ATS Consultants posted on June 29, 2012 16:01
Mizrachi earns $1.45M for outlasting 115 other players buy-in event
Michael Mizrachi was a mess when he got down to heads-up play against Vladimir Schmelev. Why? Because he was fixated on the $1.55 million first-prize and trying to snag his first World Series of Poker bracelet.
Mizrachi’s three brothers and poker pro Mike Matusow took him outside during one of the tournament’s breaks and put him through a routine that included jumping jacks and push-ups.
Mizrachi required no such intervention at the 2012 Poker Players Championship final table Thursday evening at the Rio. The other seven players could have surely used one.
Mizrachi knocked out five of the other players on the table en route to winning $1.45 million and becoming the first person to twice have their names etched on the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy.
Those around poker figured it would take 15 or 20 years — at least 10 — before anyone repeated as champion in the Poker Players Championship, an event that mixes eight games and is considered the world title for professionals.
Mizrachi pulled off the feat in the tournament’s seventh year of existence. The victory marked his third WSOP bracelet and increased his career tournament earnings to nearly $14 million.
Tuesday is the final day of the WSOP’s $1 million buy-in tournament, which Mizrachi plans to buy into with the winnings from the Poker Players Championship.
The other 46 players committed to the most expensive poker tournament ever would probably prefer Mizrachi sit out after seeing what he pulled off Thursday.