Defending champion Michael Mizrachi was eliminated from the 2026 WSOP Main Event.

Defending champion Michael Mizrachi was eliminated on Day 5 of the 2026 WSOP Main Event in 241st place, failing to become the first player since Johnny Chan to win consecutive titles.

Michael Mizrachi will not be able to make history by winning the World Series of Poker Main Event consecutively.

The defending champion's title defense ended on the fifth day, finishing in 241st place and winning the $50,000 prize. Mizrachi survived for nearly five days in the biggest poker event, but failed to replicate the extraordinary journey that brought him $10 million 12 months ago.

Last summer, Mizrachi fought his way through the entire ten days of the Main Event to claim the World Championship. This year, he once again emerged as one of the survivors on Day 5, deep into the tournament. However, this time his journey was cut short before the tournament's biggest prize, ending his hopes of becoming the first player since Johnny Chan in 1987 and 1988 to successfully defend his WSOP Main Event title.

As it was fitting, it was another Main Event champion who brought "The Grinder" to an end.

Mizrachi's 15-day Main Event journey comes to an end.

On Day 5, in the penultimate level (Level 23), Mizrachi pushed his final nine big blinds into the center with KQ, only to run into the pocket Aces of 2019 Main Event champion Hossein Ensan.

The community cards revealed 7♣9♠7♥7♠10♥, allowing the German player to form a full house—Ensan's 7 Aces defeated Mizrachi, ending the defending champion's title defense.

Ensan is now the only former champion still in contention. Meanwhile, Mizrachi left the live broadcast table in the Paris banquet hall, receiving enthusiastic applause from the players and spectators present.

Mizrachi's title defense performance compared

History shows that Mizrachi faces a tough battle even before the cards are dealt. While many Main Event champions return the following year hoping to make another deep run, few can truly threaten a title defense.

Most defending champions in recent years have failed to make another deep run. Jonathan Tamayo (2024 champion) failed to make the money in 2025. Before him, Daniel Weinman finished 1,357th in 2024 for the lowest prize money, Espen Jørstad failed to make the money in 2023, Koray Aldemir had a good run in 2022 (75th place), and Damian Salas failed to make the money in his 2021 title defense.

Since Chris Moneymaker's victory in 2003, his successor Greg Raymer has had the best run of success in the year following his Main Event win. The 2004 champion finished in 25th place the following year before being eliminated in the final three tables.

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