Michael Mizrachi: Year of the Grinder?

Tweet Share

Going into the 2010 World Series of Poker (WSOP) things looked pretty grim for Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi. In May, The Miami Herald broke a story outlining how the poker pro, who has won millions playing Texas Hold’em, owed $339,711 in federal taxes and had lost a condominium in Hollywood, Florida as well as a residence in Miramar, FL. when banks foreclosed on the properties.

“Obviously, I’m a better poker player than a businessman, but I’m getting better,” Mizrachi was quoted as saying. “I’ve smartened up. We’ll be OK.”

That just may be the understatement of the year.

Thus far in the 2010 WSOP Main Event, Mizrachi has played exceptionally well and has consistently been one of the chip leaders. He is riding a surge of momentum created by his cashing in four events this year for total winnings of $1,684,051, and has also picked up his first bracelet.

He started his amazing run at the end of May, coming in first in the 50K Players Championship Event, winning his first career bracelet and $1,559,046 in cash. “To win Chip Reese’s Trophy is really special to me,” Mizrachi said following the event. “I hope to be able to honor him in the way he deserves.”

His next cash came in the 10K Seven Card Stud Championship, where he finished in 6^th place for $ 68,949. Then, in mid June he came in 8^th in the 10K Limit Hold’em Championship event, for $49,732. And finally, he placed 26^th in the $2,500 Mixed Event, picking up an additional $ 6,324 in pocket money.

But “The Grinder,” is used to big paydays. In 2005, he took down the World Poker Tour (WPT) Main Event in the L.A. Poker Classic and raking in over $1.85 million and tied a WPT record of seven finishes in the money.

The following year he did it again, dominating the 2006 WPT Borgata Winter Open in Atlantic City and for another million-dollar payday. The same year he was honored by being named CardPlayer Magazine’s Player of the Year.

By 2009 however, his yearly tournament earnings had slipped to somewhere in the $300,000 range and may have contributed to his getting behind in his taxes.

Mizrachi was born January 5, 1981 in Miami Florida. His older brother Robert Mizrachi has almost four million in career earnings and is also a WSOP bracelet holder. Robert has been credited with teaching Michael to play poker at age 15. “The Grinder” also has a twin brother Eric, another poker player, and a younger brother Daniel.

Mizrachi started out his adult life working as a poker dealer in 2002 at the Seminole Casino Hollywood where he met his wife, Aidiliy, who was also a dealer. The couple has a son, Paul William, and a daughter named Julie Malka. At one point, Mizrachi purchased a used tour bus so that the family could be with him when he was on the road traveling to various poker tournaments around the country.

Currently, Michael Mizrachi is now 14^th on the All Time Money List.