CardsChat joins the poker world in mourning the lack of “Miami” John Cernuto, who died Monday in Las Vegas to colon most cancers. He was 81.
Cernuto was among the best mixed-game gamers who ever lived and holds the document for many cashes with 597, in response to the Hendon Mob. He was the primary participant to money 500 or extra occasions, a big majority of them coming in mixed-game occasions.
Born Jan. 10, 1944 in New Jersey, he graduated from the College of Florida and labored as an air site visitors controller till 1981, when he was fired alongside 11,000 of his coworkers by President Ronald Reagan after placing. He taught himself how one can play poker to make a dwelling, and started cashing tournaments at a powerful fee beginning in 1987.
“After I went on strike, it at all times was at the back of my thoughts that if I lose my job, I’ll get the possibility to do what I’ve wished to do for the final couple of years – exit and check out my hand at being knowledgeable poker participant,” Cernuto advised the World Poker Tour final February. “I had a pal who offered me his automobile about six months earlier than the strike, after which he purchased it again from me on the airport. I got here out to Vegas with solely my retirement cash.”
That was in 1982 when he was 38. His first vital match money got here by profitable a $1,000 restrict seven card stud occasion on the 1988 Amarillo Slim’s Superbowl Of Poker for $58,000. A yr later, he made his first World Sequence of Poker last desk within the $5,000 seven card stud occasion, ending fourth for $26,900.
He would end his life with three WSOP bracelets and two WSOP Circuit rings. His most up-to-date victory got here in Might on the Venetian DeepStack Championship in a $600 Restrict Omaha 8 or Higher occasion that paid $13,269. In all, he cashed for greater than $6.4 million, of which $2 million got here from WSOP occasions.
Eventually yr’s WSOP, he cashed six occasions — all in mixed-game occasions. His final money was a third-place end in a $1,000 occasion on the Venetian DeepStack Championship in July.
Nicknamed “the Ironman of Poker” by actor and pal James Woods, he had the love and respect of many poker gamers, together with this technology’s ironman, Ari Engel.
“Relaxation in peace to our expensive pal,” poker professional Ari Engel wrote on X. “It’s been a private pleasure of mine to compete with Miami John so many occasions over the previous few years. He can be missed.”
Nominated for the Poker Corridor of Fame for the primary time in 2024, he’s considered one of a handful of gamers who most likely ought to have already been inducted. There may be already a push to place him on this summer time.
At Cernuto’s request, a funeral was not deliberate, however a celebration of his life will almost definitely happen at this summer time’s WSOP.
