Michael Mizrachi “The Grinder” wins the 2010 50k Player's Championship 8 game

Michael Mizrachi “The Grinder” wins the 2010 50k Player’s Championship 8 game

June 2nd, 2010

Michael Mizrachi “The Grinder” wins the 2010 50k Player’s Championship 8 game

The second event of the 2010 World Series of Poker was the $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship. This year, the Player’s Championship replaced the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. event. In addition, the format was changed to an 8-Game format. 8-game includes all of the variants of H.O.R.S.E. but also adds 2-7 Triple Draw Lowball, NL Holdem, and PL Omaha.

Day 1 of the event drew 116 players. Most of the big names of the poker world showed up to the event including Doyle Brunson, Phil Ivey, Chris Ferguson, Howard Lederer, Daniel Negreanu, Jennifer Harman, Tom Dwan, Robert Mizrachi, Eli Elezra, John Juanda, and Gus Hansen. The event was kicked off with a special tribute for Chip Reese, the first ever winner of the $50,000 Event in 2006. Doyle Brunson spoke on his friend, followed by a special tribute video.

Only a few busted during Day 1 and Erik Sagstrom emerged as the Day 1 chip leader. Day 2 saw the field reduced by over half as players looked to pick up chips for the long road ahead. Jennifer Harman, Ralph Perry, Huck Seed, Hoyt Corkins, Patrik Antonius, Mike Matusow, and Daniel Negreanu all went out on Day 2. Kirk Morrison was the chip leader heading into Day 3.

Day 3 saw the field shrink to just 21 players as players made their move to make the money. Barry Greenstein, Phil Ivey, Justin Bonomo, Jeff Lisandro, Scotty Nguyen, and Doyle Brunson all fell during Day 3. Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi was the Day 3 chip leader.

Day 4 saw both the money bubble burst and the final table reached. Kirk Morrison was the final table bubble boy and Andy Bloch was the first to go out in the money. Bloch has cashed in this event 3 of the 5 years of its existence. After a long day of play the final table was reached and this is how the final eight players started with Robert Mizrachi as chip leader.

Seat 1: David Baker – 3,095,000
Seat 2: Mikael Thuritz – 2,300,000
Seat 3: Vladimir Schmelev – 1,925,000
Seat 4: John Juanda – 2,620,000
Seat 5: Daniel Alaei – 1,705,000
Seat 6: Michael Mizrachi – 2,620,000
Seat 7: David Oppenheim – 460,000
Seat 8: Robert Mizrachi – 3,125,000

Mikael Thuritz was first to be eliminated when Michael Mizrachi flopped a full house with 6-4. Daniel Alaei was out in 7th when his A-6 could not outdraw the A-K of Vladimir Schmelev. David Baker was knocked out in 6th by Michael Mizrachi when his A-J was dominated by Mizrachi’s A-K. Robert Mizrachi was knocked out by his brother Michael in 5th when Michael’s Q-J outdrew Robert’s A-10.

John Juanda went out in 4th when he ran K-9 into the pocket tens of Vladimir Schmelev. David Oppenheim was knocked out in 3rd when Michael Mizrachi outdrew Oppenheim’s eights with K-Q.

Heads-up play started with “The Grinder” with a comfortable lead, but he wound up losing that lead. He was then all-in and behind with Ac-7c against the Ad-Jd of Schmelev. Mizrachi flopped a club draw and Schmelev a broadway draw. Schmelev made his straight on the turn but Mizrachi hit his flush on the river to pull back even.

From that point, Mizrachi took over and steadily chipped up until he had Schmelev with only 500,000 in chips. Schmelev then moved in with Q-8 and was called by Mizrachi with Q-5. A five on the turn gave Mizrachi the lead and his fans went nuts. The pair of fives held and Michael Mizrachi is the winner of the $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship.

Mizrachi won $1.5 Million for his epic run as well as a gold bracelet and the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy. Mizrachi was present his bracelet during the bracelet ceremony Wednesday at the Rio. Michael Mizrachi now has obtained the one win that was missing from his storied career, a WSOP braclet.

Congratulations to Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi, Champion of the 2010 WSOP $50,000 Poker Player’s Championship.