Michael "the Grinder" Mizrachi (pictured) won his second career gold bracelet in Cannes, France in what was the fifth event of 2011 WSOP Europe.
Cannes, France (13 October 2011) – The most recent World Series of Poker Europe event had not just one, but four fascinating stories in what became the final four of the No-Limit Hold’em-Split Format tournament, also known as the “Mix-Max.”
When the four survivors of an initial starting field of 125 entrants took their seats on the final day of competition, each player was a compelling figure in his own right:
-- First, there was Michael “the Grinder” Mizrachi, from Miramar, Florida (USA). The former WSOP gold bracelet winner comes off a stellar year, during which he won $1.6 million in the $50,000 buy-in Poker Players Championship, and also made it to the November Nine of the Main Event, good for another $2.3 million, ultimately finishing in fifth place.
-- Next was Roger Hairabedian, from Grasse, France. He's a Barriere-sponsored team pro who hoped to finally break the cold spell that's been cast over French players at this inaugural series in Cannes. Hairabedian was seeking his first WSOP victory -- following four previous cashes in WSOP events this year, including an in-the-money finish in the 2011 Main Event.
-- The third compelling figure was Shawn Buchanan, from Abbotsford, British Columbia (Canada). He's unquestionably one of top poker players in the world who has not yet won a gold bracelet. Buchanan has in excess of $1.7 million in WSOP career earnings, including two second-place finishes. Entering the final four, Buchanan had to wonder if this would finally be his day.
-- Then, there was Noah Schwartz, from Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, who rounded out the field. Schwartz was making his tenth WSOP cash and crossed the half-million mark in earnings with this guaranteed cash. However, his predicament was made all the more challenging by enduring an unusual medical problem during the tournament. As he raced towards what could have been a first WSOP title, Schwartz was beset with a mysterious anomaly which required a visit to a local hospital. He was given a clean bill of health and returned just in time for his Day 3 match and made it all the way through to the start of the final table.
And so, after all the hands were dealt and folded, after all the chips were bet, raised, and scooped, and after all but one player was eliminated, the single story which prevailed above the others was that of Michael "the Grinder" Mizrachi, who gets the latest headline as the WSOP Europe gold bracelet champion. He won 336,008 (Euros), plus the most coveted prize in the game -- his second career gold bracelet.
If Mizrachi represented the thrill of victory, then France (more specifically, French players) appears to be universally tagged with the agony of defeat moniker. With Hairabedian’s elimination, the host nation continued to suffer disappointing results in what is the first WSOP attraction ever held in France. Although French players won four gold bracelets at this year’s WSOP, no one (other than Hairabedian, perhaps) has come close to achieving a victory in Cannes.
For France, the current trend mirrors the unexpected early results of WSOP Europe when it first arrived in London, England. From 2007-2009, a native champion was not crowned by the host nation until the third year of WSOP Europe, when J.P. Kelly won the opener. French poker players still have one more event to win a gold bracelet and make poker history. But they will continue to face an uphill climb, playing against many of the world’s best players from other nations in the Main Event Championship.
This was the first time that a No-Limit Hold’em-Split Format tournament has been included as part of the WSOP Europe schedule. The Split Format means there were differing numbers of players at the table during various stages of the tournament. The event began with play at nine-handed. The second day included six-handed tables. Then, the final day featured two heads-up matches, which meant only two players were at the table at any time.
The event was played over three consecutive days and nights, ending on a perfectly warm and mild Saturday evening along the Mediterranean Sea. With ocean waves surging up the nearby beaches, the new poker champion began the early celebration by posing with his first gold bracelet out in front of the Hotel Majestic Barriere.
There’s still more poker to come. The world’s most exciting and prestigious poker series ends a hugely-successful visit to the French Riviera with the the internationally-televised 10,000 (Euro) Main Event Championship, which runs through 20 October.
For more information about the WSOP and WSOP Europe, please visit the portal page at WSOP.com. A full official report of this tournament, with more notes and winner quotes, will be available shortly.