‘The Grinder’ had no trouble working his way to the top and taking home the $10m top prize
Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi has officially cemented his place in poker history, winning the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event and earning an immediate induction into the Poker Hall of Fame—all in the same day. With his eighth career WSOP bracelet and a $10 million top prize, Mizrachi’s legacy reached an all-new level during an unforgettable final table at the Horseshoe and Paris casinos in Las Vegas.
The final session began with just three players standing between Mizrachi and the title. He wasted no time, knocking out Kenny Hallaert on the very first hand. Hallaert, holding Ace-Queen, pushed his short stack and lost to Mizrachi’s King-Jack after a jack landed on the turn. Hallaert collected $3 million for his fourth-place finish, adding another deep Main Event run to his résumé after a sixth-place finish in 2016.
Just minutes later, Mizrachi eliminated Braxton Dunaway with Ace-Ten suited against Dunaway’s Ten-Six. The board gave Mizrachi a flush, sending the Texan home in third with a $4 million payday.
Heads-up play between Mizrachi and amateur John Wasnock lasted just 15 hands. The final hand saw Wasnock make two pair with Ace-Nine, only to fall victim to Mizrachi’s flush. Wasnock’s runner-up finish earned him $6 million, while Mizrachi’s rail erupted in celebration.
After the win, Mizrachi received his massive diamond-studded bracelet and then, to his surprise, a Hall of Fame announcement. WSOP officials, along with poker legends like Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth, confirmed that Mizrachi was unanimously inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame immediately following his Main Event victory—something rarely, if ever, seen before.
With this win, Mizrachi becomes the first player to win both the Poker Players Championship and the Main Event in the same year. His achievements now include over $29 million in earnings and eight WSOP bracelets, putting him firmly among the game’s greatest.
