No Three-Peat for the Grinder

Chad Holloway

Level 9

Razz

Back in 2010, Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi topped a field of 116 players to win this very event for $1,276,806. Two years later, he would emerge victorious over a 108-player field to win the title for the second time (the only player to do so) and $1,451,527. Mizrachi was no doubt hoping to make three times out of the past five years, but that possibility just ended when he was eliminated by John Juanda.

Mizrachi had been nursing a short-stack when he raised over Juanda's completion in razz. Juanda three-bet, Mizrachi got it all in, and the cards were turned up.

Juanda: / /
Mizrachi: / /

Both players received good cards on fourth, but not so much on fifth. Mizrachi tripped up on sixth, but Juanda paired. That meant Juanda's queen low was best, but Mizrachi could easily improve.

"Go first, John," Mizrachi instructed. Juanda did and tabled a for the wheel. It took away the sweat as Mizrachi, who received a , was drawing dead.

"Good luck, guys," a deflated Mizrachi said before taking his leave from the tournament. That leaves Brian Rast and David Bach as former champions still in the field.