In a moment of sheer dominance and emotion, Israeli-American poker legend Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi etched his name into the annals of poker history by winning the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event, taking home a staggering $10 million prize and securing his eighth WSOP bracelet.
At 44 years old, Mizrachi’s historic win caps a summer of unprecedented success. Just three weeks earlier, he had captured his fourth title in the prestigious $50,000 Poker Players Championship – an event considered one of the most challenging in the game due to its mixed-variant format.
That victory alone earned him $1.3 million and positioned him as the most decorated player in the tournament’s history.
But it was his triumph in the WSOP Main Event – a grueling 10-day marathon with a $10,000 buy-in and over 9,700 players from around the world – that secured his legacy. Displaying a signature mix of aggressive play, unshakable confidence, and well-timed luck, Mizrachi bulldozed his way to the final table.
He arrived at the last day with a massive chip lead, and within just 80 hands—the shortest final table in at least a decade – he dispatched his remaining opponents, including heads-up challenger John Wasnock, who finished second with $6 million.
Mizrachi went all-in with ace-king against Wasnock’s pocket kings
One of the tournament’s most pivotal moments came when Mizrachi went all-in with ace-king against Wasnock’s pocket kings. A dramatic ace on the river flipped the momentum, vaulting Mizrachi into a dominant position he never relinquished.
More than just a poker champion, Mizrachi is a proud Jew and staunch supporter of Israel. Born to an Israeli father and raised in a tight-knit Jewish family in Miami, he carries his heritage with pride. Among his many tattoos is an Israeli flag on his left arm, and during the WSOP Main Event, he wore a dog tag symbolizing solidarity with the Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
After winning the Poker Players Championship earlier this summer, Mizrachi even requested that Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah,” be played in place of the American anthem – a gesture that drew a wave of support from Israeli fans who filled the Las Vegas arena with flags and cheers.
“This is the best day of my life,” Mizrachi said after the win. “I’ve accomplished everything I ever wanted in poker. The main event was the last thing on my list. Now, I feel complete.”
Mizrachi’s poker journey is as colorful as his achievements. Raised in a home where gambling was part of the culture – his father often woke him in the middle of the night to help at slot machines, and his mother introduced him to card games – he developed a fearless playing style marked by unpredictability and relentless pressure.
His older brother, Robert, is also a decorated poker pro with five WSOP bracelets, and like Michael, has celebrated victories with Israeli symbols and pride.
Mizrachi’s career has spanned over two decades, with more than $29 million in live tournament earnings. He first rose to global prominence in the early 2000s, when televised poker boomed in the United States, and he quickly became a household name among fans of the game. In 2010, he made a deep run in the WSOP Main Event, finishing fifth and earning $2.5 million – a result that hinted at the greatness to come.
This year’s WSOP also made headlines for other reasons: Spain’s Leo Margets became the first woman to reach the final table since 1995, finishing seventh and winning $1.5 million. But it was Mizrachi’s victory – and his celebration draped in Israeli pride – that became the defining story of the tournament.
Following his win, it was announced that Mizrachi would be inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of the game’s all-time legends.
“I’m not done,” he said with a smile. “I’ll be back next year – and many years after that.”
With eight WSOP bracelets, a main event title, and an enduring commitment to both poker excellence and his heritage, Mizrachi isn’t just a champion. He’s a symbol of what’s possible when skill, heart, and identity come together at the table.