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Cornel Cimpan is an American professional poker player who made history as one of the few players to win two World Poker Tour (WPT) titles in a single year. Originally from Romania and now based in Sacramento, California, Cimpan is a true veteran of the game. He is respected for his grit and ability to mount massive comebacks, a trait that helped him dominate the high-stakes tournament circuit during his breakout years and maintain a steady presence in the poker world for over two decades.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
According to The Hendon Mob, Cornel Cimpan has won over $4 million in live tournament earnings. His career reached its peak in 2009, a year where he seemed almost unstoppable on the World Poker Tour. His biggest ever score came in February of that year when he won the WPT L.A. Poker Classic, defeating a tough field to take home $1,686,760.
Cimpan proved that win was no coincidence just a few months later. In November 2009, he won his second title at the WPT World Poker Finals at Foxwoods, earning another $910,058. In that final table, he famously overturned a huge chip deficit during heads-up play to secure the trophy. While he is best known for his WPT success, Cimpan has also been a consistent performer at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) , with his best Vegas result being a 5th-place finish in a $3,000 No Limit Hold’em 6-Max event for $111,475.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in 1971, Cornel Cimpan moved to the United States and eventually settled in Sacramento, California. Before he was traveling the world for poker, he lived in League City, Texas, where he began to build his reputation in the card rooms. Cimpan is part of the “old school” generation of players who learned the game through years of live play rather than just online simulators. His experience shows in his longevity; while many players from the 2009 era have disappeared, Cimpan is still actively competing in 2026, frequently cashing in series across California and Las Vegas.
Play Style & Strategy
Cimpan is known for being a grinder in the truest sense of the word. His strategy is built on patience and a refusal to give up, even when his chip stack gets low. Other players often point out his “never die” attitude, which was on full display during his Foxwoods victory where he came back from a 4 to 1 chip lead against his opponent. He plays a fundamentally solid game but isn’t afraid to take big risks when he senses a weakness. His transition from the aggressive era of the late 2000s to the more analytical modern game shows he has a great ability to adapt to whoever is sitting across from him.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to stay updated on Cornel Andrew Cimpan as he adds more cashes to his long career in 2026? You can follow his latest tournament results and rankings here:
