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Mike “The Grinder” Mizrachi is one American Jew who is proud of his heritage…and proud of Israel…

He won what is perhaps the most prestigious event at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas, the $50,000 entry Players Championship, which tests the top poker players in the world in eight different forms of poker.

The final table consisted of two Jews (Mizrachi and his brother, Robert), a Russian, and a former Bible salesman…but Mike “The Grinder” came out on top, but only after personally knocking out his poker-playing sibling.

At the bracelet award ceremony following the event, Mizrachi chose to have the National Anthem of Israel, “HaTikvah” played…

Keep up the great work, Grinder…Israel is proud of you, too…

MICHAEL MIZRACHI CAPTURES WSOP POKER PLAYER’S CHAMPIONSHIP

The inaugural Poker Player’s Championship was won by Michael “the Grinder” Mizrachi

Reprinted from WSOP.com

He has been one of the most successful tournament pros over the last six years, now with nearly $9 million in accumulated tournament winnings.

“Grinding is the Mizrachi style, he said.”

Mizrachi had previously won just about every major title in poker except a WSOP gold bracelet. “If I was going to win a gold bracelet, I definitely wanted to win this event, said Mizrachi.” Today, he achieved that milestone by pulling off a masterful victory in the biggest buy-in tournament of the year.

The final table included Mizrachi playing against his brother Robert Mizrachi, who ended up finishing fifth. “There’s no competition between us. We root for each other all the time.” In an interesting turn, it was Michael who eliminated Robert in fifth place. “At least I put his chips to good use.”

This marked the highest finish by two family members in WSOP history. Three different nations were represented at the final table, including the United States, Sweden, and Russia. “The Grinder,” cheered on by much of the Mizrachi family, won $1,559,046. In addition to the coveted WSOP gold bracelet, Mizrachi was also presented with the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy.

“To win Chip Reese’s Trophy is really special to me. I hope to be able to honor him in the way he deserves.”

When asked about his previous status being listed near-universally as one of the top players never to have won a WSOP gold bracelet: “Well, take me off the list, then.”

About the newest WSOP bracelet winner:

“The Grinder” is from Miramar, FL. He is 29 and was born in Miami, FL. Mizrachi is a professional poker player. He has been playing full-time since 2004. Prior to playing poker, Mizrachi was a college student. He was studying to become a doctor, but decided instead to pursue a poker career.

Mizrachi is married. He has three children. Mizrachi’s father is of Iraqi-Jewish decent. Mizrachi and most of his family are fluent in Hebrew. Mirzrachi has requested the Israeli anthem for his bracelet ceremony, in part because today’s other bracelet honoree is from the U.S. he is choosing to honor his family heritage.

Although Mizrachi has been one of poker’s top tournament players over the past several years, he has run poorly during the past year or so. Mizrachi’s financial pressures were widely-documented in the media and in various social media networks. The personal setbacks created enormous tension coming into this year’s WSOP. However, Mizrachi remained focused and won what many consider to be not only the toughest competition in poker, but one of the most prestigious, as well.

Prior to this event, Mizrachi had won just about every major title in poker except a WSOP gold bracelet. Mizrachi was Card Player Magazine’s “Player of the Year” in 2006. Mizrachi’s first recorded tournament cash took place in March 2004.

Mizrachi collected $1,559,046 for first place in the 2010 Poker Player’s Championship. He was presented with his first WSOP gold bracelet.

According to official records, Mizrachi now has 20 cashes, four final table appearances, and one win. His career WSOP earnings now total $2,156,322. Mizrachi’s last WSOP-related cash took place more than a year ago in the WSOP Circuit Main Event championship held at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. He finished second in that tournament.

Mizrachi is called “the Grinder” due to his never-give-up mentality. Mizrachi certainly does not fit the mold of the traditional poker grinder, however. The term is usually meant to describe a tight player. Mizrachi is actually one of poker’s most aggressive and unpredictable tournament pros.

Other members of the Mizrachi family have adopted the “Grinder” moniker. His is married to Mrs. Grinder. His mother is Mama Grinder. His children each have been called Baby Grinder at various times.

Mizrachi stated he followed the advice of some other poker pros — including J.C. Tran, Mike Matusow, and Robert Mizrachi. At one point when things were not going well at the final table and Mizrachi was on a break, Matusow encouraged Mizrachi to do jumping jacks in a back hallway to keep the blood flowing during the long tournament.

Mizrachi is the younger brother of fellow tournament pro Robert Mizrachi, a former WSOP gold bracelet winner.

Both Mizrachi brothers reached the final table. This was only the third time in WSOP history that two close family members had made it to a final table together. They become the highest-finishing family duo in history, eclipsing the 1995 feat by brother-sister combo Annie Duke (6th) and Howard Lederer (9th) in the Pot-Limit Hold’em event. The other duo to make a final table was brothers Ross Boatman (7th) and Barney Boatman in the 2002 Pot Limit Omaha competition.

The only other brothers to both hold WSOP gold bracelets are Grant and Blair Hinkle, from the Kansas City, MO area.

The final table consisted of three former WSOP gold bracelet winners: John Juanda (4 wins), Daniel Alaei (2 wins), and Robert Mizrachi (1 win). Three different nations were represented at the final table: the United States, Sweden, and Russia.

The final table began eight-handed. This was due to the mix of games played the previous four days, which necessitated an eight-player format. Final table participants ranged in age from 23 to 38. In what is believed to be his first time as a final table’s “senior” player, John Juanda fit the bill as the elder statesman. The youngest player at the final table was David Baker.

The runner up was Vladimir Schmelev, from St. Petersburg, Russia. Schmelev had previously cashed in several European tournaments. This was his best showing in a WSOP event to date.

The third-place finisher was David Oppenheim (Los Angeles, CA).