Image courtesy of PokerGO.com
Over the past two decades, dozens of players have ascended from virtually nothing to the very top of the poker world, with some dominating tournaments, others grinding it out at the cash game tables, and others yet being amazing ambassadors for the game.
Few players have dominated in every area as much as Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, a player whose incredible poker career just got its crowning moment, as he was inducted in the Poker Hall of Fame in an unexpected decision by the Poker Hall of Fame board, made up of all living hall of famers.
This impromptu decision was made for obvious reasons, as The Grinder pulled off one of the most incredible feats in poker history, winning both the Poker Players Championship and the Main Event in a single summer.
Yet, it wasn’t just this year’s performance that the Hall of Famers decided to honor with this move, but rather an illustrious career that spans more than 20 years and depicts a true poker professional that younger players should only aspire to become.
Humble Beginnings and Ascent in the Poker World
Like so many young poker players in the early 2000s, Michael Mizrachi started his poker career online, after learning the game from his older brother Robert.
Interestingly enough, Robert also grew into a top-tier poker player, winning five World Series of Poker bracelets and numerous other accolades over the years.
Yet, in the case of Mizrachi brothers, the student has surpassed the master, as Grinder’s methodical approach that earned him his nickname was enough to make him into one of the world’s best in both tournament and cash game poker.
Mizrachi’s first success at the live felt came in 2004, when he recorded his first tournament cashes, including some six-figure ones that were enough to kick-start his career.
In 2005 and 2006, Michal won nearly $3 million in two separate World Poker Tour Main Events, making his name known to the poker world and starting a legacy that would last for decades.
Over the coming years, the Grinder kept on plying his trade, learning every poker game there is, winning smaller events, and playing cash games against some of the toughest opposition there is, all in preparation for what was yet to come.
A Legend is Made in the Poker Players Championship
In 2010, Michael Mizrachi finally captured his first WSOP bracelet, and it was in the most prestigious event of them all, the $50k Poker Players Championship.
Along with $1.5 million, Mizrachi won even more respect from his peers, as he defeated a tournament stacked with top-tier professionals only.
Amazingly enough, Michael came back in 2012 and won the event again, after securing his second WSOP bracelet at the 2011 WSOP Europe in the meantime.
Not to be undone, Michael’s close poker friend Brian Rast went on to win the event twice himself, capturing the title in 2011 and 2016, respectively.
The friendly rivalry continued in 2018, when The Grinder won the PPC for the third time, only for Rast to match him once more in 2023.
Going into the 2025 WSOP, Rast and Mizrachi both held three PPC titles, a statistic that defies all probability, considering the event was played a grand total of 18 times prior to 2025.
The Grinder decided he doesn’t care what the statistics say and went on to win the 2025 PPC as well, prompting many in the poker world to question WSOP’s decision not to consider him as one of the 2025 Poker Hall of Fame nominees.
The WSOP Main Event as the Crowning Jewel
There is no poker tournament in the world quite like the WSOP Main Event, and poker players around the world dream of winning this one more than any other poker event.
In 2025, the stars aligned for Michael Mizrachi, who entered the Main Event on Day 1B, and proceeded to make his way to the final table over eight days of true grinding.
The Grinder was short, all-in, and at risk many times, as his stack went up and down throughout the week. Even on the last day before the final table, Mizrachi was short and at risk multiple time, but the cards went his way in all the key spots.
Several hands on Day 9 saw Mizrachi burst into an overwhelming chip lead, and with just four players left and most of the chips in his stack, he was very confident he would be able to close things out within an hour.
Close them out he did, as it only took a total of 19 hands for Mizrachi to eliminate all three of his opponents and win poker’s greatest trophy, the WSOP Main Event bracelet, along with $10,000,000 in cash.
Poker Greats Welcome Mizrachi to Their Ranks
The likes of Daniel Negreanu and Phil Hellmuth led the charge, but it appears that almost all professional poker players gathered at the WSOP were in agreement that Michael Mizrachi belongs in the Poker Hall of Fame.
The decision came together quickly, and the WSOP decided that, should Mizrachi hold on and win the Main Event, they would induct him into the HOF without any voting.
This decision showcased just how amazing Mizrachi’s achievement was. For the first time in the history of the HOF, all members agreed that an impromptu induction was in order.
The Grinder went from not even being nominated for this year’s induction, which was awarded to Nick Schulman, to being the only player ever to be given the special honor of skipping the line.
While his double victory won’t be enough to secure the WSOP Player of the Year trophy, the induction into the HOF and more than $11 million in prize money should be enough to make this the most memorable summer of Mizrachi’s life.
For other Hall of Fame hopefuls, there is always next year, as well as the opportunity to pull of an incredible feat and perhaps skip the line altogether.
