By Samantha Williams
This story just stepped off the Hollywood cutting floor – perhaps even written by Quentin Tarentino, only a with lot more money, a lot less violence; and the usual fabulous supporting cast. The Michael Mizrachi story has not ended in 2010, but this starring Texas Hold em Poker player will go down in the history books this year as an unbelievable success.
Texas Hold ’em Poker is every man’s game, it is also fast becoming every women’s game too, and 2010 has been a good year for the ladies – in particular Vanessa Selbst. In the case of Mizrachi, the whole family plays the game, which includes Michael’s three brothers; Robert, Eric, Donny, and his wife Lily. But picture this…the Hollywood scene …it is July 2010, all four brothers buy-in at $10 000 and take to the felt to play Texas Hold em Poker; it’s the WSOP Main Event – what a start to an epic journey? This has got people talking and avidly, following four poker playing brothers and one huge event.
Day one and two came and went, all four brothers were still in. Then came day three with only Eric below the mark – he yielded to 718th place on day four; took home $19,263 and also took on the role of first cheerleader for his remaining three brothers. The brothers battled it out and on day five Donny cashed in for $36,463 and 345th-place. Michael and Robert returned for day six with 205 players still in the running for this Texas Hold em poker marathon game. Michael in 30th place, true to his nick-name, ground his way into second place with Robert doubling up twice after being left with a very short stack.
At this point in the drama, it must be known that Michael Mizrachi was being called the “best poker player without a bracelet”!
Robert, who has a bracelet, joined the rest of the family on the rail, while Michael continued playing the game. Down to $1.5million his stack went; then back up to $7.5 – the Grinder was in 16th place. Day seven, day eight and his seat in the November Nine was set – $8 million up and thanks to a 10th place exit from Brandon Stevenson.
The hype was tremendous – but he took second place to Duhamel and earned a legendary place in the “best ever to play” Main Event history annals. However there was still the Players’ Championship and Player of the Year to come, and he nearly pulled off a Triple Crown. 2010 was this “Grinders” year and you might be delighted to know this story ahs a happy ending, he earned his bracelet and won the 41st Annual WSOP opening event, a one-off $50,000 Players’ Championship for the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy, which he won at the same time.
This is the stuff that dreams, legendary Hollywood movies and Texas Hold em poker are made of!!
