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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).

Housing one of the top 25 banks in the world is no small feat for a tiny country of 7 million in a perpetual state of war with its neighbors. More evidence that someone is doing something right running the State of Israel. More reasons for you to “come home”, my fellow Jews…

Israel gets representation on list of best banks

Mizrahi-Tefahot on list of 25 best banks in 2010 in developed markets put out by Global Finance magazine. Israeli bank ranked among financial heavy-hitters J.P. Morgan, Credit Suisse, and HSBC

Y-Net

The international magazine Global Finance chose Mizrahi Tefahot as the “Bank of the Year in Israel.” An article published over the weekend highlighted a list of 25 banks chosen as the best for 2010 in developed markets.

The list included leading banks in the world from North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

According to Global Finance, the banks chosen were the ones who attended to their customers’ needs with caution and responsibility during a period of “difficult markets,” and who reached the highest results while laying the foundations for their future success.

The magazine’s editors noted that the banks were chosen both by objective, quantitative criteria – such as growth in assets, profitability, geographic reach, strategic relationships, new business development, innovation and the banks’ ability to conduct and fund themselves in the current environment – and by subjective criteria – such as extensive consultations with bankers, corporatists and equity and credit analysts.

The magazine report noted: “The mix of these factors yields leading banks that may not be the largest, the oldest or the most diversified in a given country, but rather the best — the banks with which corporations around the world would most likely want to do business.”

“We recognize these banks for their outstanding accomplishments,” said Global Finance’s publisher, Joseph D. Giarraputo. “Global financial markets are extremely difficult and conditions in each market may have differed but the winning banks were all noteworthy in their dedication to satisfying their customers’ needs.”

Other banks recognized on the 2010 list include J.P. Morgan, HSBC, Royal Bank of Canada, and Credit Suisse.