The conclusion of the 2025 $50,000 Poker Players Championship, otherwise known as the PPC, should have surprised no-one. In its 19-year history, Michael Mizrachi has won the Chip Reese Trophy an incredible four times, yet when his latest victory was confirmed, the reaction around the Thunderdome inside the Horseshoe Las Vegas was as if the WSOP Main Event had been won.

Maybe that is why they call the Poker Players Championship ‘The One They All Want to Win’.

Kyte Falls Early on Day 4

When it reached the money, the PPC had been at the end of a very long, very tense money bubble. Chris Klodnicki was the eventual bubble boy in 18^th place, but the length of the bubble hurt plenty of others who clung on for a small cash and PokerStake’s own Jon Kyte was among them. The Norwegian lost to Marco Johnson in a hand of 2-7 Triple Draw, after missing draws to a six or five on the final card, instead pairing his deuce to depart for $101,526 in 16^th place.

After Mike Matusow (12^th for $108,445) and the Day 1 chip leader Erick Lindgren (11^th for $121,573) both left the action, the final 10 played until Venezuelan Christian Roberts busted for the same amount, his defeat in No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw coming against the eventual champion. Roberts was downed by a draw from Mizrachi who made 9-6-5-4-3 to take out Roberts and lead the final nine.

When the final eight were reached, Marco Johnson had departed for $142,720, while Mizrachi was still in charge, and that stayed the case after Ben Yu left in 8^th place for the same amount. The Grinder came into the final day as chip leader and had a big lead, with his stack of 10.44 million some way clear of his nearest challenger Andrew Yeh on 5.28m.

Greatness for The Grinder

When the seven-handed final table began, Ben Lamb was the first to leave. The former WSOP Main Event third-place finisher from 2011 ran into trouble and cashed for $175,096 to take his live earnings to over $18 million, good for 73^rd on the All-Time Money List on The Hendon Mob. Soon followed by Albert Daher (7^th for $224,077), Joao Vieira (6^th for $298,614) and Andrew Yeh (4^th for $413,740), the final three contained a female player for the first time in history.

Sadly for ‘E-Tay’ fans, Esther Taylor was unable to go any further. Her exit came in NL 2-7 Single Draw too, as Taylor moved all-in pre-flop and Bryn Kenney called. While Taylor stood pat on 9-8-6-4-2, Kenney had been dealt 6-5-4-3-2 and drew a seven to break his straight and the hearts of E-Tay supporters on the rail. Taylor departed with $595,136 as Mizrachi still went into the heads-up battle with a better-than 14:1 chip lead.

In 2-7 Triple Draw, Kenney broke his 9-7-6-5-2 while Mizrachi stood pat on T-6-5-4-2, a decision that effectively cost Kenney the chance of a comeback. Finding a deuce, Kenney paired up and consigned himself to the runner-berth in the tournament, winning $887,542. It was Michael Mizrachi, though, who took home $1,331,322 and the bracelet, getting his name inscribed on the Chip Reese Memorial Trophy for an unprecedented fourth time.

Mizrachi Calls Out Rast for Epic ‘Race’

“This is quite an accomplishment, and I hopefully next year I get inducted.”

After victory, Mizrachi expressed his delight at the fourth win inside 15 years, his first title in the event coming back in 2010.

“I probably played better than the last three I won,” he said about his record-setting 2025 triumph. “Everything went my way this tournament. I was always at the top of the leaderboard, never really got short, and probably played my best overall.”

Just two years ago, Brian Rast won his third Poker Players Championship and after being voted into the Poker Hall of Fame, accepted that he had drawn level with Mizrachi. To chants of “Hall of Fame” ringing in his ears, Mizrachi admitted that he hoped that if he won another, he might get a nomination.

“Yeah, if I win the fifth one, maybe,” Mizrachi laughed. “No, I’m kidding. But this is quite an accomplishment, and I hopefully next year I get inducted too.”

Before taking his leave – and his winnings – Mizrachi had time to throw down the gauntlet to the aforementioned Rast.

“Brian, I’ve got one more,” he declared. “You’ve got to catch up now… I’m going for number five!”

Who would back against The Grinder getting it after the amazing run he has been on in this iconic poker tournament?

WSOP 2025 Event #66 $50,000 Poker Players Championship Results:
Place	Player	Country	Prize
1st	Michael Mizrachi	United States	$1,331,322
2nd	Bryn Kenney	United States	$887,542
3rd	Esther Taylor	United States	$595,136
4th	Andrew Yeh	United States	$413,740
5th	Joao Vieira	Portugal	$298,614
6th	Albert Daher	Lebanon	$224,077
7th	Ben Lamb	United States	$175,096