Michael Mizrachi etched his name even deeper into WSOP poker history at the 2025 World Series of Poker, capturing a record-breaking fourth title in the $50,000 Poker Players Championship (PPC). The poker icon, widely known as “The Grinder,” outlasted one of the toughest fields in the game to claim the David ‘Chip’ Reese Memorial Trophy and a massive $1,324,951 payday.
“I’ve been getting a lot of cards, got lucky a few times, but I’ve been playing great… probably my best poker in any $50K,” Mizrachi told PokerGO’s Natalie Bode after the final hand.
This historic win makes Mizrachi the only player to win the WSOP Poker Players Championship four times, following earlier triumphs in 2010, 2012, and 2018. His 2018 record was briefly shared with Brian Rast, who also won the event three times before Mizrachi reclaimed the solo lead in 2025.
A Legendary Run at the 2025 WSOP Poker Players Championship
Held at Paris and Horseshoe Las Vegas, the 19th edition of this mixed-game championship drew 107 entries, the second-largest field in the last 10 years. With a $5,162,750 prize pool, only the top 17 players made the money—$100,000 being the minimum payout.
Among those cashing were top mixed-game players like:
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Matthew Ashton (17th – 2013 PPC Champion)
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Ali Eslami (15th)
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Justin Liberto (14th)
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Chris Vitch (13th – three-time bracelet winner)
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Mike Matusow (12th – four-time bracelet winner)
The bubble burst late on Day 3 with Chris Klodnicki falling just shy of the money.
Brutal Exits Before the Final Table
The race to the final table was filled with fireworks. Two-time bracelet winner Erick Lindgren saw his tournament end when his ace-high flush was cracked by Joao Vieira’s straight flush during pot-limit Omaha.
Soon after, Christian Roberts bowed out in 10th. Mixed-game veteran Marco Johnson fell in 9th during a round of razz, eliminated by Andrew Yeh in a lowball confrontation. Both Johnson and Ben Yu (8th) earned $142,720 for their deep runs.
Final Table Highlights: Taylor Makes History, Mizrachi Gains Control
Seven players returned for the final day, with Mizrachi holding the chip lead. The action got underway fast, with Ben Lamb (7th for $175,096) eliminated in the first hand during a wild stud eight-or-better pot involving Albert Daher and Mizrachi.
Lamb’s elimination meant that Esther Taylor had officially set a new record for the deepest run by a woman in PPC history. She surpassed Melissa Burr’s 7th-place finish in 2014 and wasn’t done yet.
Taylor chipped up by winning key pots in triple draw, while Daher dropped to the bottom of the leaderboard. Mizrachi eliminated Daher in 6th place ($224,077) with pocket sixes holding strong against K♦J♥.
Setting the Podium
Joao Vieira’s run ended in 5th place for $298,614 after a stud hand against Mizrachi and Bryn Kenney. Mizrachi made aces up on seventh street, and both opponents missed their draws.
Andrew Yeh, a past $10K H.O.R.S.E. champion, was next out in 4th place for $413,740. He committed his stack in a PLO pot with pocket queens but couldn’t outrun Mizrachi’s top pair.
Grinder Takes Over Three-Handed Play
Mizrachi entered three-handed play with 19.9 million of the 32.1 million chips in play. The Grinder leaned on his opponents, applying constant pressure while Kenney and Taylor scrambled to survive.
Kenney scored a key double through Taylor in limit hold’em. Soon after, Taylor was dealt a pat 9-8-6-4-2 in deuce-to-seven single draw but ran into Kenney’s made 7-6-5-4-3—a wheel. She finished 3rd for a career-best $595,136, bringing her lifetime earnings to the brink of $3 million.
“I’m proud to represent women in poker… I hope more women transition into mixed games,” Taylor said in her post-match interview.
Michael Mizrachi Closes It Out in Style
Heads-up play began with Mizrachi holding a massive 29,975,000 to Kenney’s 2,125,000. Despite a valiant effort from Kenney, the match concluded during triple draw deuce-to-seven lowball.
In the final hand, Kenney stood pat with a 9-7 low while Mizrachi drew and made a 10-6. Kenney tanked and decided to break his nine, drawing a 2♣ to pair up—ending his run in 2nd place for $887,542.
Bryn Kenney, already poker’s all-time tournament earnings leader, boosted his lifetime haul to over $80.8 million with this result.
Michael Mizrachi’s WSOP Poker Legacy Grows
This win gives Michael Mizrachi his seventh WSOP bracelet, adding to his:
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Four-time Poker Players Championship titles (2010, 2012, 2018, 2025)
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2011 WSOP Europe €10,400 Mixed Format
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2019 $1,500 Stud Eight-or-Better
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2024 WSOP Online $888 No-Limit Hold’em
He now has over $19 million in career earnings and stands as arguably the greatest mixed-game tournament player in WSOP poker history.
Mizrachi also earned:
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1,020 Card Player Player of the Year points
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700 PokerGO Tour points, pushing him into the Top 40 of that leaderboard.
Final Table Payouts – 2025 WSOP $50,000 Poker Players Championship
| Place | Player | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Mizrachi | $1,324,951 |
| 2 | Bryn Kenney | $887,542 |
| 3 | Esther Taylor | $595,136 |
| 4 | Andrew Yeh | $413,740 |
| 5 | Joao Vieira | $298,614 |
| 6 | Albert Daher | $224,077 |
| 7 | Ben Lamb | $175,096 |
| 8 | Ben Yu | $142,720 |
| 9 | Marco Johnson | $142,720 |
Stay tuned for more breaking coverage from the 2025 World Series of Poker, including the biggest wins, bracelet victories, and dramatic showdowns from the world’s premier poker tournament series.
