Poker World Mourns ‘Miami’ John Cernuto After Legend Passes Away Aged 81

‘Miami’ John Cernuto was a much-loved poker player who commanded respect and earned millions playing the game he loved. The former air traffic controller turned tournament pro passed away on Monday aged 81, and the poker world has mourned a sad loss with many calling for ‘Miami’ to be posthumously honored in the Poker Hall of Fame.

Ronald Reagan Turns ‘Miami’ Towards Poker

A quirk of fate sent ‘Miami’ John Cernuto into the world of poker aged 37 and he never looked back. The New Jersey-born poker player was the second recipient of The  Hendon Mob Award in 2019, honoring him as the first player ever to reach 500 lifetime cashes on The Hendon Mob.

Before the game of poker embraced him, however, Cernuto was an air traffic controller until the then-President Ronald Regan sacked him among others. Cernuto moved from the skies to focusing on terra firma as he became a tournament poker player, and he never looked back. In 1988, Cernuto took top prize in the $1,000-entry Seven Card Stud event at Amarillo Slim’s ‘Super Bowl of Poker’ series, earning $58,000 and setting him on his way in a remarkable second career.

In his lifetime, Cernuto had 597 live tournament cashes, a record in live ranking events at the time of his passing. This will likely be overtaken by either Roland Israelashvili (574) or Ari Engel (565) soon, but Cernuto went from the world as the record holder in this regard. With over $6.4 million in live tournament earnings, he also won three WSOP bracelets and two WSOP Circuit rings, landing over $2 million in WSOP events alone.

Bracelet Wins and Big Achievements

Cernuto’s trio of WSOP bracelet wins were all between 1996 and 2002, with his first coming in Limit Seven-Card Stud Hi-Lo. The fifth event of 1996 to take place, the $1,500 buy-in saw Cernuto claim the top prize of $147,000 before he followed up this victory with another the next year in No Limit Hold’em.

Taking down the $2,000-entry event for $259,150, Cernuto had won bracelets in back-to-back years. He would have to wait for his third and final WSOP win, but it duly came when he triumphed in the 2002 WSOP Event #6, winning $73,320 in Limit Omaha. With six other podium places in WSOP tournaments, Cernuto was a legend in Las Vegas.

Other big wins followed, with his $155,800 score for coming fifth in the 2005 PCA Main Event and $153,600 for taking down the 2002 United States Poker Championship both huge results. Disciplined at the felt, Cernuto was a vibrant personality but always kept it classy and his opponents never feared time at the felt with him even it cost them money. Cernuto made time at the poker table fun, and that spirit never left him into his ninth decade.

Loved by Fans and Peers Alike

While he was adored by poker fans, his fellow poker players loved ‘Miami’ John just as much. Cernuto was a vast character, a monolith or mirth among friends and a touchstone for humility and personality in the game of poker. When he was nominated for the Poker Hall of Fame in 2024, Cernuto lost out yet again, as Finnish pro Patrik Antonius was inducted. Cernuto was among the first to congratulate him, stating: “Congratulations to Patrik for his 2024 induction into the Poker Hall of Fame. Well deserved.”

Cernuto’s friends and opponents all had a huge amount of love for him. The PokerGO Championship winner and PokerStake player Jeremy Ausmus commented: “I ran into John many times at the tables over the years and every time it was a positive experience.  He was a legendary poker player putting up results up for nearly four decades. May he rest in peace.”

Cernuto’s close friend Susie G was heartbroken by his passing, saying: “My very good friend, poker legend Miami John Cernuto, is no longer suffering. He passed away at his home tonight surrounded by family. At John’s request, there will not be a service, but there will be a Celebration of Life event, likely in June. Jack & Diets all around.”

In a world where so many don’t get to live their dreams, ‘Miami’ John Cernuto made the best of a bad situation the springboard for a change in career and a legendary life in poker’s fast lane. As he pulls over, we at Tight Poker doff our caps to one of the best, not just in terms of his time at the felt, but in the manner of his life lived away from it.

Rest in Peace, Miami John.

Photography by award-nominated Danny Maxwell and Omar Sader for PokerNews, the home of live reporting.