Maria Ho started the Day 4 Final Table of the 4th event of the 2011 World Series of Poker ($5K NLHE) as the shortest stack, while Allen Bari came to the table with a dominant chip lead. Although Maria was able to chip up and double through the elimination of Nicholas Blumenthal, Allen kept his monster stack healthy by eliminating Sean LeFort before the a heads-up confrontation.
Allen had Maria\’s 15 big blinds covered 8 to 1 when Heads-up play began, and although she played her heart out, the cards favored Allen. It finally came down to Maria\’s A♠4♠ vs. Allen\’s 8♥8♠. The board ran dry and Maria was eliminated in 2nd place. While not quite the coveted bracelet, the $540,020 payout she received represents the second-highest cash figure ever won by a female player in WSOP history. Translation, the 2007 World Series of Poker Main Event Last Woman Standing can now add the highest WSOP cash ever won by a female player on this side of the pond to her brag list. Only Annette Obrestad, the WSOP Europe Main Event champion (2007), has had a bigger payout.