Investigation
Michael Mizrachi Wins Historic Double at the 2025 WSOP
In a remarkable display of poker prowess, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi has made history by claiming two World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelets in the year 2025. The prestigious awards came in the Main Event and the Poker Players Championship, adding to his already impressive collection of poker victories.
The WSOP, which began in 1970, has seen over 2,000 bracelets awarded in total[1]. The growth in the number of bracelets has been significant, particularly in the last decade, which saw a 70% increase[1]. This expansion can be attributed to the WSOP's expansion into numerous events, including both live and online tournaments. The 2025 series alone featured 100 live bracelet events and 30 online bracelet events[2].
Mizrachi's double victory in 2025 adds to his previous wins in 2024, 2019, 2018, 2012, 2011, and 2010. The total cash prizes for these victories exceeded $11.3 million.
Phil Hellmuth currently holds the record for the most WSOP bracelets with 17, but Mizrachi is quickly closing the gap. Several players, including Phil Ivey and Hellmuth himself, are tied with three bracelets. Notable names like Johnny Moss and Stu Ungar are also tied with three each.
One such player is Daniel "Kid Poker" Negreanu, a Canadian poker superstar with seven WSOP bracelets. Negreanu, who was the youngest player to win a WSOP bracelet at the age of 23 in 1998, also holds the unique distinction of being the only player to have won the WSOP Player of the Year award multiple times (2004 and 2013).
Another notable figure in the world of poker is Men "The Master" Nguyen, a four-time winner of the Card Player Magazine Player of the Year award. Nguyen won seven WSOP bracelets across various formats, including 5-card PLO. He won his bracelets between 1992 and 2010.
Interestingly, online events now award official WSOP bracelets, a development that has contributed to the growing number of bracelets awarded each year. Notable players like Mizrachi have taken advantage of this, with Mizrachi winning his bracelets both online and in live events.
It's worth noting that rings are awarded for regional events, but they do not hold the same prestige as bracelets. The bracelet remains the most coveted prize in the world of poker.
Billy Baxter, famous for staking Stu Ungar in the 1997 Main Event, is another notable figure in the world of poker. Baxter won all his seven WSOP bracelets in lowball format games, including Razz and Deuce-to-Seven, and his victories span from 1975 to 2002.
Negreanu's total live earnings are well over $50 million, a testament to his successful career in poker. As the world of poker continues to evolve, with the inclusion of online events and the increasing number of bracelets awarded each year, it will be interesting to see who will emerge as the next poker superstar.
[1] WSOP Bracelet History [2] 2025 WSOP Schedule
