2025 WSOP Main Event Winner – Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi
The culmination of the 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Main Event delivered a dramatic and unprecedented moment in poker history, capturing global attention with its immense stakes. After weeks of intense competition, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi emerged as the undisputed champion, securing the coveted gold bracelet and a life-changing $10,000,000 top prize. This victory was not merely a win; it represented an achievement of such extraordinary magnitude that it immediately redefined the pinnacle of poker success, setting a new benchmark for future generations of players.
A Year for the Ages: The Unthinkable Double
Michael Mizrachi’s triumph at the 2025 WSOP Main Event was uniquely significant because it followed his victory in the prestigious $50,000 Poker Players Championship (PPC) earlier in the same series. This dual triumph is widely regarded as an unprecedented accomplishment in the annals of poker, elevating Mizrachi to an unparalleled status. The Poker Players Championship is renowned as one of the most challenging tournaments in the world, demanding mastery across multiple poker variants, making its capture a testament to a player’s comprehensive skill. Winning both this elite event and the Main Event within the same summer demonstrates a level of versatility and sustained excellence previously unseen.
The significance of this dual victory extends beyond the individual titles, establishing a direct connection to Mizrachi’s immediate legendary status. His performance was so exceptional that it created an undeniable case for his place among poker’s all-time greats. Reflecting on his remarkable run, Mizrachi himself acknowledged the exceptional quality of his play, stating, “I played my best poker in my life… Especially in the PPC”. This sentiment underscores that his success was not merely a fortunate streak but the result of peak performance in the sport’s most demanding arenas.
The Road to Glory: 2025 WSOP Main Event Overview
The 2025 WSOP Main Event, officially Event #81: $10,000 WSOP Main Event World Championship, unfolded over several weeks, running from May 27 and culminating on July 16, 2025. The iconic Horseshoe Las Vegas and Paris Las Vegas in Nevada served as the venues for this grand spectacle. The tournament attracted a massive field of 9,735 entrants, generating a staggering total prize pool of $90,535,500. It is noteworthy that while this was an immense turnout, the 2025 Main Event stands as the third-largest in WSOP history, following the record-setting tournaments in 2023 and 2024, both of which surpassed 10,000 entries. This continued growth underscores the enduring and expanding global appeal of the World Series of Poker.
Michael Mizrachi’s journey through the Main Event was characterized by a blend of strategic brilliance, remarkable resilience, and an undeniable run of favorable outcomes. His performance was described as one of the most dominant in Main Event history, particularly after he secured a decisive chip lead during Day One of the Final Table. However, his path to victory was not without its challenges. On Day 8, Mizrachi faced a critical moment, finding himself with just 2.5 big blinds at the final three tables. His ability to battle back from such a precarious position to not only survive but also establish an overwhelming chip lead speaks volumes about his composure and strategic depth.
This comeback was significantly aided by an extraordinary sequence of events: from Day 8 until heads-up play on Day 10, Mizrachi won an astonishing nine consecutive preflop all-ins. These critical moments included instances where he was ahead and held, and others where he hit crucial cards on the turn or secured runner-runner flushes to double up. The statistical improbability of winning nine consecutive preflop all-ins, calculated at approximately 0.275% (or about 1 in 364), highlights that while skill is paramount, a substantial element of fortune is often indispensable in securing victory in such high-stakes, high-variance tournaments. Mizrachi himself acknowledged this, stating, “You’ve got to get lucky at that point… It’s hard to win the main event, and you’ve got to win flips. A lot of flips”. This perspective illustrates that the path to a Main Event title requires a rare confluence of exceptional strategic acumen, mental fortitude, and a significant measure of good fortune at critical junctures.
The Final Table: A Masterclass in Dominance
The final nine players for the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event Final Table were determined on July 14, 2025. By July 15, the field had narrowed to the final four contenders: Michael Mizrachi, John Wasnock, Braxton Dunaway, and Kenny Hallaert. Mizrachi entered the final day with a commanding chip lead, holding 445,500,000 chips, representing over three-fourths of the total chips in play.
The other players at the final table each brought significant experience and compelling narratives. John Wasnock, an investment banker from North Bend, Washington, had initially entered Day One of the Final Table as the overall chip leader before Mizrachi’s surge. Braxton Dunaway, an oil and gas industry professional from Midland, Texas, was a formidable opponent, having won a WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 Monster Stack event in 2023. Kenny Hallaert, a Belgian professional poker player and tournament director residing in London, England, was the sole non-American among the final four. He brought extensive live tournament experience, including a deep run to sixth place in the 2016 WSOP Main Event.
A notable storyline from the final nine was the presence of Leo Margets from Spain. An experienced professional and the first woman to reach the WSOP Main Event final table since Barbara Enright in 1995, Margets had a historic opportunity to become the first female World Champion. While she ultimately finished in 7th place, her presence highlighted the increasing diversity and groundbreaking achievements within the highest echelons of professional poker.
Mizrachi’s overwhelming chip advantage at the start of the final day allowed him to execute a swift and decisive victory. He efficiently eliminated his three remaining opponents within the first two hands of the day, a testament to the immense strategic and psychological pressure a dominant chip leader can exert. Kenny Hallaert was the first to fall, finishing in 4th place for $3,000,000. His ace-queen offsuit was overcome by Mizrachi’s king-jack suited when a jack appeared on the turn. Immediately thereafter, Braxton Dunaway was eliminated in 3rd place, earning $4,000,000, when his ten-six suited could not improve against Mizrachi’s ace-ten suited.
The heads-up battle for the championship was then set between Michael Mizrachi and John Wasnock. Mizrachi secured the title in a dramatic final hand where his suited ten-three turned into a flush, besting Wasnock’s flopped ace-nine two pair. Wasnock was unable to improve on the river, officially crowning Mizrachi the champion. The entire final day of play concluded in approximately one hour and five minutes, a remarkably short duration that underscored Mizrachi’s commanding performance.
The final table results and payouts for the 2025 WSOP Main Event are detailed below:
2025 WSOP Main Event Final Table Results and Payouts
| Place | Name | Country | Prize (USD) |
| 1st | Michael Mizrachi | United States | $10,000,000 |
| 2nd | John Wasnock | United States | $6,000,000 |
| 3rd | Braxton Dunaway | United States | $4,000,000 |
| 4th | Kenny Hallaert | Belgium | $3,000,000 |
| 5th | Luka Bojovic | Serbia | $2,400,000 |
| 6th | Adam Hendrix | United States | $1,900,000 |
| 7th | Leo Margets | Spain | $1,500,000 |
| 8th | Jarod Minghini | United States | $1,250,000 |
| 9th | Daehyung Lee | South Korea | $1,000,000 |
Instant Legend: A Spontaneous Hall of Fame Induction
In a moment that further cemented his place in poker history, Michael Mizrachi was spontaneously and immediately inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame following his Main Event victory. This unprecedented event occurred at the feature table, with a contingent of existing Poker Hall of Fame members present to witness and participate in the extraordinary honor. The induction was a unanimous decision, a 33-for-33 vote by his peers, underscoring the universal recognition of his monumental achievement.
Poker luminaries, including Phil Ivey, Brian Rast, Phil Hellmuth, and John Hennigan, were among those who welcomed Mizrachi into the exclusive club. Phil Hellmuth, a Hall of Famer himself, famously described the induction as a “fucking battlefield promotion,” a vivid testament to the phenomenal nature of Mizrachi’s dual victories in the Main Event and the Poker Players Championship. This immediate and unanimous recognition, bypassing the typical, more prolonged induction processes, powerfully conveyed the overwhelming consensus among poker’s elite that Mizrachi’s 2025 performance was so profoundly impactful and undeniable that it warranted an immediate place in the game’s highest pantheon.
Mizrachi’s reaction to the unexpected honor captured the magnitude of the moment. He expressed genuine surprise and emotion, stating, “I mean, I was thinking next year, but [happening] this year, I can’t explain the feeling. It’s amazing, winning the main event, win the PPC, and now getting into the Hall of Fame”. WSOP Chief Executive Officer Ty Stewart further encapsulated the sentiment, recognizing Mizrachi’s achievement as “the most impressive feat in poker history”. This spontaneous induction was not merely an award; it was a powerful symbolic act that cemented Mizrachi’s legendary status in real-time, underscoring the extraordinary nature of his 2025 summer.
“The Grinder’s” Enduring Legacy
Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi’s 2025 WSOP performance is the pinnacle of a long and distinguished career marked by consistent excellence at the highest levels of the game. With his Main Event and Poker Players Championship victories, Mizrachi officially became a nine-time WSOP bracelet winner. This includes his record-setting fourth Poker Players Championship title, an achievement that highlights his exceptional skill across diverse poker formats.
The Main Event win propelled his career tournament earnings to an impressive total of over $29.1 million. This was not his first significant Main Event run; he previously finished fifth in the 2010 Main Event, earning $2.3 million in the same year he secured his first PPC title. This demonstrates a sustained ability to perform at the highest stakes over a prolonged period, showcasing his adaptability and enduring prowess in the poker world.
Beyond prize money and bracelets, Mizrachi’s 2025 victories had a substantial impact on his standing in the poker world’s competitive rankings. The Main Event win earned him 3,300 Card Player Player of the Year (POY) points, propelling him into ninth place in the 2025 POY standings. Additionally, he accrued 2,250 PokerGO Tour (PGT) points, moving him into first place on that high-stakes leaderboard. His famous nickname, “The Grinder,” aptly describes his relentless style of play and consistent success, a testament to his dedication and strategic approach to the game. Mizrachi’s 2025 success is therefore not an isolated incident but the culmination of a distinguished and enduring career, solidifying his unique place in poker’s lore.
Conclusion: A New Standard for Poker Greatness
Michael Mizrachi’s performance at the 2025 World Series of Poker stands as one of the most remarkable individual achievements in the history of the game. By winning both the prestigious Main Event and a record fourth Poker Players Championship in the same summer, followed by an immediate and unanimous induction into the Poker Hall of Fame, Mizrachi has undeniably set a new benchmark for what is possible in competitive poker.
The repeated use of terms like “poker immortality” by official WSOP sources underscores the collective recognition within the poker community that Mizrachi’s 2025 run transcends typical success. It is not merely a series of wins but a redefinition of what constitutes ultimate poker greatness. This summer will forever be remembered as a testament to strategic mastery, unwavering resilience, and the occasional, yet crucial, role of fortune in the highest stakes of the game. Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi has not only achieved poker immortality but has also established a new paradigm against which future achievements in the sport will undoubtedly be measured, inspiring generations of players to come.