Talk about a double-up
Going into the final day of the 2025 WSOP Main Event final table, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi already had almost all of the chips. In less than an hour, he had the rest. On Wednesday, Mizrachi put the capper on what many are already considering the greatest overall World Series of Poker performance of all time, winning the 2025 WSOP Main Event and the $10m first prize.
As if that wasn’t enough, though, WSOP VP Jack Effel and a crew of poker luminaries surprised Mizrachi after the bracelet presentation with the news that he had also been inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame.
I’ll be back next year for a lot more.”
“I feel like (the Main Event) was cement. I cemented everything,” Mizrachi told the crowd afterward. “That’s all I wanted was the Main Event. I did what I had to do in the poker world. Achieved the Hall of Fame. I’m never going to retire, so don’t worry about that. I’ll be back next year for a lot more.”
“Mizrachi has completed what might be the most impressive feat in poker history by winning the two most difficult tournaments to win in the same year,” said WSOP Chief Executive Officer Ty Stewart, referring to his other bracelet victory of the summer, his fourth triumph in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship. “Welcome to the Gallery of Champions and welcome to the Poker Hall of Fame.”
The moment was all Mizrachi’s
Mizrachi rolled through the two-day Main Event final table, needing just 79 hands to best the other eight competitors. It was the quickest final table in at least 20 years and Wednesday’s action took less than an hour.
He did need one big chunk of luck to even make it to Wednesday, though, as he found himself all-in with A-K against then-chip leader John Wasnock’s A-A. But Mizrachi rivered an Ace to double-up and take the lead, and he ended the penultimate day with over 75% of the chips in play.
With a monster stack, decades of experience, and a full tank of confidence, Mizrachi knew he was going to win, and everyone watching expected it. But just as he came back from just two big blinds on Day 8, so could his opponents find some cards and climb back into contention.
This was Michael Mizrachi’s day, though, and he would not be denied. He eliminated Kenny Hallaert and Braxton Dunaway on the first two hands, cruising into heads-up play against Wasnock with an enormous 491 million-chip to 93.5 million-chip lead.
Wasnock crept over the 100 million-chip mark at one point and certainly did not give in, but without a couple of double-ups, it just wasn’t going to happen. On the 18th and final hand of heads-up, Wasnock flopped two pair with A-9, but Mizrachi turned a flush. Unfortunately for Wasnock, it was then that he decided to make a stand, betting 10 million and then re-raising all-in after Mizrachi raised him to 30 million. Mizrachi made the easy call and actually thought Wasnock was drawing dead, as he didn’t see that both his cards had paired. Mizrachi wasn’t concerned about the four outs, though, and in moments, he had his long-desired Main Event bracelet.
Induction of a new legend
Leading up to the final table, many poker pros, half-joking, half-serious, said on social media that if Mizrachi won the Main Event, that he should be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame immediately without having to wait until next year. In addition to all of his other successes, the Main Event would give him eight total bracelets, including a record four Poker Players Championships, and over $29m in live earnings. This was also his second time winning the PPC and making the Main Event final table in the same year – he first did it in 2010.
As it turns out, those calls for the Hall were heard loud and clear. Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth – Hall of Famers themselves – suggested to Jack Effel that should Mizrachi win the Main Event, the formality of next year’s nomination and vote should be waived and he should be swept into the Hall of Fame right then and there. The other Poker Hall of Famers, the ones who ultimately vote on who makes it, all gave the idea their blessing.
So after he was presented his gold and diamond bracelet, several Hall of Famers joined him on stage to present him with his honor and welcome Mizrachi into the Poker Hall of Fame.
2025 World Series of Poker Main Event – Final Table Payouts
- Michael Mizrachi – $10,000,000
- John Wasnock – $6,000,000
- Braxton Dunaway – $4,000,000
- Kenny Hallaert – $3,000,000
- Luka Bojovic – $2,400,000
- Adam Hendrix – $1,900,000
- Leo Margets – $1,500,000
- Jarod Minghini – $1,250,000
- Daehyung Lee – $1,000,000
