About

Maria Christina McAlpin is an investor, philanthropist, and dedicated mother who balances these responsibilities with being a successful poker player. Known for her joyful attitude and fierce competitive edge, Maria Christina has appeared on popular poker shows, including Live at the Bike, Poker Night in America, and Bally’s Big Bet Poker. Although she is primarily a cash game player, she has also placed in numerous World Series of Poker, Venetian, and other poker tournaments, including ranking 7th in a 2019 final table finish in the World Series of Poker.

In 2023, Maria Christina founded the Sunrise Youth Fund, which supports after-school programs that help young people build their self-confidence and help them develop meaningful connections with others through sports, arts, and leadership activities. The Sunrise Youth Fund makes grants to nonprofits like the Denver Children’s Foundation and MileHigh 360. Each year, Maria Christina dedicates a large portion of her poker earnings to The Sunrise Youth Fund.

Maria Christina holds a BA in Economics and Environmental Science and an MA in Public Policy. Before she started in poker, she had a career as a Researcher on a variety of economic and policy topics and a Program Manager for several charitable foundations. Maria Christina’s passion for poker began after a lucky and profitable first weekend playing cards in Las Vegas, which sparked her passion for mastering the game through continued study, practice, and self-reflection. She uses a growth mindset, guided by Stoic philosophy, combined with healthy lifestyle habits as the foundation for her success in poker. Maria Christina now writes about optimizing performance in poker and other high-pressure environments on her personal website blog at Maria Christina Poker