Cunningham’s live poker tournament took off in 1999 at the Bicycle Casino’s Legends of Poker event. That year, he made five final tables and won two of them and was therefore named “Best All Around Player”. However he had to wait till 2001 for his first WSOP bracelet, which he won in the Seven-Card Stud Event. In 2002 he won a bracelet in the Deuce-to-Seven Lowball Event. 2005 was a bonanza year for Cunningham at the WSOP. He made four final tables and won his third bracelet, this time in the $1,500 No Limit Hold’em Event. For his stellar performance he was awarded the title of ESPN/Toyota WSOP Player of the Year along with a brand new pick-up truck. In 2006 Cunningham won his fourth WSOP bracelet in the $1,000 No Limit Hold’em Event and finished fourth in the Main Event. In 2007 he won his third successive bracelet and his fifth overall bracelet in the $5,000 Pot Limit Hold’em Event. There are only four other poker professionals who have won a WSOP bracelet in each of three consecutive years. Cunningham has won other live poker tournaments as well. These include the $15,000 buy-in inaugural National Poker League Vegas Open Championship Main Event and the 2008 WSOP Circuit Event at Caesar’s Palace. Cunningham’s total live tournament earnings are about $10.2 million. He has had 16 first place finishes and 122 cashes.
Cunningham has also featured on television poker. He won the $300,000 ‘Mega Match’ on Poker After Dark in 2007. Cunningham plays cash games when not playing poker tournaments. His favorites are Pot Limit Omaha and mixed games like H.O.R.S.E.
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