Michael Mizrachi Becomes Poker Legend with 2025 WSOP Main Event Victory
Few players ever reach the upper tier of poker stardom—where fans line up for selfies and autographs at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. Fewer still achieve true poker immortality, where a single name says it all: Doyle, Ivey, Daniel, Phil. Today, that exclusive club welcomed a new member—Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi.
Already a poker powerhouse with seven WSOP bracelets and a record four Poker Players Championship titles, Mizrachi now owns the most prestigious trophy of them all: the WSOP Main Event bracelet. In one of the most dominant final table runs in modern history, Mizrachi topped a field of 9,735 entries to become the 2025 World Champion, earning $10,000,000 in the process.
The final hand came just 79 hands into final table play—and only 20 hands into the final day—when Mizrachi turned a flush against the two pair of John Wasnock. It was a defining moment in a career filled with highlights, cementing Mizrachi’s legacy in poker history.
[Michael Mizrachi]
2025 WSOP Main Event Final Table Results
1 Michael Mizrachi – United States $10,000,000
2 John Wasnock – United States $6,000,000
3 Braxton Dunaway – United States $4,000,000
4 Kenny Hallaert – Belgium $3,000,000
5 Luka Bojovic – Serbia $2,400,000
6 Adam Hendrix – United States $1,900,000
7 Leo Margets – Spain $1,500,000
8 Jarod Minghini -United States $1,250,000
9 Daehyung Lee – South Korea $1,000,000
[Kenny Hallaert]
Mizrachi Makes History – Again
After capturing the $50,000 Poker Players Championship for the fourth time earlier this summer, Mizrachi seemed destined for greatness. And when the Poker Hall of Fame nominees were announced—without his name on the list—it stirred debate. But Mizrachi let his chips do the talking.
He entered Day 10 with a dominant chip lead, having come back from just two big blinds earlier in the tournament and scoring a crucial river three-outer to survive. With over 75% of the chips in play to start the final day, he promised a fast finish—and delivered.
The final four resumed play with Kenny Hallaert as the shortest stack. He was eliminated on the very first hand, running ace-queen into Mizrachi’s king-jack. A jack on the turn sealed his fate.
One hand later, Braxton Dunaway called off his stack with ten-six but couldn’t crack Mizrachi’s ace-ten. The Texan, who previously won the 2023 Monster Stack, exited in third.
A Cinderella Story Meets Destiny
Heads-up play began with Mizrachi holding nearly a 5-to-1 chip advantage over John Wasnock, a recreational player from Washington with just over $140,000 in lifetime earnings. Wasnock had the makings of a Cinderella story, having earned just $56,000 in his biggest live score prior to this.
He fought admirably—winning a few key pots and even catching Mizrachi bluffing. But ultimately, the momentum and destiny were on Mizrachi’s side. In the final hand, Wasnock shoved with aces and nines, but Mizrachi’s turned flush with ten-three of clubs held strong as the rail erupted in celebration.
“I told you an hour,” Mizrachi said with a grin, referencing his prediction the night before. “Everything just felt meant to be.”
Poker Hall of Fame Induction—On the Spot
In a move that stunned the poker world, WSOP executives—joined by legends like Phil Ivey, Phil Hellmuth, and Eli Elezra—announced Mizrachi’s immediate induction into the Poker Hall of Fame following his victory, bypassing the traditional voting process.
“It was amazing. I feel like it was well deserved,” said Mizrachi. “I’ve achieved everything I wanted in poker. But I’m not done. I’ll be back next year for more.”
A Final Table for the Ages
Mizrachi’s win shattered records—not just in terms of payouts, but in performance. The 79-hand final table was the shortest in 20 years, a testament to his aggressive and precise play. With his banner now hanging permanently inside the Horseshoe Event Center, Mizrachi’s legacy as a poker legend is not just secure—it’s undeniable.
