If you were watching the PokerGO stream or refreshing the live updates on July 16, 2025, you know things felt different. The air in the Horseshoe Las Vegas wasn't just electric; it was heavy. Most years, the WSOP Main Event 2025 final table is a marathon of nerves, a slow-motion collision where players fold for three hours straight just to jump up one pay jump. Not this time. Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi decided he had somewhere else to be, and he played like he was parked in a loading zone.
He didn't just win. He steamrolled.
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Honestly, it was kinda terrifying to watch. By the time the dust settled, Mizrachi hadn't just secured the $10,000,000 first-place prize; he'd basically forced the Poker Hall of Fame to open its doors early for him. Winning the $50,000 Poker Players Championship and the Main Event in the same summer? That's not just a "good run." That's a statistical middle finger to the rest of the poker world.
The Night The Grinder Became Immortal
Let’s talk about the vibe at the table. You had 9,735 entries—the third-largest field in the history of the World Series of Poker—whittled down to nine people. Most people expected a long, grueling battle of attrition. Instead, we got a blitzkrieg.
Mizrachi walked into the final day with a massive chip lead. We're talking 445,500,000 chips. For context, the second-place stack, held by John Wasnock, was only 94,500,000. It wasn't a level playing field; it was a mountain versus a molehill. And Michael? He knew it. He predicted he’d finish the table in an hour. People thought he was being arrogant, but he was just being honest.
The Two-Hand Tsunami
If you blinked, you missed the first half of the day. On the very first hand of the four-handed play, Kenny Hallaert—the Belgian pro who’s been here before—pushed his last 19 million with $A-Q$. Mizrachi snap-called with $K-J$ suited.
Standard flip, right?
Hallaert was ahead on the flop. Then a Jack spiked on the turn. Boom. Hallaert out in 4th for $3,000,000.
Most players would take a breath. Maybe order a water. Not Mizrachi. On the literal next hand, Braxton Dunaway moved all-in with $10-6$ suited. Mizrachi looked down at $A-10$ suited and didn't even hesitate. He held. Two hands. Two eliminations. In about sixty seconds, the field went from four players to a heads-up match. Dunaway took home $4,000,000 for 3rd, but he looked like he’d been hit by a freight train.
WSOP Main Event 2025 Final Table: The David vs. Goliath Reality
The heads-up battle between Michael Mizrachi and John Wasnock was essentially the plot of every sports movie ever, except David didn't have a sling. He had a 5-to-1 chip disadvantage.
Wasnock is a 50-year-old investment consultant from Washington. Before this, his biggest score was a $56,000 win in a small tournament in Oregon. Now, he was sitting across from a man who had already won seven (now nine) bracelets. It was fascinating because Wasnock actually played quite well, considering the pressure. He didn't just roll over. He sniffed out a few bluffs and managed to keep his head above water for a bit.
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But you can't outrun the deck when the deck is in love with the other guy.
The Final Hand Breakdown
The end came on hand #79. Wasnock found $A-9$ in the small blind and raised. Mizrachi defended with $10-3$ of clubs.
The flop was $A-9-7$ with two clubs.
Wasnock had top two pair. He must have felt like he finally had the Grinder right where he wanted him. But Mizrachi had the flush draw. Both players checked. Then the 4 of clubs hit the turn.
Disaster for Wasnock.
He bet 10 million. Mizrachi, holding the flush, raised to 30 million. Wasnock, perhaps thinking Mizrachi was just being his usual aggressive self, moved all in. Mizrachi couldn't call fast enough. The river was a brick, and just like that, John Wasnock was the runner-up with $6,000,000 and Mizrachi was the king of the world.
Who Else Made the Cut?
While the Mizrachi show took over the headlines, the rest of the WSOP Main Event 2025 final table was actually a pretty diverse mix of talent and stories.
Leo Margets, the Spanish pro, made a historic run. She was the first woman at a Main Event final table since 1995. The energy every time she was in a pot was different—everyone wanted to see her take it down. She eventually finished 7th for $1,500,000 after a brutal flip went the wrong way.
Here is how the rest of the payouts shook out:
- Michael Mizrachi (USA): $10,000,000
- John Wasnock (USA): $6,000,000
- Braxton Dunaway (USA): $4,000,000
- Kenny Hallaert (Belgium): $3,000,000
- Luka Bojovic (Serbia): $2,400,000
- Adam Hendrix (USA): $1,900,000
- Leo Margets (Spain): $1,500,000
- Jarod Minghini (USA): $1,250,000
- Daehyung Lee (South Korea): $1,000,000
Why This Final Table Matters for the Future
People usually complain that the Main Event has become too much of a lottery. With nearly 10,000 players, the odds of a "name" pro making the final table are slim. But Mizrachi’s win changed the conversation. It proved that elite-level aggression and experience still matter even in massive fields.
Also, the pace was a wake-up call. We’ve seen final tables last 14 hours. This one was a sprint. It reminded everyone that poker is still a game of "punishing the weak," and if you give a world-class player a chip lead, they aren't going to sit around and wait for you to catch up. They’re going to end it.
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The induction of Mizrachi into the Poker Hall of Fame immediately following his win was the perfect "chef's kiss" to the summer. He’s now the 65th member, joining the likes of Phil Ivey and Doyle Brunson. WSOP CEO Ty Stewart called it the "most impressive feat in poker history," and honestly, it’s hard to argue with that.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Game
Watching the 2025 finale isn't just entertainment; there are things you can actually use.
- Pressure is a Tool: Mizrachi didn't win by having the best cards every hand; he won by making it incredibly expensive for everyone else to see a flop. If you have the big stack, use it. Don't let the short stacks breathe.
- GTO vs. Instinct: The final hand showed that even when you have "top two pair," you have to be wary of the board texture. John Wasnock’s check on the flop allowed Mizrachi a free card to hit his flush. In high-stakes poker, giving free cards is usually a death sentence.
- Tournament Longevity: Phil Hellmuth actually skipped the Main Event this year, citing how "grueling" the schedule has become. If you’re planning on playing in 2026, start your physical and mental prep months in advance. These two-week stretches are a young man's game—or at least a very well-rested man's game.
If you're looking to track the next big series, the 2026 WSOP Circuit starts at Planet Hollywood on January 1st. It's time to start looking at the schedule and deciding which ring you’re going to chase. You might not be the next Grinder, but you'll never know if you don't sit down.