3-time WSOP winner, all-time leader in poker tournament cashes dies
“Miami” John Cernuto, who cashed in more poker tournaments than any player in history, died late Monday at his Las Vegas home at age 81. His death was announced by friends and family on social media.
Cernuto had been battling colon cancer and was in hospice care.
Rest in peace "Miami" John Cernuto. 2024 Hall of Fame finalist and 3x bracelet winner — one of the top tournament players of all time. pic.twitter.com/YJTgQr1Ldh
— WSOP - World Series of Poker (@WSOP) February 11, 2025
Born Jan. 10, 1944, in Jersey City, New Jersey, Cernuto earned three World Series of Poker bracelets, which are awarded for tournament victories. He also won two WSOP Circuit events and had $6.4 million in career live tournament earnings, according to the Hendon Mob Poker Database.
Cernuto’s 597 career live tournament cashes rank first all time among the approximately 700,000 players tracked on the Hendon Mob database. That included 85 tournament victories overall.
He cashed in five events at last year’s WSOP, including third place in the $1,500 buy-in Eight-Game Mix for $57,249.
My favorite Miami John Cernuto story:
This was pre-pandemic.
I run into Miami John in the Amazon Room at the Rio during the @WSOP.
I had not seen him for nearly two years, because of a serious heart ailment he had.
We give each other a big hug and I say, "So how are you…
— Norman Chad (@NormanChad) February 11, 2025
“Rest in peace to our dear friend,” poker pro Ari Engel wrote on X. “It’s been a personal pleasure of mine to compete with Miami John so many times over the past few years. He will be missed.”
Cernuto turned to poker when he was fired following the 1981 Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization strike. The mixed-game legend was one of the most popular players during the televised poker boom of the 2000s. He was nominated for the Poker Hall of Fame for the first time in 2024.
A celebration of life event is expected to take place for Cernuto at this year’s WSOP, which begins May 27 at Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas.
Contact David Schoen at dschoen@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203. Follow @DavidSchoenLVRJ on X.
