Diego Cordovez (born 1965) is an American poker player, the only son of the former UN Under-Secretary-General, Diego Cordovez. He has won one World Series of Poker bracelet, and he has 16 WSOP cash finishes, including 7 final tables. He has won over $1.4 million in career tournament winnings.[1] His 16 cashes at the WSOP account for $613,847 of those winnings.[2]
Born in New York City, Cordovez claims to have been introduced to poker by his first-grade teacher, as a way of making basic math seem like fun.[3]
At the 2000 World Series of Poker, Cordovez won the $2,000 no limit Texas hold 'em event, earning more than $290,000 and a bracelet. He defeated English professional poker player and bracelet winner, Dave Ulliott heads-up to win the tournament. The final table also included Phil Ivey, David Pham, and Toto Leonidas.[4] Cordovez followed this a couple of months later with another first-place finish at the Legends of Poker limit hold 'em event.[5]
In 2002, Cordovez cashed in another four WSOP events, making the final table in three of them, including a second place in the $2,000 SHOE event, losing to Phil Ivey.[6] He also won the limit Holdem championship at the Los Angeles Poker Open at the Commerce Casino, the largest limit Holdem tournament in history; the first prize was $569,430.[7]
Cordovez was featured on ESPN's coverage of the 2008 WSOP Main Event at a table which also featured 2003 Main Event Champion Chris Moneymaker and professional player Clonie Gowen as well as being interviewed in a segment about his career as a poker player.