Michael Mizrachi “The Grinder” Crowned 2025 WSOP Main Event Champion

After two decades grinding poker’s grandest stage, Michael Mizrachi aka “The Grinder” has done it! In just 79 final table hands, Mizrachi cemented his place among the world conquerors as he clinched the 2025 WSOP Main Event title. And to recall, he was down to just two big blinds with 24 players remaining. Today, he is the 56th World Series of Poker champion and $10 Million dollars richer.

Final 9 Payouts

Michael Mizrachi “The Grinder” Wins The 2025 WSOP Main Event

There is no greater title than the $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship, and this year, 9,735 players came out for a shot at immortality. As the third largest field in WSOP history, this built a prize pool of US$ 90,535,500. By the end of Day 8, the massive field was down to the last nine players, each one guaranteed at least a seven-figure payday, with an eye on the eight-figure grand prize.

At center stage, the player to beat was undoubtedly Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi. Just weeks earlier, Mizrachi captured his seventh career bracelet at the prestigious $50,000 Poker Players Championship, a title he has now won an incredible four times.

On Day 9, Mizrachi’s road to victory nearly ended in seventh place. All in with A♠K♦, he was in dire straits against then-chip leader John Wasnock’s dominant K♠K♣. The flop and turn brought no help but salvation on the river with an ace spiking the board turned the tide. Mizrachi catapulted to the top and never looked back. In an interview with media Pokernews, Mizrachi reflected,

“I mean, the PPC was pretty good, the last one. Everything went my way. It felt like the same thing in this one, as well. I knew I was destined to win, when I had two blinds, the ace on the river yesterday. Just felt like, after I have 75 percent of the chips today, there was no way.”

Entering the final day with four players remaining, Mizrachi was in a commanding position, holding 75 percent of the chips in play. On the first two hands, he  continued to surge by cleaning out Kenny Hallaert (4th) and Braxton Dunaway (3rd) to face Wasnock for the title. Ahead 163 big blinds to Wasnock’s 31 big blinds. It only took 18 hands to nail it shut. On a turn board A♦9♣7♣4♣ Wasnock was all in with A♠9♦ top two pair and was behind Mizarchi’s 10♣3♣ flush. The river came 5♣.

Inducted Into Poker Hall of Fame

After Mizrachi won his fourth WSOP $50K Players Poker Championship (PPC) title, few doubted that his name would soon join the game’s greatest. That inevitability turned into history the moment he triumphed at the 2025 WSOP Main Event. The Poker Hall of Fame doors were blown wide. There was no waiting, no voting process. WSOP Vice President Jack Effel made it official on the spot, awarding Mizrachi the Hall of Fame title and trophy in front of legends Phil Hellmuth, Phil Ivey, Eli Elezra, John Hennigan, Brian Rast, and Jennifer Harman.

“I cemented everything. 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.”

*Information and photos taken from live media coverage by Pokernews.