Michael Mizrachi’s epic run in the World Series of Poker this summer was the main topic of conversation on the latest episode of the Table 1 Podcast, but the interview also revealed plenty of other interesting notes from the life of the ‘The Grinder.’
The two-time World Poker Tour champion took down the $50,000 Poker Players Championship this summer for $1.3 million, winning the event for a mind-boggling fourth time. If that wasn’t a big enough feat, Mizrachi then went on a heater in the $10,000 main event that resulted in a $10 million payout and his eighth career WSOP bracelet. (Keep in mind, this wasn’t even his first time at the WSOP main event final table!)
The summer double was so unprecedented, so astounding, that it earned the 44-year-old an immediate induction into the Poker Hall of Fame.
The conversation with the Table 1 crew kicked off with a look at his family home game. All three of his brothers play, (Robert has five bracelets of his own) but the stakes and payouts are quite a bit different these days than how they started. The South Florida native also discussed ditching college for cards, how he got his famous nickname, and even his participation in a European celebrity supercar rally.
Watch or listen to the entire episode below or on YouTube, Spotify, Apple, or any podcast app.
Michael Mizrachi: Growing up we would play five-card draw. Not much betting – pretty much flipping for baseball cards and comic books. I had a garbage can full of baseball cards and comic books out of everyone’s collection. I was always lucky.
I don’t know what happened to the baseball cards. I’m sure they’re worth something now. We had a lot of Jose Cansecos in there, and then I actually ended up playing poker with Jose Canseco recently at this house.
Justin Young: Did you have aspirations of going to college?
Michael Mizrachi: I did go to college for a little bit. I was in a community college, but I was like, ‘How am I going to do this?’ The only way to stay awake was drinking lots of Red Bulls in the early mornings.
I felt like I wasn’t learning much in school. If I went away to a university and was having fun, enjoying my life, [I may have stayed.] But instead I was going to play poker. ‘Screw this,’ I said. ‘That’s where the money’s at. I’m not going to lose these three years of my life, not playing poker. This is not for me.’
So, I withdrew from all my classes and went on to my poker career.
Justin Young: Where were you playing during all this?
Michael Mizrachi: When I first started, I played underage on cruise ships. (Ships would take day trips off the coast of Florida to international waters to spread casino and poker games.) I started there, then I played in the underground games as well. I was playing a lot of $10-$20 limit hold’em, and $1 to $5 spread seven-card stud. I started high.
Justin Young: I feel like some people think your nickname, ‘The Grinder,’ is like calling a fat guy ‘slim’ or a bald guy ‘curly.’ But you were actually the definition of a grinder back in the day.
Michael Mizrachi: I was one of the first guys to play online poker. Planet Poker, Paradise Poker, PokerStars, Full Tilt, Absolute Poker, all these crazy ones – I played them all. And that’s how I got my name, because my first name on there was ‘Michael34.’ Nobody knew that. Then I changed my screen name to ‘The Grinder,’ and that stuck for 30 years.
Art Parmann: It’s going to be forever now.
Michael Mizrachi: I put a lot of hours in online, for sure, probably more than anybody. I was on all the time. And I actually enjoy playing online and looking forward to playing online again, hopefully soon.
Justin Young: How was your bankroll going at this time? It’s tough to manage a bankroll, whether it’s too big or too small, when you’re 19, 20, 21 years old.
Michael Mizrachi: I was always up and down. I was probably playing over my limits. I couldn’t care less, we all take those chances. Got rich, went broke. Got rich, went broke. Got rich, went broke. That’s a poker player’s life.
I try to enjoy every minute – to have fun. I like to party here and there, a lot more before than now. I still enjoy it, but I think with how much I’ve learned, I won’t make that mistake again.
The conversation then shifted to Mizrachi’s participation in the Gumball 3000, an international celebrity motor rally that took drivers from Istanbul, Turkey to Ibiza, Spain.
Justin Young: You’ve been busy since this summer. What are you up to these days?
Michael Mizrachi: In September I’m going to do the Gumball 3000 with Ben Lamb. His friend’s going to start in Istanbul. But I was like, ‘I can’t do all that. I’ll just meet you in Bucharest. Pick me up from there.’ I’m going to take that ride from Bucharest to Belgrade, stop there, then we go to Florence, Italy. I’ll get off there. So, I’ll do 1,000 miles in a Lambo with him.
Justin Young: Can you explain what the Gumball 3000 is?
Michael Mizrachi: It’s a road rally of like 125 of the nicest cars driving from Istanbul to end up somewhere in Spain. Then they’re taking a ferry to Ibiza. I don’t know exactly how it’s going to work, but it sounds crazy.
Justin Young: Do you have to get invited to something like this or do you just have to have money and a fancy car?
Michael Mizrachi: Money, fame, anything can get you in.
Mizrachi then got into some of the details surrounding his run through the PPC, the main event, and being instantly inducted into the Poker Hall of Fame this summer.
Justin Young: You make so many deep runs in these large fields. Is it ever overwhelming?
Michael Mizrachi: To tell you the truth, this WSOP, with the PPC and the main event, I didn’t sleep much. I was playing a lot of slot machines, doing some drinking. Two hours of sleep, that’s it. I was just trying to keep the momentum. I just couldn’t sleep. It’s hard to sleep when I just want to just play. I wasn’t getting enough rest.
Justin Young: What’s your slot machine of choice?
Michael Mizrachi: I play a lot of Buffalo Link. I play a lot of Buffalo Ascension, different ones, Rich Little Piggies, Dragon Link, Phoenix Link. I gamble here and there. I give good action.
Justin Young: Where were we staying during this summer run? Were you somewhere in town or at a casino?
Michael Mizrachi: I mix it up. I’m everywhere. I was at Caesars, and Bellagio, but now my home is the Venetian. I’m an ambassador for the Venetian now, and I’ll be there for quite a while. If you want to come see me, I’ll be in the poker room quite a bit. I’ll be there at least once a month for at least a week or two. I basically live at the Venetian, that’s my other home.
Justin Young: Did anything stick out from that first main event final table back in 2010?
Michael Mizrachi: I don’t remember much, that was so long ago. That was millions of hands ago. I kind of play the same way, but I also take risks. I’m not afraid. People want to ladder up, but I’m going for first. If you ain’t first, you’re last. Who’s going to remember second place? Do you remember who won second place?
Justin Young: I do not. I feel like I should.
Michael Mizrachi: That’s the point. That’s how it is. That’s why I’m playing to win, and that’s the way I’m going to always play. I’m not afraid of failing to ladder up. You guys play GTO, or whatever you want to do. I’m putting myself in the best position. I’m going to play to win and have all the chips.
Justin Young: I love the fact that you don’t use GTO. I think we’re kind of cut from some same cloth outside of the fact you’ve been better than me.
Art Parmann: Let’s get to the fourth PPC and this year’s main event run.
Justin Young: How did you even decide to play this year’s PPC? Was it always on your schedule?
Michael Mizrachi: It’s not always. I cashed in it last year as well, but I don’t know what terms I’m actually going to play. I just go with the flow. I was playing a lot of smaller ones, maybe hoping to hit a big score and then just parlay it.
I knew I was playing great. I kept cashing, kept cashing, kept cashing, and getting deep. Then I was like, ‘You know what? Let me just play this. I run good in this one. This is my event.’ And boom, I win.
Justin Young: I watched the final table. You dominated that thing.
Michael Mizrachi: It’s just experience, just experience being in the spotlight and situations. I know a lot of people are trained just to ladder up, sit back and relax and just wait for people to bust each other, but not me.
Justin Young: I feel like Bryn Kenney, (who finished second in the PPC) was kind of cut from the same cloth as well. I feel like he took spots he probably shouldn’t have ICM-wise here and there. It didn’t help him beat you.
Michael Mizrachi: At that point, I was in a really good position. I was already a huge chip leader, but you still have to respect the stack, no matter whoever’s stack you’re playing against. If they’re short, they’re not out until they’re out. You still can’t be like, ‘Oh, I can take these risks.’
I just knew in that situation that Bryn’s dangerous, and he’s one of the best poker players in the world. I’m still going to respect him and respect the stack. I just know I have been in this situation. I’ve seen 20-to-1 chip leads go like that and lose.
Justin Young: Do you like the format of the PPC as it is now? (The tournament began as a H.O.R.S.E. event with a no-limit hold’em final table, but has since evolved to an eight- and now a nine-game rotation.)
Michael Mizrachi: What do you think, that I’m going to complain? (laughing) I’m happy with how it is right now, so I don’t want anything changed. What’s funny is, I don’t think anyone even drafted me [in the $25K Fantasy pool.] That makes it even sicker.
Justin Young: No one drafted you?
Michael Mizrachi: This was the first time ever I didn’t get drafted, because they didn’t think I was playing any tournaments. People knew I was playing cash. I hadn’t played a tournament in a year, so they assumed I wasn’t going to play.
Art Parmann: Sleeper pick?
Michael Mizrachi: Next year I’m probably a good pick because I think I’m playing almost every event. I used to play 15, but next year I think I’m going to try to get to 35-40 events – pull a Shaun Deeb. We’ll see if I can play that many events. I’ll try my best.
Justin Young: Are you going to be running back and forth between events?
Michael Mizrachi: I don’t like doing that, only if I have to. It’s tough. It’s hard playing two events. I hate that and feel just like I’m blowing money like that.
Art Parmann: After winning the main event, they inducted you instantly into the Hall of Fame. Run us through that moment.
Michael Mizrachi: That was so cool, but I had some inside info. I know Jared Bleznick. I think he hit up Phil Helmuth. Then he and Daniel Negreanu talked it over. Everybody talked and agreed. ‘If Mike wins this he’s got to get inducted in the Hall of Fame. How can he not? And especially since all his family, his friends, his fans, and everybody’s there. Why not do it there?’
I don’t know what would have happened if I finished second. It’s probably never going to happen again. But it was great for poker, and I made it happen this time.
It was an amazing time. It was really cool. The guys came up, although I know Negreanu fell asleep. I’m sure he was a little upset about it, but I’ll give him a pass.
About The Table 1 Podcast
Hosted by high-stakes poker pros Art Parmann and Justin Young, the Table 1 Podcast is on a mission to make poker fun again. Tune in to see world-class pros talk poker, gambling, and all manner of life experiences on and off the felt. Visit the website for the podcast, newsletter, or even to get in the game. ♠
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