By BetterPokerNews | Published: July 16, 2025
Las Vegas, Nevada — There are poker stories, and then there are poker legends in the making. What’s happening right now at the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event feels like the latter. I’ve covered this game for over a decade—through Ivey’s dominance, Moneymaker’s miracle, and even Negreanu’s heartbreaks—but watching Michael Mizrachi tear through this final table? It’s different. It feels like watching destiny unfold, one hand at a time.
You’d expect nerves at the biggest final table in the world, especially with $10 million up top. But Mizrachi—aka “The Grinder”—wasn’t there to tiptoe. In the first seven hands, two players were sent to the rail. By the time I’d finished my second cup of coffee and moved from the media pit to the rail, the field had gone from nine to four. And Mizrachi had amassed a monster stack: 445.5 million chips, or roughly 76% of the chips in play.
It wasn’t just a chip lead—it was total domination.
The Grinder Is Grinding Harder Than Ever
Let’s be honest—Mizrachi has never been the quiet type. He doesn’t just play poker; he performs it. His table presence is electric, almost intimidating, and it’s no surprise his rail was the loudest in the Horseshoe on Tuesday.
But what’s most impressive isn’t the swagger—it’s the focus. He’s hunting something historic. Just weeks ago, he captured a record-setting fourth WSOP Poker Players Championship title, a feat most of us thought might never be matched. Now, he’s one final table away from winning the WSOP Main Event in the same year.
Do you understand how absurd that is? Two of the most prestigious titles in poker, in one summer, by one man.
Even Mizrachi seemed in disbelief. “I don’t know what to say,” he said after Day 9 wrapped. “I couldn’t fathom a day like this. Unreal. Just surreal.”
I saw him come off the stage and whisper something to his brother Robert. It was quick, emotional, and full of pride. There’s a realness to Mizrachi right now—a man who’s been through the grind, the downswings, the pressure—and who’s about to write his name in poker’s history books with ink that won’t fade.
The Ace That Changed Everything
It nearly didn’t happen. Midway through the session, Mizrachi was staring elimination in the face. All-in with A♠K♦ against K♠K♣, the chips went in, and you could feel the tension across the room. PokerGO’s cameras zoomed in on his face. He looked calm—but inside, you just know his heart was racing.
Then came the A♦ on the river.
The room exploded. His rail erupted. I literally saw a guy three tables away in the side event fist-pump like he’d just hit a one-outer.
And from that point, Mizrachi never looked back.
The Final Four: Chip Counts & Personal Stakes
Here’s where things stand heading into the finale:
| Rank | Player | Chips |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michael Mizrachi | 445,500,000 |
| 2 | John Wasnock | 94,500,000 |
| 3 | Braxton Dunaway | 25,500,000 |
| 4 | Kenny Hallaert | 19,000,000 |
Wasnock, Dunaway, and Hallaert have one thing in common—they’ve all been punched in the mouth by Mizrachi and are still swinging. Respect.
Wasnock’s Grit and Grace
John Wasnock, a married father of four and financial advisor from Washington, is your classic Main Event sleeper story. Quiet, patient, composed. The guy’s eyes barely flickered when Mizrachi cracked his kings with that ace. He took the beat like a pro, rebuilt his stack, and now sits second in chips.
“Obviously, that was a bit of a blow,” he told us, smiling slightly. “But I was still deep enough to breathe.”
In a game that eats egos alive, Wasnock’s humility is refreshing.
Hallaert’s Never-Say-Die Mentality
I’ve seen Kenny Hallaert deep in more WSOP events than I can count, and if there’s anyone who knows how to claw his way back from the brink, it’s him. Down to 19 million chips, he’s got a mountain to climb—but don’t count him out.
“I might not be the favorite,” Hallaert said, “but I’ve always believed it’s possible.”
The man has made the Main Event final table before (6th in 2016), and he knows how to maneuver a short stack with surgical precision.
Dunaway’s Rollercoaster Ride
Braxton Dunaway, the 2023 Monster Stack champ, had the chip lead at one point. But poker’s a cruel game. A couple of missed spots, and suddenly you’re fighting for survival. Still, he’s locked up at least $3 million, and with the blinds soaring, one double-up could change everything.
“I’m just happy to still be here,” Dunaway said, shaking his head at the madness of the day. “This is wild.”
The Bustouts That Shaped the Day
- Luka Bojovic, a Serbian doctor and CoinPoker ambassador, stayed out of the way long enough to bank $2.4 million in 5th place. His calm, analytical style earned him the respect of many pros.
- Adam Hendrix, one of the sharpest minds in modern poker, went out 6th after a classic flip against Mizrachi. He earned $1.9 million, pushing his career earnings past $10 million.
- Leo Margets, the heart and soul of this final table, made history as the first woman in 30 years to reach the WSOP Main Event final table. Her 7th-place finish earned her $1.5 million—but more importantly, it inspired countless players around the world.
“I cried for a few minutes,” Margets told us candidly. “But honestly, I’m okay now. I’m proud. I felt so supported.”
Watching her rail cheer every pot, every fold, every sweat—it reminded me why we love this game.
Final Payouts Remaining
| Place | Payout |
|---|---|
| 1 | $10,000,000 |
| 2 | $6,000,000 |
| 3 | $4,000,000 |
| 4 | $3,000,000 |
| 5 | Luka Bojovic |
| 6 | Adam Hendrix |
| 7 | Leo Margets |
| 8 | Jarod Minghini |
| 9 | Daehyung Lee |
The Final Chapter Begins
Today, four players will return to the felt with dreams in their eyes and millions on the line. Mizrachi has the chips, the momentum, and the history. But this is poker—and one cooler, one double-up, one misstep, and everything changes.
The broadcast begins on PokerGO at 3 PM PST with a one-hour delay.
Win or lose, Mizrachi has already given us a performance for the ages. But if he does win? He will have achieved a feat never seen in the history of poker: four Poker Players Championship titles and a WSOP Main Event win in the same year.
Final Thoughts from the Rail
Covering this day reminded me why I fell in love with poker in the first place. The agony, the ecstasy, the gut-wrenching flips, and the once-in-a-lifetime runouts. And in the center of it all, a man who simply refuses to be denied.
Michael Mizrachi’s story isn’t just about poker. It’s about resilience, timing, and rising when the moment demands it.
Stay with us at BetterPokerNews.com as we bring you the finale of this incredible saga—because history is being made, and you won’t want to miss a single hand.
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