The second day of Combined Recreation Competition XII at Resorts World in Las Vegas noticed the $300 O/E “Miami” John Cernuto commemorative occasion happen together with a pair of vendor’s selection money sport tables operating for over 14 hours! The match, which goals to honor the legacy of “Miami” John, a combined sport legend who handed away final yr, ended up being a comparatively small and intimate affair, however there’s rather more to poker than breaking attendance data.
With a subject of 16 gamers, the match ended up with three money prizes (and slightly one thing for the bubble finisher), and it was Kento Watanabe who held all chips in play when it was all stated and carried out, pocketing $1,836 for his efforts.
Whereas the match subject was considerably modest in numbers, there was no lack of motion on the Resorts World. On the sidelines, there have been two money sport tables going robust all through the day. The $4/$8 sport solely broke down round two o’clock within the morning, whereas $8/$16 desk saved on going, with no actual indicators of slowing down.
A Pleasant Competitors & Fond Reminiscences
Late “Miami” John Cernuto was a long-time professional participant and an everyday on the Combined Recreation Competition who gained this match again in 2023, beating a slightly star-studded subject, that includes the likes of Chip and Karina Jett, Matt Savage, and Linda Johnson.
“Miami” John could now not be bodily current on the tables, however his spirit actually lives on amongst his pals and colleagues, and the match named after him might be probably the greatest methods to maintain his reminiscence alive.
As talked about, it was a slightly small affair, with solely 16 gamers within the combine, however this didn’t actually take something away from the occasion. Joe Santagata, a kind of 16, even had a pin with Cernuto’s face clipped to his shirt.
16 gamers partaking in our $300 @MiamiJohnC O/E commemorative occasion right here at Combined Recreation Competition XII.
Joe S. carrying the pin in tribute to John 😍
Patch last-longer in impact with a @PokerCoaching_ Premium 1-year membership on the road + an $1,862 high prize 💰 pic.twitter.com/xiovFVL0wy
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) November 18, 2025
All of the motion from the match was reported dwell — a Combined Recreation Competition first! — by pokerreporting.com, and the protection included written recaps of main palms, a photograph gallery that includes all contributors, and a few bits and items masking the motion on the sidelines, such because the Lupe Soto sighting on the $4/$8 desk.
All of it mixed added an air of dignity to this commemorative occasion, bringing smiles to gamers’ faces. As soon as the registration was carried out, it was introduced that the highest three locations can be paid, and the race to the highest was nicely and really underway. In the event you’re interested by extra particulars as to the way it all went down, take a look at dwell reporting for some fascinating palms.
However, lengthy story brief, the sector continued to dwindle, and the cash bubble lastly burst with the elimination of Daniel Sprung. It was a little bit of a tough break for Danny, however a minimum of he didn’t stroll away empty-handed, as he acquired a pleasant hoodie, courtesy of Phenom Poker. And everyone knows {that a} true poker participant can all the time do with one other hoodie.
Congratudolences to @Three4Three, who busted our Combined Recreation Competition XII @MiamiJohnC $300 O/E Commemorative occasion on the bubble.
However because of @PhenomPokerApp he gained’t stroll away empty-handed.
Get pleasure from your hoodie. Danny 😁 pic.twitter.com/zAxjJRXLN1
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) November 18, 2025
Of the remaining three, Hani Awad was first to hit the rail, choosing up $988 for his third-place end. Joseph Hallock began the heads-up confrontation because the chip chief, however Kento Watanabe simply wouldn’t let him have it. He managed to grind his opponent down and run away with the primary prize of $1,836, whereas Hallock needed to accept the runner-up honor and the money prize of $1,150. Kento additionally gained a 1-year Premium membership to PokerCoaching.com (virtually $1800 worth!) as being the “final participant standing” within the patch last-longer competitors.
Congratulations to Kento Watanabe, winner of Combined Recreation Competition XII’s $300 O/E match for $1,862 + a one-year subscription to @PokerCoaching_ Premium 🏆
Kento flew in from Tokyo 🇯🇵 particularly to attend our pageant 🥳
His profitable phrases: “now the journey is free!” 😁 pic.twitter.com/8fsDkVl116
— Robbie Strazynski (@cardplayerlife) November 18, 2025
PokerCoaching.com Participant of the Day: Ian Gerber
Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, PokerCoaching.com participant of the day Ian Gerber is a 64-year-old leisure poker participant who’s been having fun with the sport for over 4 many years. Largely retired from his day job, he spends his time performing, instructing spin courses, operating, and, after all, taking part in poker.
Though he’s dabbled with HORSE earlier than, Ian’s ardour for combined video games was really set ablaze when he occurred upon the Combined Recreation Competition right here in Las Vegas this previous summer time. He determined to affix the motion and had a lot enjoyable that, when he noticed the MGF was again on the town, he needed to take a little bit of a break from his day-to-day obligations and fly out.
Ian instructed us that the final Competition additionally impressed him to arrange his own residence sport that includes lots of the variations he stumbled on in the course of the summer time. Two instances a month, he and his pals come collectively to have enjoyable taking part in a low stakes combine.
His message to all those that could also be afraid to present combined video games a strive is that occasions just like the MGF are an excellent place to begin, that includes low limits and an off-the-cuff, pleasant ambiance.
After 40+ years of taking part in poker, Ian doesn’t have many poker targets left on his bucket checklist. Throughout this yr’s WSOP, he performed in a $1,500 HORSE occasion, which was one factor he actually wished to do, and he’s comfortable he obtained that proverbial monkey off his again, although he admits it’s arduous to justify these larger buy-ins while you play poker purely for leisure.
RunGoodGear Seller of the Day: Gina Turnipseed
Las Vegas is really a singular place in relation to the folks you’ll be able to meet and their life tales. Gina Turnipseed, one of many sellers on the Resorts World as we speak, is a residing instance of this.
Initially from Poland, Gina got here to the US 40 years in the past by a refugee camp in Italy. After enduring many hardships, she landed in Colorado Springs, the place she discovered a sponsor within the Lutheran Church.
When she first got here to the US, she didn’t converse any English, so she began working at a restaurant as a dishwasher. Simply eight months later, she grew to become the restaurant’s supervisor … and that was solely the beginning of Gina’s journey.
Decided to maintain chasing her goals, Gina went to a culinary faculty in Paris and discovered secrets and techniques of the commerce working at varied French eating places, bakeries, and bistros, earlier than returning to Colorado Springs to open her very personal French restaurant.
For all of the foodies on the market, Gina’s favourite dish to organize is Beef Bourguignon, whereas her high decide when sitting on the opposite aspect of the desk is Steak au poivre. 🙂
After some 20 years, she determined it was time to retire, so she offered the restaurant and spent a while touring along with her husband. Once they felt it was time to quiet down once more, they picked Las Vegas as a result of they beloved taking part in poker and, like so many, they figured they might beat the sport.
Gina quickly came upon why poker is usually stated to be “a tough strategy to make a straightforward residing” and determined to chop her losses. She enrolled in a vendor faculty, obtained her certifications, and took her seat on the other aspect of the felt some 12 years in the past.
Beginning on the WSOP, she dealt on the Venetian for seven years, later becoming a member of the Wynn (the place she nonetheless offers part-time) and Resorts World.
Gina is a full-time vendor at Resorts World, and he or she says that she loves her staff, her bosses, and the truth that there are such a lot of gamers she’s turn out to be pleasant with over time.
Poker-wise, Gina nonetheless goals about taking part in within the WSOP Major Occasion and turning into the primary girl to win it. It’s a hefty dream, to make certain, however you by no means know. RunGoodGear Seller of the Day Gina Turnipseed is nothing if not a fighter!
Extra Money Recreation Motion within the Playing cards for Day 3
The third day of Combined Recreation Competition XII can be all about money video games. As per ordinary, the motion will begin at midday, sharp, and gamers can reserve their seats forward of time.
As soon as once more, there can be $4/$8 and $8/$16 motion on the menu, so you’ll be able to decide your taste. The MGF is, before everything, about having enjoyable on the tables, so even a pair hundred {dollars} can get you into a pleasant, fairly stress-free session and final you all day lengthy.
Plus, you by no means know if there is likely to be a shock look or two lurking beneath the floor. You simply by no means know who may flip as much as play or if somebody will provide you with a enjoyable concept for a brand new sport that everybody will simply associate with. You simply should be there for it!
*To get your self on the money sport waitlist, please name the Resorts World Poker Room at (702) 676-7680
