Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi Wins Inaugural Poker Players Championship

Disclaimer: This article was originally published by Poker Channel Europe prior to its acquisition. We’ve preserved it for historical reference to honor the legacy of the Poker Players Championship and its impact on the poker world.

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Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi has added one of poker’s most prestigious accolades to his resume by winning the inaugural Poker Players Championship at the 2010 WSOP. Already a dominant force in tournament poker with nearly $9 million in earnings, Mizrachi finally captured his elusive WSOP gold bracelet — and did it in style, claiming the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy and a $1,559,046 payday.

Historic Victory

Mizrachi, 29, from Miramar, FL, outlasted 115 elite players in the $50,000 buy-in mixed-game event. The final table included his older brother, Robert Mizrachi, marking a record-setting family finish with Robert placing fifth. It was only the third time in WSOP history that two family members made the same final table — and the first time they both finished in the top five.

The field of 116 included 54 WSOP bracelet winners with a combined 123 bracelets among them. Three nations were represented at the final table: the United States, Sweden, and Russia.

About the Champion

• Age: 29
• Hometown: Miramar, FL
• Profession: Full-time poker pro since 2004
• Family: Married with three children
• Background: Former pre-med student, fluent in Hebrew, of Iraqi-Jewish descent

Nicknamed “The Grinder” for his tenacity, Mizrachi is known more for his aggressive play than for traditional tight-grind poker. This win removes his name from the list of best players never to win a WSOP bracelet. He previously won Card Player Magazine’s “Player of the Year” in 2006.

Final Table Results

1. Michael Mizrachi – $1,559,046
2. Vladimir Schmelev (Russia) – Runner-up finish in his best WSOP performance to date
3. David Oppenheim (Los Angeles, CA) – Impressive third after starting the final table with the shortest stack
4. John Juanda (Las Vegas, NV) – Four-time WSOP bracelet winner
5. Robert Mizrachi (Miramar, FL) – 2006 Pot-Limit Omaha champion
6. David Baker (Las Vegas, NV) – Youngest finalist at 23 years old
7. Daniel Alaei (Los Angeles, CA) – Prior winner in Deuce-to-Seven and Omaha Hi-Low
8. Mikael Thuritz (Sweden) – Eliminated early after starting with average chips

The final hand saw Mizrachi holding Q♠5♣ against Schmelev’s Q♦8♠. The board came 9♥6♥4♣5♥4♦ — Mizrachi’s pair of fives sealed the win.

Winner Quotes

• “If I was going to win a gold bracelet, I definitely wanted to win this event.”
• “Well, take me off the list, then.” (On being considered the best without a bracelet)
• “Grinding is the Mizrachi style.”
• “There’s no competition between us. We root for each other all the time.” (On playing Robert at the final table)
• “At least I put his chips to good use.” (On eliminating Robert)

Tournament Format and Structure

This event featured eight mixed games:

• Triple Draw Deuce-to-Seven Lowball
• Limit Hold’em
• Omaha Hi-Low Split/Eight-or-Better
• Razz
• Seven-Card Stud
• Stud Hi-Low Split/Eight-or-Better
• Pot-Limit Omaha
• No-Limit Hold’em

The tournament played a rotation of all eight games daily, switching to No-Limit Hold’em for the televised final table to cater to ESPN’s broadcast. The five-day tournament ran from May 28 to June 2, 2010, and was filmed for airing on July 27th.

Notable Moments

• The Chip Reese Memorial Trophy was unveiled by WSOP Tournament Director Jack Effel.
• Doyle Brunson gave a touching speech on Reese’s legacy.
• A tribute video honoring Reese was shown before play began.
• The previous year’s champion, David Bach, handed off the trophy in a new tradition modeled after golf’s Masters ceremony.
• Mizrachi requested Israel’s national anthem to be played at his bracelet ceremony.

Just a few months later, another young star made headlines by winning EPT London — David Vamplew’s breakout victory added to an unforgettable year in poker history.

Other In-the-Money Finishers

• Nick Schulman (9th)
• Abe Mosseri (11th)
• Lyle Berman (12th)
• Andy Bloch (16th) — runner-up in the inaugural 2006 H.O.R.S.E. Championship
• Kirk Morrison (17th) — bubble boy

Statistics & Legacy

• 235 hands played at the final table — the shortest finale by hand count in this event’s history
• 58.5 total hours of tournament play over six calendar days
• Attendance increased by 22% from 2009 (from 95 to 116 entries)
• Prize pool: $5,568,000 (up from $4.56M the prior year)

Past Champions of the Event

• David Bach (2009)
• Scotty Nguyen (2008)
• Freddy Deeb (2007)
• Chip Reese (2006)

For official coverage and historical archives of the Poker Players Championship, visit the World Series of Poker website.

The Poker Players Championship has quickly become one of the most prestigious tournaments in the poker world, a true test of all-around skill. For Mizrachi, this victory not only validates his elite status but stands as a symbol of resilience, redemption, and family legacy.

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