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Lupe Soto and Maria Ho Inducted into Women in Poker Hall of Fame

The 2018 class for the Women in Poker Hall of Fame was announced on Tuesday. Poker pro and presenter Maria Ho joins WiPHoF and LIPS Tour founder Lupe Soto as the newest inductees into the prestigious hall.

Ho’s induction comes in her first year of eligibility while Soto’s induction has been long overdue. The pair of deserving women were selected by a panel of Hall of Fame members and a panel of industry and media members. This year’s class was one of the strongest in history, making the inductions of Soto and Ho that much more special.

Ho Wins Induction in First Year of Eligibility

Potential inductees must be 35 in order to be enshrined into the WiPHoF and Maria Ho just fit that criterion. Once revealed as a finalist, most assumed she would be one of the favorites to receive the nod this year.

Ho has enjoyed a successful poker career both as a player and presenter. On the felt, she has won more than $2.76 million in live poker events. Her best live score came in 2011 when she finished runner-up in the $5,000 NL Event at the World Series of Poker, just missing out on her first career bracelet.

Ho has also been the “Last Woman Standing” twice in the WSOP Main Event. She finished 38th in the 2007 WSOP Main Event and 77th in the 2014 WSOP Main Event. Ho is presently 9th on the Women’s All-Time Money List and is presently ranked fourth among female players globally on the Global Poker Index.

She’s also enjoyed tremendous success as a poker presenter, becoming the first woman to be hired as a poker TV broadcaster when she became the resident strategic commentator for the Heartland Poker Tour. She’s also worked on King of the Club on Fox Sports Net and ESPN’s World Series of Poker.

When told about her induction, Ho commented, “Wow! What wonderful news to receive! I am honestly incredibly shocked and beyond honored to hear this”.

WiPHOF Founder Soto Long Overdue for Induction

Lupe Soto needs no introduction among those that know anything about women’s poker. She founded the first online poker forum for women back in 2002 and two years later launched the Ladies International Poker Series (LIPS). The LIPS tour has been instrumental in bringing women into poker across the nation, many of which would have never played a live poker event otherwise.

Back in 2008, Soto founded the Women in Poker Hall of Fame to honor women that have made significant contributions to women in poker. Through 2016, 19 women have been enshrined into the WiPHoF and that tradition will continue into the foreseeable future.

Commenting on her induction, Soto stated, “I am so excited to be included amongst these amazing women. The ballot this year was filled with some of the most respected and well deserving women in the game. All of them should hold a place in the Hall and I’m sure one day soon, they will!”

In addition to the LIPS Tour and WiPHoF, Soto is also the CEO of the Senior Poker Tour and both Founder and Executive Director of the Women’s Poker Association, a non-profit organization whose purpose is to advance the development of women in poker.

Induction Ceremony to Be Held June 26 at the Orleans in Las Vegas

Unlike the WSOP-sponsored Hall of Fame, the Women in Poker Hall of Fame will hold an official induction ceremony for their newest inductees. The event will commence on June 26, 2018, at 11 am at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas.

The event will be sponsored by both PokerStars and 888 Poker. Other sponsors include Helping Hands and Card Player Cruises. The WiPHoF Luncheon Celebration and Induction will benefit Poker Gives, a charity that helps military families in need as well as homeless veterans.

The Women in Poker Hall of Fame inducts new members every two years. In 2016, Debbie Burkhead and Victoria Coren Mitchell were inducted. The next election cycle is currently scheduled for 2020.

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