Online Poker Survey Names Mizrachi As Greatest Player

The survey asked 50,000 Online Poker players which pro they think most deserves to be called Player of the Year.

The results confirm why Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi earned Cardplayer's Player of the Year title. In Absolute Poker's survey, Grinder came out on top, claiming 42% of the votes. Legendary poker pro, Phil Hellmuth, came in a close second, capturing 39% of the votes.

A handful of other unnamed poker pros collectively claimed the remaining 19% of the votes.

The numbers speak volumes about what it means to be a pro. In 2006, Mizrachi made 10 final tables, won a total of seven tournaments and cashed 31 times in tournaments to earn $2,356,970.

Hellmuth, on the other hand, captured his record-tying 10th WSOP bracelet. Only Johnny Chan and Doyle Brunson have won an equal number of WSOP bracelets. Hellmuth was also the first player to cash 50 times at the World Series of Poker and the only player to do both.

The public believes that Mizrachi's achievements are more impressive.

"It's one thing to have a major publication tell you you're the Player of the Year," noted Mizrachi. "But when the fans agree, you can't help but feel even more honored."