The Chip Reese Trophy once again belongs to Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi (pictured). The "Year of the Mizrachi Redux" is in full effect at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in Las Vegas, as on Thursday, "The Grinder" took down the $50,000 Poker Player's Championship for the second time, becoming its first ever two-time winner. He also banked $1.4 million.HogWild Poker, a free, U.S.-friendly online poker site, makes PocketFives' WSOP coverage possible. The site is staking 10 players with $500 buy-ins to live events at casino tournaments of their choice every month. On top of that, each month, HogWild is throwing in a $2,000 staking package to a WSOP Circuit Main Event. Sign up for HogWild Poker for free today by clicking here. U.S. players are welcome.
Mizrachi's accomplishments over the last two years on the WSOP stage are pretty impressive. In May 2010, he won the Poker Player's Championship for $1.5 million and his first WSOP bracelet. One week later, Mizrachi finished sixth in the $10,000 Seven Card Stud World Championship. Two weeks after that, the poker pro took eighth in the $10,000 Limit Hold’em World Championship.
In 2010, Mizrachi was a member of the November Nine of the Main Event and turned in a fifth place finish for $2.3 million.
In 2011, Mizrachi was back at it again, this time finishing second in the $2,500 Mixed Omaha/Seven Card Stud event at that year's WSOP. Later that year, he took his domination of the poker world across "The Pond" to Cannes, where "The Grinder" won his second gold bracelet in a No Limit Hold'em Split Format event during WSOP Europe for $420,000.
But wait, there's more. Mizrachi has three top-five finishes already at the 2012 WSOP:
May 29, 2012 – Fifth place in the $1,500 Seven Card Stud High-Low Split event
June 15, 2012 – Fourth place in the $1,500 Deuce to Seven Draw Lowball event
June 28, 2012 – Won the $50,000 Poker Player's Championship for $1.4 million
We'll save you having to do the math, but in the 2010, 2011, and 2012 WSOPs, Mizrachi has racked up three bracelets, nine final tables, and made the November Nine. He's at #10 on the WSOP's all-time money list at just north of $6.7 million and is second to Allen Cunningham in winnings among players who have never won the Main Event.
"Michael Mizrachi's accomplishments are truly impressive," HogWild Poker's Greg Friend told PocketFives. "He's in third place in the WSOP Player of the Year race and quickly closing in on John Monnette and Phil Ivey." Ivey has five final tables at the 2012 WSOP, while Monnette has a first place, second place, and third place finish under his belt.
Mizrachi defeated PocketFives member Chris SLOPPYKLOD Klodnicki (pictured) heads-up after entering as a 2:1 chip leader. Because the tournament will not be televised on ESPN this year, the final table was played out in the same format as the rest of the event instead of reverting to No Limit Hold'em.Play ended during Omaha Eight or Better when Mizrachi made a ten-high straight and Klodnicki failed to make a qualifying low.
Here's how the final eight cashed out in the $50,000 Poker Player's Championship:
1. Michael Mizrachi - $1,451,527
2. Chris SLOPPYKLOD Klodnicki - $896,935
3. Andy Bloch - $561,738
4. Luke FullFlush1 Schwartz - $604,736
5. Roland Israelashvili - $317,882
6. Stephen stevie444 Chidwick - $253,497
7. Bill Chen - $205,856
8. Bruno Fitoussi - $169,879
Much of the attention of the PocketFives community was focused on Chidwick and Mizrachi. According to a poster from the United Kingdom, Chidwick, a member of the U.K. poker community, "finished 3rd in Event #27, $1.5K HORSE, so definitely one to be feared in Mixed Games… At the age of 20, he won 101 Main Event tickets, crazy." Read the thread.
Mizrachi posted on Twitter following his historical win, "Just want to give a shout out to all My Family, Friends, & Fans! Love you all and thanks 4 your support. Couldn't do it without U!"
In other WSOP news, nine players remain in Event #49, $1,500 Ante Only No Limit Hold'em. This brand new tournament attracted nearly 1,000 players and a top prize of $256,000 will be awarded on Friday at the Rio. Mike SowersUNCC Sowers (pictured), Greg DuckU Hobson, Harrison gibler123 Gimbel, John JohnnyGstaks Hayes, and Mike timex McDonald are all still standing:1. Eugene Du Plessis - 996,000
2. Mike SowersUNCC Sowers - 824,000
3. Seth Davies - 640,000
4. Greg DuckU Hobson - 608,000
5. Harrison gibler123 Gimbel - 325,000
6. Justin Schwartz - 252,000
7. John JohnnyGstaks Hayes - 229,000
8. Mike timex McDonald - 205,000
9. Sameer Aljanedi - 167,000
Stay tuned to PocketFives for the latest WSOP coverage of online poker players.
