Calls to induct John Cernuto into the Poker Hall of Fame
With the terrible news that 'Miami John' is in hospice care, there is a push to induct the record breaking player into the Hall of Fame now.
Sad news today as poker legend Miami John Cernuto is in hospice care and is no longer recieving treatment for colon cancer.
The 81-year-old is best known for holding the record for most poker cashes, with 597 recorded cashes on The Hendon Mob. The next closest player is Roland Israelashvili with 574.
The first recorded cash was in 1987 where he came 21st in a $500 event for $1,062. His most recent cash was in July last year when he came 3rd in a $920 Big O event for $14,962. His biggest cash was in 1997 when he won a $2,000 WSOP bracelet for $259,150 (one of three bracelets on his resume).
Calls for a Poker Hall of Fame induction
This news has ushered a sence of urgency amongst some in the poker community, who are pleading with the World Series of Poker to honour him by inducting him into the Poker Hall of Fame, which he has previously been nominated for.
With “Miami” John Cernuto in hospice we have been let down yet again by the Poker Hall of Fame (PHOF).
Last year on our show John made a compelling case for induction. He checked off all the boxes, and fans rallied behind his nomination, yet when it came time the PHOF failed us…
— SoftwareBrian (@SoftwareBrian) February 8, 2025
So sad to learn this. Getting to play some O8 with Miami John last WSOP was a highlight for me. He was incredibly kind to a fishy Omaha player 🙋ðŸ¼â™€ï¸ and made me want to play more mixed games.
I’d be surprised if he didn’t have the same effect on lots of newer players.
Let more… https://t.co/AJN7DKYmqa
— Jamie Kerstetter (@JamieKerstetter) February 8, 2025
We should honor our best when they are still with us.@MiamiJohnC, in hospice care, is deserving of the Poker Hall of Fame.
As suggested by @BobbySchmidtIII, it would be wonderful if the Hall of Fame could move to honor him as soon as possible.
— Norman Chad (@NormanChad) February 8, 2025
While this has never been done and currently the WSOP have a very unpopular stance on only inducting one person a year in the summer, it's not entirely without precedent. Just prior to his death in 2014 the WSOP awarded Chad Brown with an honourary bracelet.
This is a good opportunity for the WSOP to do away with that silly policy and honour a legend of the game while they are still with us.
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