“Magic” John Cynn, a past world champion, ended a four-year drought of no live tournament cashes on Wednesday at the 2026 World Series of Poker (WSOP).
The Chicago-area native avoided the bubble in Event #17: $10,000 No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship when Jon Shoreman busted in 31st place just after the Day 2 dinner break. In doing so, the 2018 WSOP Main Event winner secured his first cash in any tournament — not just at the WSOP — since July 2022.
Cynn, who defeated Tony Miles in one of the most memorable and lengthiest heads-up matches in Main Event history, spoke to PokerNews about his first cash in quite some time.
“Yeah, it feels good for sure. It’s my first tournament in a while and, you know, I forgot how much of a grind it can be. It for sure feels good,” Cynn said.
Is Poker Champ Back for Good?
Cynn, who didn’t play the Main Event last year, won $8.8 million following his heads-up match against Miles. But he’s cashed for under $500,000 overall in live tournaments in the eight years since. Don’t expect another cash any time soon, however.
“The only other tournament this summer I’ll probably play is the Main Event,” he said.
Cynn used to appear occasionally on Los Angeles cash game livestreams Live at the Bike and Hustler Casino Live. His most recent livestream appearance, on LATB, occurred in January 2023.
Although tournament poker is no longer an important part of Cynn’s life, he’s still nostalgic about the biggest tournament in the world, an event he won eight years ago.
“The Main Event is special on its own,” Cynn said. “I try to get excited for it every single year.”
Not only has Cynn been absent from the tournament world in recent years, he’s even scaled back his cash game play.
“I’ve been playing some cash games,” Cynn said when asked what he’s been up to lately. “I don’t play as much as I used to. But I still play a good amount, but, yeah, it’s mostly cash games.”
Cynn was still alive at the time of publishing in his quest to win his second bracelet and first since 2018. The $10k No-Limit 2-7 Lowball Draw Championship will play down to a winner on Thursday, and it will pay $428,923, which would nearly double Cynn’s live cashes since his Main Event win. Phil Hellmuth, Shaun Deeb, and Ren Lin were among those who reached the money.
Cynn had just over $10.2 million in The Hendon Mob live tournament cashes before his newest score.
Follow John Cynn’s Run Live at PokerNews
