Michael David Mizrachi (born January 5, 1981) is an American professional poker player who won the 2010, 2012 and 2018 World Series of Poker $50,000 Players Championship.[3][4] Mizrachi also has two World Poker Tour titles, and he finished 5th in the Main Event of the 2010 World Series of Poker. In January 2013, Mizrachi signed on as a team pro member with Lock Poker.[5]
Personal life
Mizrachi was born in Miami, Florida.[6] He is the younger brother of Robert Mizrachi who has numerous World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour finishes to his own name. He has a twin brother Eric Mizrachi (a semi-amateur poker player[7]) and a younger brother, Daniel Jay Mizrachi, who is a professional DJ, also known as DJ Mizrachi; and a casual poker player with three cashes in the Main Event.[8] Mizrachi is fluent in Hebrew, as his father, Ezra Mizrachi, is of Iraqi Jewish origin.[9] Growing up, Mizrachi wanted to become a doctor but dropped out of college to play poker full-time.
Mizrachi has three children: Paul William (named after his grandfather), Julie and Joseph Mizrachi. He lives in Hollywood, Florida.[10] He purchased a motor home out of his poker winnings which he used to keep his family near him when he was on the road, but eventually sold it as it was depreciating in value.[11] In early 2010, a federal tax lien in the amount of $339,711 was filed against Mizrachi for unpaid taxes related to his earnings from 2005 to 2007.[12] Mizrachi also had two residential properties in Florida foreclosed on including a condominium he owned with his brother, Robert.[12] In 2016, Aidiliy Mizrachi, his wife, divorced Michael for irreconcilable differences.
Poker
Live poker
Tournaments
As of 2023, Mizrachi's live tournament winnings exceed $17,400,000.[13] His 87 cashes at the WSOP account for over $9,500,000 of those winnings.[14]
World Series of Poker
In the 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Mizrachi tied the record of seven money finishes in a single year.[15] In the 2008 World Series of Poker, he finished third in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha World Championship.[16] In 2010, Mizrachi won his first bracelet in The Poker Player's Championship, defeating Vladimir Shchemelev heads-up and winning $1,559,046. His brother Robert Mizrachi finished 5th in the same event.[17] Later that year, Mizrachi also made the November Nine in the Main Event.[18] He would go on to finish 5th, earning $2,332,992, and was eliminated by eventual winner Jonathan Duhamel. Despite his strong performance at the 2010 WSOP, Frank Kassela was awarded the Player of the Year award based on the pre-existing scoring system. This was controversial because some felt that Mizrachi's year was better, which resulted in a refinement of the scoring system.[19] Mizrachi's success in 2010 led to ESPN poker announcer Norman Chad labelling it "The Year of The Grinder".
In 2011, Mizrachi just missed winning another WSOP title when he took 2nd in the $2,500 Omaha/Stud Eight or Better event for $158,148.[20]
At the 2011 WSOPE, Mizrachi won his second bracelet in the €10,400 No Limit Hold'em (Split Format) by defeating Shawn Buchanan in heads up play, earning €336,008.[21]
Mizrachi made three final tables At the 2012 World Series of Poker and won his second $50,000 Poker Player's Championship title, earning $1,451,527, becoming the event's first two-time champion in the process.[22]
The 2013 WSOP Africa saw Mizrachi win the $3,300 Main Event in a field of 116 players for his first circuit ring earning $101,267 in the process.[23]
In 2018, Mizrachi won the Poker Player's Championship for a record setting 3rd time, earning $1,239,126.[24]
In 2019, Mizrachi won his fifth bracelet in Event #27: Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo 8 or Better, besting a field of 460 players for $142,801.[25]
World Poker Tour
In January 2005, Mizrachi finished fifth in the World Poker Tour (WPT) World Poker Open at a table also featuring Daniel Negreanu and Scotty Nguyen.[26] The next month, he won a first prize of $1,859,909 at the L.A. Poker Classic, defeating a final table including Ted Forrest and Erick Lindgren.[27] He also finished 11th place (out of 452 entrants) in the $25,000 WPT Championship.[28]
Style
Mizrachi is a methodical grinder carefully avoiding large confrontations as he steers his way through a large field - even if it means playing his high pocket pairs a little casual.[citation needed]
In 2024, Mizrachi won the $888 No Limit Hold'em - Crazy 8's Encore (Online Bracelet Event #30) marking his first online bracelet and sixth bracelet overall.[30]
Cash games
Inspired by his brother Rob’s online poker success Michael started online with Paradise Poker's $5/$10 Limit Hold’em and quickly moved on to PokerStars’ $30/$60 and then $100/$200 games.[31]
An "E" following a year denotes bracelet(s) won at the World Series of Poker Europe
An "O" following a year denotes bracelet(s) won during the World Series of Poker Online
