Michael Mizrachi Claims Historic Fourth Title in $50,000 Poker Players Championship at WSOP 2025
One of the most prestigious tournaments in the world of poker has found a familiar champion once again. Michael Mizrachi, known as “The Grinder,” has made history at the 2025 World Series of Poker by capturing his fourth title in the iconic $50,000 Poker Players Championship—more than any player in history.
Held at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas, the Poker Players Championship (PPC) is widely regarded as the ultimate test of all-around poker skill, combining a rotation of mixed-game formats and attracting the game’s most elite talent. In 2025, the event drew 107 entries, building a prize pool of $5,162,750.
Mizrachi outlasted them all to earn $1,331,322 and etch his name into poker history books yet again, now standing alone as the only four-time PPC winner. His previous victories came in 2010, 2012, and 2018. This win also adds a seventh WSOP bracelet to his resume.
[Michael Mizrachi]
Dominant Performance from Start to Finish
Mizrachi’s latest PPC victory was arguably his most commanding to date. From Day 1, he held control of the tournament, never falling short-stacked and eliminating five of his seven final table opponents.
Runner-up honors went to Bryn Kenney (2nd, United States), who took home $887,542, while Esther Taylor (3rd, United States) made headlines of her own by securing the deepest finish ever by a female player in PPC history, earning $595,136.
2025 Poker Players Championship – Final Table Results:
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1st: Michael Mizrachi (United States) – $1,331,322
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2nd: Bryn Kenney (United States) – $887,542
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3rd: Esther Taylor (United States) – $595,136
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4th: Andrew Yeh (United States) – $413,740
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5th: Joao Vieira (Portugal) – $298,614
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6th: Albert Daher (Lebanon) – $224,077
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7th: Ben Lamb (United States) – $175,096
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[Esther Taylor, Michael Mizrachi and Bryn Kenney]
Inside the Final Day: Eliminations and Mastery
The final day began explosively, with Mizrachi eliminating Ben Lamb (7th, United States) on the very first hand. Albert Daher (6th, Lebanon) was next, falling to Mizrachi in No-Limit Hold’em after a tough battle in Triple Draw.
Joao Vieira (5th, Portugal), a respected mixed-game pro, couldn’t survive Mizrachi’s relentless aggression, losing a massive pot in Stud and bowing out shortly after. Andrew Yeh (4th, United States) followed in Pot-Limit Omaha, leaving Mizrachi with a massive lead three-handed.
Esther Taylor made a valiant effort and even seemed poised to make heads-up history, but Kenney mounted a short-stack comeback. In a key No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw hand, Kenney made a perfect wheel to crack Taylor’s pat-nine, sending her out in third.
Mizrachi entered heads-up play with a 15:1 chip lead and never looked back. Just minutes later, he sealed the win, hoisting the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy for an unmatched fourth time.
Mizrachi Eyes Fifth Title and Poker Hall of Fame Recognition
With his fourth PPC win, Mizrachi now steps out of the shadow of three-time champion Brian Rast, who won the event in 2023 and was inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame in 2024.
“This one might be my best,” Mizrachi said after the victory. “I was at the top the whole way, never in danger, and I think I played close to perfect.”
When asked about joining Rast in the Hall of Fame, Mizrachi smiled: “If I win number five, maybe that’s the ticket. I hope next year’s my year.”
With his competitive fire still burning, Mizrachi has already made it clear: he’s not done yet.
All-Time Poker Players Championship Winners
2025: Michael Mizrachi (United States) – $1,331,322
2024: Daniel Negreanu (Canada) – $1,178,703
2023: Brian Rast (United States) – $1,324,747
2022: Dan Cates (United States) – $1,449,103
2021: Dan Cates (United States) – $954,020
2019: Phil Hui (United States) – $1,099,311
2018: Michael Mizrachi (United States) – $1,239,126
2017: Elior Sion (United Kingdom) – $1,395,767
2016: Brian Rast (United States) – $1,296,097
2015: Mike Gorodinsky (United States) – $1,270,086
2014: John Hennigan (United States) – $1,517,767
2013: Matthew Ashton (United Kingdom) – $1,774,089
2012: Michael Mizrachi (United States) – $1,451,527
2011: Brian Rast (United States) – $1,720,328
2010: Michael Mizrachi (United States) – $1,559,046
2009: David Bach (United States) – $1,276,802
2008: Scotty Nguyen (United States) – $1,989,120
2007: Freddy Deeb (United States) – $2,276,832
2006: David “Chip” Reese (United States) – $1,716,000
Why the Poker Players Championship Is So Special
Unlike typical Hold’em-only events, the Poker Players Championship tests players across eight different variants including Razz, Stud, Omaha Hi-Lo, and No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw. It’s considered the ultimate test of versatility and endurance. Winners of this event are often seen as the most complete poker players in the world.
That’s what makes Mizrachi’s four victories so legendary—not just winning, but doing so in an environment where only the very best survive.
