Michael Mizrachi holds 75% of chips in play at WSOP Main Event Final Table
The Grinder has been one card from elimination more than once, and has an overwhelming chip lead with four players remaining.
On Tuesday, the final nine players in the 2025 World Series of Poker $10,000 Main Event for a historic Final Table in the event center in Horseshoe Las Vegas. There were five blockbuster eliminations across four hours of play for Michael Mizrachi to put a stranglehold on the table and have 75% of the chips in play in only three hours.
Mizrachi’s dominated the final table, with him winning key hands to bag up 445.5 million, the largest chip disparity since 2006’s Jamie Gold. “We had a lot of Group 1 hands that played itself and I got lucky,” said Mizrachi.
The Finalists
“That’s a part of the game and you have to get lucky to win the Main Event,” he said. “Everything has been going my way; I believe it’s fate. I’m 44 years old, my favorite hand is 44 and I came up winning the Players Championship.”
“I’m feeling great, but I’ll be better when I have 100% of the chips in play,” said Mizrachi.
John Wasnock is closest with 94.5 million, Braxton Dunaway has 25.5 million and Kenny Hallaert has 19 million.
Wasnock said, “I feel good about the way I’ve played,” he said. “I got a good run of cards early to get a few more chips. That hand against the Grinder, the kings vesus ace king – I would have had half the chips in play at that point if it held.”
“Grinder was aggressive and getting it in bad often, but catching cards,” Wasnock said. “I feel like he’s done that seven times now.”
Kenny Hallaert was surprised by the early finish. “I’m not sure the Main Event has ever played three hours and lost five people,” he said. “It’s a weird feeling because you prepare for the long haul.”
“It was nice to see the tournament clock go down to five players,” Hallaert said. “No matter what, I’m guaranteed a better result than last time.”
“I was absolutely surprised by the pace of play today,” said Braxton Dunaway. “I wish I had a few more chips, but I need to run hot tomorrow. I’m still just happy to be here.”
The Final Table
Daehyung Lee was the first player to exit the table; his knockout came in the first hand of play. Lee opened, Wasnock called and they went to a Qd Jd 5h flop. Wasncok check-raised to 6.5 million and Lee moved all in holding As Qc. Wasnock called, holding pocket fives and flopping a set. Lee didn’t get any help and was eliminated.
Jaord Minghin’s exit wasn’t much longer; he busted six hands later. He opened on the button, Hallaert moved in from the big blind and Minghini called with Ad Qd. Hallaert was flipping with pocket fours, the board ran ten-high and Mangini’s exit was more of a celebration with his thunderous rail.
The crowd in the Horseshoe exploded following a dramatic with Mizrachi. He got all in preflop holding As Kd and Wasnock called holding pocket kings. Mizrachi was drawing live on the turn of a Js 8h 7d Qc board. The Ad spiked on the river, Grinder’s rail went nuts and he doubled into the chip lead with 151 million.
Then, we had another elimination with a preflop showdown. Margets limped on the button, Hallaert moved all in from the big blind and Margets called off holding Ah Th. Hallaert tabled pocket sixes, 6d 6s, and the board ran his way with four spades, eliminating Margets in 7th place.
Margets was the first woman to make the final table of the Main Event in 30 years. Barbara Enright blazed the way in 1995 with a fifth-place finish for $114,180 and Margets more than ten x’d her payout.
Media row jumped to its feet for the fourth time inside two hours when Adam Hendrix found himself all in with pocket jacks against Mizrachi’s Ah Kd. The board ran Qh Qc 4d Ks 3c, Mizrachi hit his Big Slick again and Hendrix was eliminated in sixth place.
Play settled down and they passed chips around for an hour. Luka Bojovic got his last 16.5 million in holding Ah Ks, Wasnock called with Ac Js and the board ran 4c 3c 2c Jh 6s and Bojovic was eliminated.
They played a little four-handed with Mizrachi holding a sizable lead over his competitors. The PokerGO Production staff let the table play a couple of hands four-handed before ending the day.
The players get to catch their breath overnight, catch up on the day’s action and return to play on Wednesday at 2:00 pm until we crown a new champion.
WSOP Main Event Final Table Chip Counts
1. Michael Mizrachi – 445,5000
2. John Wasnock – 94,500,000
3. Braxton Dunaway – 25,500,000
4. Kenny Hallaert – 19,000,000
WSOP Main Event Results
5th Luka Bojovic - $2,400,000
6th Adam Hendrix - $1,900,000
7th Leo Margets - $1,500,000
8th Jarod Minghini - $1,250,000
9th Daehyung Lee - $1,000,000
Photos courtesy of PokerOrg.