“Miami” John Cernuto, poker’s all-time match cashes chief, has handed away after a battle with colon most cancers.
The longtime grinder with practically 600 in-the-money finishes, 76 match wins, and greater than $6.3 million in earnings was 81 years previous.
Cernuto first discovered to play poker together with his household across the kitchen desk.
“We played seven card stud,” he instructed Card Player in 2020. “Deuces were wild if mom was dealing, and tens were wild if grandma was dealing. Aunts, uncles, cousins, and parents were all players, and it was fun.”
He continued to play whereas in faculty and through his time within the military. The Jersey City, New Jersey native then moved to South Florida, the place he labored as an air visitors controller. When President Reagan fired air visitors controllers throughout their 1981 strike, he turned to poker to pay the payments.
He discovered loads of motion in Las Vegas, the place he shortly grew to become often known as ‘Miami’ John.
“I decided to use it the day I won my first big event. It was a seven card stud event at the Amarillo Slim’s Super Bowl of Poker at Caesars Palace. I entered as ‘Miami John’ and won this event, going wire-to-wire and only losing two pots. It was like magic, so I kept the name. I didn’t want to tempt fate.”
Although he was 43 when he picked up his first recorded money, Cernuto caught the match bug early, and would usually benefit from bonuses awarded to the perfect participant of the collection. Since he had no drawback enjoying each occasion, he was often in competition.
“I enjoyed a streak of winning one event at almost every venue I attended for nearly two decades.”
“Another thing I am also proud of is that there was a period of time where tournaments were trending downward, but myself and a group of about 50 continued to support them while most others were understandably supporting cash games. In a sense, we became the new pioneers of the tournament industry and held it together until it got very fashionable to play tournament poker again. Now, it’s big business.”
He received the primary of his three WSOP bracelets in 1996, taking down the $1,500 stud eight-or-better match.
“Winning my first bracelet was surreal,” he recalled. “I was a prop player for the LV Hilton poker room and I quit the job because they wanted me to prop a $15-$30 stud eight-or-better game. I didn’t like the game at the time and I kept losing at it. I had a new appreciation for it after [winning the bracelet].”
Cernuto added one other bracelet the subsequent yr within the $2,000 no-limit maintain’em occasion and his third in 2002 within the $1,500 restrict Omaha occasion.
So I’m enjoying solely my fourth tour of 2024 and the seller factors out that I’ve 3 bracelets to my older opponent, who says he has a number of too. The seller replied, “life alerts don’t count”
— John Cernuto (@MiamiJohnC) April 18, 2024
The participant dubbed ‘The Ironman of Poker’ was decided to maintain enjoying till the tip regardless of his well being points. Even with Octogenarian standing finally summer season’s WSOP, Cernuto racked up six cashes, together with a third-place end within the $1,500 eight-game combine.
Cernuto’s passing often is the spark wanted for the Poker Hall of Fame to extend their induction charge from a single entry every year. He was a finalist nominated for the dignity for the final two years, however finally misplaced out to high-stakes execs Brian Rast and Patrik Antonius.
Cernuto joined Card Player’s Poker Stories Podcast again in 2022 to speak about his legendary profession. You can hearken to the total episode under.
The Poker World Reacts
Rest in peace “Miami” John Cernuto. 2024 Hall of Fame finalist and 3x bracelet winner — one of many high match gamers of all time. pic.twitter.com/YJTgQr1Ldh
— WSOP – World Series of Poker (@WSOP) February 11, 2025
Put Miami John Cernuto within the poker corridor of fame (posthumously now), please. This yr. Please. pic.twitter.com/YPaJmJmtlw
— Mark Seif (@markseif) February 11, 2025
Suggestion to the @WSOP:
In addition to Player of the Year, award the Miami John Cernuto Trophy to the participant with the perfect mixed-game outcomes.
— Norman Chad (@NormanChad) February 11, 2025
HOF wants an overhaul alongside widespread sense traces the place a slate of old skool guys like Thor Hansen and Miami John get in and to accommodate the upcoming inflow of younger worthy inductees.
(Well performed on inducing an opinion from me on this) https://t.co/bI6VIYFyHb
— Shane Schleger (@ShaneSchleger) February 11, 2025
Rest in peace to our expensive buddy. It’s been a private pleasure of mine to compete with Miami John so many occasions over the previous few years. He shall be missed
— Ari Engel (@AriEngelPoker) February 11, 2025
“Miami” John Cernuto has essentially the most poker match cashes all-time. He is now on hospice in Las Vegas. I rely myself fortunate to have performed and even cashed with him a number of occasions over the past 20+ years. This image, taken by @BJNemeth, was from a WPT match in 2005. pic.twitter.com/eK1XO0bBbd
— Andy Bloch (@Andy_Bloch) February 10, 2025
*Photos by Erik Fast, Joe Giron
