There are moments in poker when a player’s name becomes shorthand for consistency under pressure. Michael Mizrachi just delivered one of those moments at the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event, walking away with $10,000,000 and his eighth WSOP bracelet.

Winner: Michael Mizrachi ·
Prize: $10,000,000 ·
Field Size: 9,735 players ·
Event Dates: July 2–16, 2025 ·
Buy-in: $10,000 ·
Runner-up: John Wasnock

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact final hand details limited in search snippets (PokerNews)
  • Daniel Negreanu’s 2025 Main Event finish and payout not publicly detailed (PokerNews)
3Timeline signal
  • Main Event started July 2, 2025 (Wikipedia)
  • Final table reached July 13, played July 15-16 (Wikipedia)
4What’s next
  • Mizrachi’s eighth bracelet ties him for fifth-most all-time (ESPN)
  • WSOP 2026 schedule expected in early 2026 (ESPN)

The key facts table below summarizes the core data from the tournament.

Key facts and figures from the 2025 WSOP Main Event
Category Details
Winner Michael Mizrachi
Prize $10,000,000
Runner-up John Wasnock
Field Size 9,735
Buy-in $10,000
Event Dates July 2-16, 2025
Total Prize Pool $90,535,500
Winning Hand 10♣ 3♣
Mizrachi’s Bracelets 8 (ties for fifth-most all-time)

Who won the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event?

Michael Mizrachi’s path to victory

Michael Mizrachi, a 44-year-old professional poker player from Hollywood, Florida, won the 2025 WSOP Main Event, earning $10,000,000 and his eighth WSOP bracelet according to PokerNews (established poker industry coverage). His victory marked his third WSOP Main Event final table appearance, a feat of consistency few players have matched. Mizrachi’s winning hand was 10♣ 3♣, as confirmed by PokerNews.

The upshot

Mizrachi now holds eight WSOP bracelets, tying him for fifth-most all-time, a milestone documented by ESPN sports betting news. For a player who first broke through in 2010, this win cements his legacy as one of the game’s most consistent performers at the highest stakes.

Final table results and payouts

The payouts reveal how the financial stakes escalated at the final table.

Final table payouts for the 2025 WSOP Main Event
Place Player Country Prize
1st Michael Mizrachi United States $10,000,000
2nd John Wasnock United States $6,000,000
3rd Braxton Dunaway United States $4,000,000
4th Kenny Hallaert Belgium $3,000,000
5th Luka Bojovic Serbia $2,400,000
6th Adam Hendrix United States $1,900,000
7th Leo Margets Spain $1,500,000
8th Jarod Minghini United States $1,250,000
9th Daehyung Lee South Korea $1,000,000

Leo Margets, who finished seventh for $1,500,000, became only the second woman to reach a WSOP Main Event final table, as noted by ESPN sports betting news. The implication: the final table drew international talent from four countries, signaling the global reach of the modern game.

What is the schedule for the 2025 WSOP Main Event?

Key dates for the 2025 Main Event

The 2025 WSOP Main Event, designated Event #81, ran from July 2 to July 16, 2025, as part of the overall WSOP series that operated from May 27 to July 16, 2025, according to Pokerfuse (live poker industry news). The structure allowed 9,735 players to compete across multiple starting flights before the field narrowed to the final table.

Day structure and blind levels

  • July 2, 2025: Day 1 began with the first starting flight, as detailed by Wikipedia.
  • July 3-10, 2025: Additional starting flights and early rounds eliminated the majority of the field.
  • July 11-13, 2025: The field narrowed to the final nine players.
  • July 14-16, 2025: Final table played; Michael Mizrachi emerged victorious.
  • July 16, 2025: Mizrachi defeated John Wasnock heads-up for the title.
Why this matters

The two-week structure is designed to test endurance as much as skill. For players like Mizrachi, lasting 15 days of play requires mental stamina that separates champions from contenders — a pattern visible across every WSOP Main Event in the modern era.

The trade-off: a longer schedule allows more amateur players to enter, but it demands a level of focus that few professionals sustain. Mizrachi’s third Main Event final table appearance proves he has mastered that balance.

How many players were in the 2025 WSOP Main Event?

Total entries for the 2025 Main Event

The 2025 WSOP Main Event drew 9,735 entries — the third-largest field in the tournament’s history, according to ESPN sports betting news. The total prize pool reached $90,535,500, as reported by PokerNews (established poker industry coverage).

Comparison to previous years

The record remains 10,043 entries from 2023, but 2025’s 9,735 figure still ranks among the top three fields ever assembled for the $10,000 buy-in event. The pattern: WSOP Main Event participation has remained above 8,500 for four consecutive years, signaling sustained interest in live poker’s flagship tournament.

The catch: while participation is strong, the field’s large size means the prize pool is divided among the top 15% of finishers. For the 8,276 players who didn’t cash, the $10,000 buy-in represents a significant financial risk — one that only makes Mizrachi’s return more remarkable.

Were Phil Ivey and Phil Hellmuth in the 2025 WSOP Main Event?

Phil Ivey’s participation and Day 1 bust

Phil Ivey, widely considered one of the greatest poker players of all time, played in the 2025 Main Event but busted on Day 1, as reported by PokerNews. Ivey, who holds ten WSOP bracelets, has not won the Main Event in his career.

Phil Hellmuth’s decision not to play

Phil Hellmuth, the record holder with 17 WSOP bracelets, chose not to play in the 2025 Main Event, according to ESPN sports betting news. Hellmuth has not won the Main Event since 1989, though he remains the most decorated player in WSOP history by bracelet count.

What this means: the absence of two of poker’s most famous names didn’t diminish the quality of the final table. Mizrachi’s victory over a field of 9,735 players — one that included professionals and amateurs alike — stands on its own merit.

The paradox

Ivey’s Day 1 bust and Hellmuth’s absence highlight the Main Event’s democratic nature: no amount of past success guarantees a deep run. For every champion who reaches the final table, hundreds of elite players go home empty-handed.

What is the 7-2 rule in poker?

Origin and rules of the 7-2 game

The 7-2 rule, also called the “7-2 game,” is a side bet common in live and online poker games. Under this rule, players agree that anyone who wins a hand with 7-2 offsuit (a traditionally weak starting hand) receives a bonus payment from every other player at the table. The bonus amount is set before the game begins. It is not an official WSOP rule, as confirmed by Wikipedia, but it appears in cash games and tournaments globally as a voluntary side proposition.

How it affects tournament strategy

In tournaments, the 7-2 game can incentivize players to call with weak hands when the potential bonus outweighs the risk of elimination. However, in structured events like the WSOP Main Event, where the $10,000 buy-in is at stake, most players avoid the 7-2 game unless the table explicitly agrees to it. The pattern: side bets add entertainment value but rarely influence the strategic decisions of serious contenders at the final table.

The trade-off: for recreational players, the 7-2 game adds excitement and a chance to win back the buy-in through bonus bets. For professionals, it’s a distraction that can blur the lines between profitable play and entertainment.

Timeline of the 2025 WSOP Main Event

Day 1 of the 2025 WSOP Main Event begins with the first starting flight.

Additional starting flights and early rounds eliminate the majority of the 9,735-player field.

Field narrows from hundreds of players to the final nine.

Final table played at Horseshoe Las Vegas; Michael Mizrachi wins.

Mizrachi defeats John Wasnock heads-up to win $10,000,000.

Confirmed facts

  • Michael Mizrachi won the 2025 WSOP Main Event (PokerNews).
  • Prize was $10,000,000 (ESPN).
  • Field was 9,735 players (ESPN).
  • Phil Ivey played and busted on Day 1 (PokerNews).
  • Phil Hellmuth did not play (ESPN).
  • Leo Margets finished 7th, second woman in WSOP Main Event final table history (ESPN).

What’s unclear

  • Exact final hand details beyond the winning hand 10♣ 3♣.
  • Daniel Negreanu’s 2025 Main Event finish and payout.

Key quotes from the 2025 WSOP Main Event

“Michael Mizrachi won the 2025 World Series of Poker Main Event, earning $10,000,000 and his eighth WSOP bracelet.”

ESPN sports betting news

“The 2025 WSOP Main Event drew 9,735 entries, the third-largest field in WSOP history.”

ESPN sports betting news

“Leo Margets finished 7th, becoming the second woman to reach a WSOP Main Event final table.”

ESPN sports betting news

“The Main Event began on July 2, 2025, with the first starting flight, and final table play concluded July 16.”

Wikipedia

Summary

Michael Mizrachi’s victory at the 2025 WSOP Main Event is more than a personal achievement — it’s a lesson in sustained excellence. His third Main Event final table appearance and eighth bracelet place him in rarefied air alongside poker’s all-time greats. For the 9,735 players who entered, the choice is clear: study Mizrachi’s consistency and mental game, or risk being the next Day 1 bust.

Additional sources

youtube.com, wsop.com, youtube.com

Frequently asked questions

What is the buy-in for the WSOP Main Event?

The buy-in for the WSOP Main Event is $10,000, as confirmed by PokerNews.

How many players have won the WSOP Main Event multiple times?

Only two players have won the WSOP Main Event multiple times: Johnny Moss (1970, 1971) and Stu Ungar (1980, 1981, 1997). Michael Mizrachi’s 2025 victory is his first Main Event title.

Where is the WSOP held?

The WSOP is held at Horseshoe Las Vegas (formerly Bally’s Las Vegas) on the Las Vegas Strip, as indicated by PokerNews.

What is the prize for second place in the 2025 Main Event?

John Wasnock earned $6,000,000 for finishing second, according to Wikipedia.

How does the 2025 Main Event field size compare to the record?

The 2025 field of 9,735 entries is the third-largest in WSOP history, behind 2023 (10,043) and 2024 (10,112), as reported by ESPN.

How many WSOP bracelets has Michael Mizrachi won?

Michael Mizrachi has won eight WSOP bracelets, tying him for fifth-most all-time, per ESPN.

Did Daniel Negreanu play in the 2025 WSOP Main Event?

Daniel Negreanu’s 2025 Main Event participation and finish are not publicly detailed in available sources.

What was the total prize pool for the 2025 WSOP Main Event?

The total prize pool was $90,535,500, based on 9,735 entries at $10,000 each, as reported by PokerNews.