WSOP 2025: The Grinder’s Greatest Hour, Michael Mizrachi Wins 2025 WSOP Main Event and Joins Poker Immortality

Michael Mizrachi 2025 WSOP Main Event Bracelet Winner
Michael Mizrachi 2025 WSOP Main Event Bracelet Winner

Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi didn’t just win the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event—he ran it over. After already locking up a record fourth $50,000 Poker Players Championship earlier in the summer, Mizrachi returned for the big one and walked away $10 million richer, a Main Event bracelet heavier, and with his name fast-tracked into the Poker Hall of Fame.

It took just 79 hands—including all three final table knockouts—for Mizrachi to shut the door on the 9,735-player field and cap off one of the fastest, most dominant final table performances in modern WSOP history.

PositionPlayerCountryPrize
1United States of America Michael MizrachiUnited States$10,000,000
2United States of America John WasnockUnited States$6,000,000
3United States of America Braxton DunawayUnited States$4,000,000
4Belgium Kenny HallaertBelgium$3,000,000
5Serbia Luka BojovicSerbia$2,400,000
6United States of America Adam HendrixUnited States$1,900,000
7Spain Leo MargetsSpain$1,500,000
8United States of America Jarod MinghiniUnited States$1,250,000
9Korea, Republic of Daehyung LeeSouth Korea$1,000,000

Setting the Tone: First Two Hands, Two Bustouts

Final table play resumed with four players left, but Mizrachi didn’t waste time. On the very first hand of Day 10, Kenny Hallaert jammed his short stack from the button with ace-queen. Mizrachi snap-called from the big blind with king-jack, and spiked a jack on the turn to send Hallaert out in fourth.

Kenny Hallaert WSOP Main Event 2025
Kenny Hallaert WSOP Main Event 2025

One hand later—yes, literally the next hand—Braxton Dunaway found himself all in with ten-six suited against Mizrachi’s ace-ten. The board ran out with three clubs, giving Mizrachi the nut flush and another knockout. Two hands, two KOs, and suddenly Mizrachi had 83% of the chips in play.

Heads-Up: Wasnock’s Comeback Falls Short

Despite being heavily out-chipped, amateur John Wasnock didn’t go quietly. He made trips early in heads-up play and forced Mizrachi to fold. Then he picked off a bluff with just a pair of nines and chipped up to over 100 million.

John Wasnock WSOP Main Event 2025
John Wasnock WSOP Main Event 2025

But momentum quickly swung back. On a key hand, Mizrachi made a straight on the river and bet big. Wasnock called with top pair (kings) and was knocked back under 50 million. Still, he battled—until the 79th and final hand.

The Finisher: Turned Flush vs. Two Pair

On the last hand of the tournament, Wasnock opened the button to 5 million with ace-nine. Mizrachi defended with ten-three of clubs. The flop came ace-high, both players checked. The turn brought the club that changed everything—Mizrachi turned the flush, waved his rail to cheer, and raised Wasnock’s turn bet to 30 million.

Wasnock shoved for 70.5 million, and Mizrachi called instantly. Wasnock showed top two pair (aces and nines)—a strong hand, but second best. He needed the board to pair to survive, but the river bricked out and Mizrachi raised his arms in victory as his rail—led by his brothers and Vegas Pauly C—erupted.

A Hall of Fame Induction on the Spot

As the confetti settled, so did the history books. Despite Nick Schulman already being named this year’s inductee, the WSOP made an exception. Jack Effel, joined by legends like Hellmuth, Ivey, Rast, Harman, and Hennigan, inducted Mizrachi directly into the Poker Hall of Fame, mid-celebration.

Michael Mizrachi Hall of Fame Induction
Michael Mizrachi Hall of Fame Induction

“I feel like this was cement. I did what I had to do in the poker world,” Mizrachi said. “I’m never going to retire. I’ll be back next year for a lot more.”

Margets Makes History

Spain’s Leo Margets became the first woman in 30 years to reach a Las Vegas Main Event final table, eliminating Sergio Veloso on Day 9 with a dramatic river club to secure her spot. She finished in 7th for $1.5 million, adding yet another milestone to her already decorated poker career.

Leo Margets WSOP Main Event 2025
Leo Margets WSOP Main Event 2025

“It’s amazing. I’m living the dream that any poker player wants to live,” she said. “But let’s keep focus.”

The Double Crown and Poker’s Highest Honor

After achieving arguably the greatest accomplishment in poker history—winning the World Series of Poker Main Event and Poker Players Championship in the same summer—Michael Mizrachi was fast-tracked directly into the Poker Hall of Fame.

It took just an hour and 79 hands for Mizrachi to eliminate all three of his final table opponents and capture the world championship title for $10 million, capping off one of the most incredible final-day performances in WSOP history.

That was enough for the WSOP to put the eight-time bracelet winner, who earlier in the series won his historic fourth PPC title, into the Hall of Fame, despite Nick Schulman’s induction earlier this week and breaking with the one-induction-per-year standard.

Asked by PokerNews prior to the final table about his chances of Hall of Fame induction and whether missing out next year would feel like a snub, Mizrachi said:

“I really felt like it was locked in after the fourth time in the PPC. This is just another level. If it doesn’t happen, it just motivates me even more.”

Just days later, it became a reality as the new world champion hoisted both the most coveted bracelet in poker and the Hall of Fame trophy high above his head.

Historic Accomplishment

As Jack Effel announced his induction into the Hall of Fame, Mizrachi was flocked by fellow members Phil Ivey, Brian Rast, Phil Hellmuth, Mori Eskandani, Jen Harman and John Hennigan.

“Grinder, I’m supposed to tell you something,” Hellmuth said on stream. “Ready? What you’ve done is phenomenal … winning the Main Event, winning the Players Championship.”

Close by inside the Horseshoe Event Center was a rowdy rail that included Mizrachi’s family and poker players like Jon Turner, Chino Rheem, Karina Jett and poker villain Martin Kabrhel.

“It’s exciting,” Susan Laufer, Mizrachi’s mother, told PokerNews about her son’s HOF induction. “We all were hoping (for) that. Because he won the tournament(s) back-to-back … and I don’t think he got the recognition that he so much deserved until now. He got the recognition and we’re all very proud.”

It is hard to fathom the scale of what Mizrachi has achieved at this year’s series; it ranks not just among poker’s greatest achievements but is one of the greatest achievements in the history of gambling.

* Hands and photos courtesy of PokerNews and WSOP

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