The people who know me know that I am a relatively serious poker player. I’m not a pro or anything like that, but I do win more than I lose, and I’ve had a couple decent tournament results (including winning a $11,000 super satellite into the 2005 World Series Main Event); I like to call it a lucrative hobby.
Anyway, any semi-serious poker player is at least somewhat paying attention to the Rio Hotel and Casino in Vegas (if they aren’t already there) come Memorial Day every year–that’s when the biggest poker event of the year starts: the World Series of Poker.
While the casual ESPN observer only watches or cares about the $10,000 Main Event, in fact, it’s called the World *Series* because there’s an entire series of tournaments that take place for the entire month of June and the first week or so of July. This year there are 57 events, culminating with the aforementioned Main Event starting July 5th.
The winner of each event receives as part of his prize, a bracelet, and despite the growing number of bracelets given out these days (the first World Series in 1970 elected one winner after a series of cash games, and the first Series to give out bracelets, in 1971, had five events) a World Series bracelet remains the most coveted prize in poker. It’s also worth noting that the number of bracelets is still small compared to the number of players who participate each year, so a bracelet is still exceedingly difficult to win.
Which is why I got chills when Michael Mizrachi won his first bracelet in the second event of 2010.
Michael Mizrachi wins his first bracelet
Why? Because at the same final table that Mizrachi defeated was his older brother Robert Mizrachi, who had previously won a bracelet of his own in 2007. The Mizrachi’s were only the third family members to simultaneously make a final table in the 40 years of the World Series, and their 1st and 5th place finishes was by far the best result by family members. And this gave me chills because I also have a younger brother who is an avid, and successful, poker player. It has always been a dream of mine to play in the World Series alongside my brother, and perhaps even meet at the final table. The Mizrachi’s give that dream a shred more possibility.
I should note that my brother just turned 25, and I am 30. Michael Mizrachi is 29. His brother, Robert, will be 32 this fall. It seems my brother and I are only a little behind schedule. It’s time for us to hit the felt and get the cards in the air.
3 Second Goldfish 