Late Miami John Honored With a Commemorative Mixed Game Tournament
Late Mixed Game Legend Miami John Honored With Commemorative Tournament
A week after Miami John Cernuto’s passing, poker players gathered in Las Vegas to honor the mixed game legend with a commemorative tournament. The inaugural Miami John Commemorative O/E event took place on Feb. 17 during the Cardplayer Lifestyle Mixed Game Festival X at Resorts World Las Vegas.
The $300 buy-in tournament attracted 36 entrants, generating a $9,000 prize pool. Gary Bolden from Missouri emerged victorious, pocketing $3,395, while Michael Moon of Arizona finished runner-up, earning $2,098. Other players who cashed the event included David Edgett, Glenn Engelbert, James Matz, and Bennett Koo.
Though the festival and O/E tournament were scheduled weeks in advance, Cardplayer Lifestyle founder Robbie Strazynski decided to rename the tournament after Cernuto’s passing on Feb. 10. It was a fitting tribute, as Cernuto had won the inaugural Mixed Game Festival O/E event in March 2023, defeating Ari Engel.
Strazynski first met Cernuto during an online game during the pandemic and later in person at the fourth annual Mixed Game Festival, where Cernuto won the tournament. Cernuto expressed his appreciation for Strazynski’s efforts to grow the mixed game community.
Cernuto, the Hendon Mob all-time cash leader, primarily focused on mixed games throughout his career. His final poker result was a third-place finish in the July 2024 Big O Bounty event at the Venetian for $14,962.
Strazynski credited Mixed Game Festival regular Chuck Martin with the idea of dedicating the event to Cernuto. All future O/E events at the festival will be named after the three-time WSOP bracelet winner.
Across the street at the Wynn, Kathy Chang won a $400 Limit H.O.R.S.E. event on Feb. 19 and dedicated her victory to Cernuto.
