John Avelino

John Avelino, hailing from Las Vegas, NV, has been playing poker for 27 years. He was introduced to No Limit Texas Hold Em by a friend named Ace when he was 15 years old, shortly after the Moneymaker Boom. Avelino's poker journey began with casual $5 buy-in games, but over time, he immersed himself in the game, mastering strategy and participating in low-stakes cash games. Avelino's most significant achievement came at the CSOP 97, where he won $2,050, marking his best result in a live tournament. He reached the money bubble with a double knockout and eventually agreed to a $4,000 chop with his opponent in heads-up play. Outside of tournaments, Avelino works in a poker room and is known for his fondness for 7 Card Stud and gambling. While he doesn't have an official nickname yet, he jokingly suggests "JMOON" or "Houdini" for his knack for making chips disappear.