2012 WSOP Week 5 Review – Mizrachi Wins Second Poker Players Championship Title and Big One for One Drop Event Sells Out

Poker history was made this past week at the 2012 World Series of Poker. Michael Mizrachi won the $50,000 Poker Players Championship for the second time to make him the only two-time winner of the event. In addition, the Big One for One Drop charity event has officially sold out and whomever wins the event will become the all-time money leader in poker history.

Mizrachi Wins Second Poker Players Championship Title in Impressive Fashion

The $50,000 Poker Players Championship kicked off on Sunday with a field of 104 players, a bit better than most had expected considering that it would not be broadcast this year on ESPN.

As the field thinned to the final table, the poker world was watching Michael Mizrachi as he entered the final as the chip leader. He was not only looking for his second Poker Player’s Championship title in three years, but his third career bracelet in as many years.

However, one man stood in Mizrachi’s way that had something to prove himself. Andy Bloch finally broke through earlier this year to win his first career bracelet. Many of you will remember that he fell to the late Chip Reese the first year the WSOP held a $50,000 Event, then called the $50,000 HORSE World Championship.

Try as he might, Bloch would ultimately fall in third place to leave the door open for Mizrachi to take down the title. Mizrachi made heads-up play of the final against Chris Klodnicki and had nearly a 2:1 chip lead once the matchup started.

Mizrachi never looked back and made quick work of his opponent to win his second Poker Player’s Championship title and $1.45 Million. Considering that this final table was played in full eight-game rotation and not NL Hold’em as the last time Mizrachi won this event, this win could truly be considered the more impressive of his two Poker Players Championship titles.

Big One for One Drop Sells Out – Winner to Receive $18 Million for First Place

WSOP officials announced early Saturday that the Big One for One Drop Charity Event has indeed sold out. A list of players were released shy of the two satellite winners to be determined later today.

Among the players registered for the event include poker pros Phil Ivey, Ben Lam, Bertrand Grospellier, Phil Galfond, Tom Dwan, Roland De Wolfe, Erik Seidel and Daniel Negreanu. Businessmen in the field include Paul Phua, Chamath Palihapitiya, Bill Perkins of Small Ventures, Bob Bright of Bright Trading LLC, Bobby Baldwin, and Treasure Island Resort owner Phil Ruffin.

The payout sheet has also been released and first place in this event will receive $18.34 Million. The winner will easily vault over Erik Seidel for the #1 spot on the all-time money list in poker. Second in this event will win $10.1 Million, ranking third all-time behind this event’s winner and Jamie Gold’s $12 Million win in the 2006 WSOP Main Event.

A total of nine players will be paid in this event with 9th receiving over $1.1 Million. In addition to the $18 Million prize, the winner of the event will receive the first ever WSOP Platinum bracelet.

One Drop will receive $5.53 Million of the prize pool as 11.11% of each buy-in will be donated to the charity that provides access to healthy drinking water to those in need worldwide.