the unforgettable moments from the biggest CPT event of the year below.

Complete Payouts (USD)

1. Maria Ho – $50,000
2. Brian Quinn – $20,000
3. Sofie Dossi – $10,000
4. CJ So Cool – $5,000
5. Hayes Pullard – $4,000
6. Adrian Peterson – $3,500
7. Lena Ayad – $2,500
8. Bryce Hall – $2,500
9. Hila Klein – $2,500

Content & Images Courtesy: Celebrity Poker Tour