On Sunday morning, dozens of poker gamers took time away from the 2025 World Sequence of Poker (WSOP) to go off strip for a particular Celebration of Life remembering “Miami” John Cernuto, who handed away from colon most cancers again in February at age 81.
Cernuto, born January 10, 1944, in Jersey Metropolis, New Jersey, left behind two grownup kids and lots of associates and adoring followers throughout the poker group. That was evidenced by the variety of acquainted faces in attendance together with Poker Corridor of Famer Linda Johnson, Girls in Poker Corridor of Famers Jan Fisher and Terry King, Allen Kessler, Ari Engel, Jo Kim, Chip & Karina Jett, Cyndy Violette, Norman Chad, and considered one of his college students, Kathy Chang.
Additionally in attendance was Hollywood actor and Cernuto’s longtime buddy James Woods, who final 12 months advocated for Miami John to get inducted into the Poker Corridor of Fame. Whereas that finally didn’t come to fruition – Patrik Antonius was the 2024 inductee – Miami John was honored with a nomination.
Whereas poker was a giant a part of the setting, Cernuto’s household and associates additionally remembered their liked one.
“I’m blown away. I didn’t understand John touched so many alternative individuals’s lives,” his brother stated.
Two particularly emotional moments got here when Cernuto’s daughter, Debbie, took the stage. It was no secret to those that knew him that Cernuto had a really particular relationship along with his daughter, which was mirrored by the love and help proven all through her speech. The identical could be stated of Cernuto’s solely niece, who delivered a passionate, story-filled discourse honoring her uncle.
Cernuto’s childhood buddy recounted a narrative from when he served as an air site visitors controller alongside Miami John (who lived in Miami and labored in that discipline earlier than getting fired after the 1981 strikes – the impetus for him to maneuver to Las Vegas and check out his hand at poker). Likewise, Woods remembered his longtime buddy in a 12-minute speech.
Woods had beforehand stated of Cernuto: “After I went to M.I.T., the very first thing they stated if you undergo orientation, the one of many professors right here stated, ‘chances are you’ll not be taught a variety of information right here, however you are going to learn to suppose.’ What (Cernuto) taught me to do is how to consider poker. John thinks about poker higher than anybody I’ve ever met in my life.”
The Celebration of Life was an intimate affair. These in attendance, who have been inspired to add images of Cernuto, have been capable of peruse a mixture of household photographs and heirlooms together with memorabilia from Cernuto’s storied poker profession, which incorporates $6,471,384 in lifetime earnings courting again to 1987 based on the Hendon Mob.
That included a career-high $259,150 for successful the 1997 WSOP $2,00 No-Restrict Maintain’em occasion for what was his second of three bracelets. His first got here the 12 months earlier than within the $1,500 Seven-Card Stud Cut up occasion for $147,000, and in 2002 he added his third when he received the $1,500 Restrict Omaha occasion for $73,320.
Fittingly, in considered one of his final WSOP tournaments, he almost captured a fourth when he completed third within the 2024 WSOP Occasion #83: $1,500 Eight Sport Combine Six-Handed for $57,249.
Cernuto had 597 reside match cashes – together with no less than 85 documented match wins – which tops the almost 700,000 gamers tracked on the Hendon Mob. In 2020, he was acknowledged by the Hendon Mob throughout the World Poker Awards for being the primary participant to succeed in 500 cashes, and earlier this 12 months was honored with a match in his identify.
Coincidentally, Cernuto’s buddy, Ari Engel, took over the reside match money file simply days earlier.
PokerNews provides its condolences to the family and friends of “Miami” John Cernuto, really one of many greats of the sport.
Click on right here to see household and poker images of Miami John Cernuto.
Chad Holloway
PR & Media Supervisor
