Largest Ever Mixed Game Cashes at the WSOP
The World Series of Poker’s mixed game tournaments represent poker’s ultimate test of skill, requiring mastery across multiple disciplines rather than specialization in a single variant. The $50,000 Poker Players Championship stands as the crown jewel of mixed game events, consistently producing the largest prizes and attracting the world’s elite players who consider it the most prestigious bracelet outside the Main Event.
The Poker Players Championship Dominates Mixed Game Payouts
The evolution from H.O.R.S.E. to today’s 9-game format has created poker’s most lucrative mixed game prizes. Freddy Deeb holds the all-time record for the largest mixed game cash, winning $2,276,832 in the 2007 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship when the field peaked at 148 entrants. This remains unmatched despite nearly two decades of subsequent tournaments.
Scotty Nguyen’s $1,989,120 victory in 2008 and Chip Reese’s inaugural $1,784,640 win in 2006 round out the top three largest mixed game prizes ever awarded at the WSOP. The tournament began as the $50,000 H.O.R.S.E. World Championship in 2006, honoring the late Chip Reese with a memorial trophy after his passing in December 2007.
Format Evolution Timeline
- 2006-2009: H.O.R.S.E. format (5 games)
- 2010-2014: 8-Game Mix introduced
- 2015: Brief experiment with 10-Game Mix
- 2021-Present: Settled on 9-Game Mix format
In 2010, the event transformed into the Poker Players Championship with an expanded 8-game format, briefly experimented with 10 games in 2015, then settled on the current 9-game mix in 2021. This format includes No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, No-Limit 2-7 Single Draw, Limit 2-7 Triple Draw, Seven Card Stud, Stud Hi-Lo, Razz, Limit Omaha Hi-Lo, and Limit Hold’em.
Record-Breaking Prizes and Champions
Michael Mizrachi has established himself as the tournament’s most successful player with four championships (2010: $1,559,046; 2012: $1,451,527; 2018: $1,239,126; 2025: $1,520,737), earning him the nickname “The Grinder” and approximately $5.77 million in PPC earnings alone. His 2025 victory (source) made him the sole record holder, surpassing Brian Rast’s three titles.
Brian Rast holds three titles of his own (2011: $1,720,328; 2016: $1,296,097; 2023: $1,324,747), spanning an impressive 12-year period that demonstrates sustained excellence across evolving formats. His 2023 victory coincided with his Poker Hall of Fame induction, cementing his status as one of mixed games’ greatest players.
| Rank | Player | Year | Event | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freddy Deeb | 2007 | $50K H.O.R.S.E. | $2,276,832 |
| 2 | Scotty Nguyen | 2008 | $50K H.O.R.S.E. | $1,989,120 |
| 3 | Chip Reese | 2006 | $50K H.O.R.S.E. | $1,784,640 |
| 4 | Brian Rast | 2011 | $50K PPC | $1,720,328 |
| 5 | David Bach | 2009 | $50K H.O.R.S.E. | $1,559,046 |
| 6 | Michael Mizrachi | 2010 | $50K PPC | $1,559,046 |
| 7 | Michael Mizrachi | 2025 | $50K PPC | $1,520,737 |
| 8 | Michael Mizrachi | 2012 | $50K PPC | $1,451,527 |
| 9 | Dan Cates | 2022 | $50K PPC | $1,449,103 |
| 10 | Brian Rast | 2023 | $50K PPC | $1,324,747 |
Multiple Mixed Game Formats Create Diverse Opportunities
Beyond the prestigious Poker Players Championship, the WSOP offers mixed game tournaments across various buy-in levels, each producing substantial prizes. The $10,000 H.O.R.S.E. Championship consistently generates six-figure payouts, with recent winners including Mike Gorodinsky ($422,747 in 2023) and Maksim Pisarenko ($399,988 in 2024).
The introduction of a $25,000 High Roller H.O.R.S.E. event has pushed prizes even higher, with Chad Eveslage winning $883,841 from a record 150-player field in 2025. This new addition to the schedule demonstrates the WSOP’s commitment to expanding mixed game offerings at all stakes levels.
The Rise of Dealer’s Choice
The Dealer’s Choice format has emerged as particularly popular since its 2014 introduction, allowing players to select from 20 different game variants. Adam Friedman achieved an unprecedented feat by winning the $10,000 Dealer’s Choice Championship three consecutive times (2018: $293,275; 2019: $312,417; 2021: $248,350), the only player in WSOP history to three-peat any event.
Popular Dealer’s Choice Games
The format includes diverse variants such as:
The $1,500 Dealer’s Choice regularly attracts fields exceeding 500 players, with John Hennigan winning $138,296 in 2024 from 530 entries. Robert Mizrachi captured the 2025 $10,000 Dealer’s Choice Championship for $322,576, adding to the Mizrachi family’s mixed game legacy.
8-Game and 9-Game Mix Success
Other significant mixed formats include the 8-Game Mix and 9-Game Mix events at various buy-ins. The 2023 $1,500 Eight Game Mix set a participation record with 789 entries, awarding Shaun Deeb $198,854 for the victory. The $3,000 Nine Game Mix has become a staple, with Yuri Dzivielevski earning $215,982 in 2024 from a 379-player field.
Recent Years Show Consistent Growth and Memorable Achievements
The 2021-2024 period has produced several historic moments in mixed game poker. Daniel Cates became the first player to win consecutive Poker Players Championships (2021: $954,020; 2022: $1,449,103), famously predicting his 2022 victory on social media beforehand. His back-to-back victories demonstrated the importance of online experience in modern mixed games.
Daniel Negreanu ended an 11-year bracelet drought with his 2024 PPC victory, earning $1,178,703 and his seventh career bracelet in an emotional win that resonated throughout the poker community. The tournament drew 89 entries and generated a $4.25 million prize pool, maintaining its status as one of the most significant non-Hold’em events despite field sizes smaller than the peak years of 2007-2008.
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International Competitors Challenge American Dominance
While American players have historically dominated mixed game events, international competitors increasingly reach final tables and claim victories. Talal Shakerchi of the United Kingdom finished second in the 2023 PPC for $818,756, while Yuri Dzivielevski from Brazil has captured multiple mixed game bracelets.
Maksim Pisarenko became the first Russian to win a H.O.R.S.E. Championship in 2024, signaling the global expansion of mixed game expertise. The consistent presence of players like Phil Ivey (11 career bracelets, all in non-Hold’em events), Benny Glaser (multiple mixed game specialist from the UK), and Robert Mizrachi (five bracelets across various formats) ensures fierce competition at every mixed game final table.
The New Generation
These specialists often cash in multiple mixed events during a single WSOP, with some players like Chad Eveslage winning both Dealer’s Choice events in the same year (2023: $131,879 and $311,428). The rise of online training sites and solvers has created a new generation of mixed game specialists who combine traditional experience with modern game theory.
Prize distribution has evolved to reward deeper runs, with most mixed game events now paying 15% of the field compared to historical 10% payouts. This change has created more opportunities for substantial cashes beyond final table appearances, though the most significant prizes remain concentrated at the top, particularly in the Poker Players Championship where first place typically receives 25-30% of the total prize pool.
Evolution of Mixed Game Prize Pools
The growth of mixed game tournaments extends beyond just the championship events. The introduction of formats like T.O.R.S.E. (replacing Hold’em with 2-7 Triple Draw in the traditional H.O.R.S.E. rotation) and expanded Dealer’s Choice options reflect the WSOP’s commitment to innovation in mixed games.
Prize pools for mid-level mixed events regularly exceed $1 million, with the $10,000 championships consistently attracting 100-200 of the world’s best mixed game specialists. The 2025 WSOP schedule featured more mixed game events than ever before, with 15 dedicated mixed game tournaments across various buy-ins and formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Future of Mixed Game Tournaments
The WSOP’s mixed game tournaments have established themselves as poker’s most prestigious and lucrative tests of all-around skill, with the Poker Players Championship producing 18 millionaire winners since 2006. The largest mixed game cash remains Freddy Deeb’s $2.28 million from 2007, though modern tournaments consistently award seven-figure first prizes despite smaller fields than the peak years.
The evolution from H.O.R.S.E. to today’s diverse mixed formats has created opportunities across all buy-in levels, from $1,500 events drawing 700+ players to the elite $50,000 championship that attracts fewer than 100 of the world’s best. Michael Mizrachi’s record fourth championship in 2025 and Brian Rast’s three titles demonstrate the rewards for those who master poker’s full spectrum.
As formats continue to evolve and new games enter the rotation, these tournaments represent both poker’s historical traditions and its innovative future. The continued growth in participation, prize pools, and international competition ensures that mixed game tournaments will remain central to the WSOP’s identity, rewarding players who excel across all variants rather than specializing in a single discipline.
Key Takeaways: WSOP Mixed Game Cash Records
- $2,276,832: Freddy Deeb’s 2007 H.O.R.S.E. victory remains the largest mixed game cash
- 4 Championships: Michael Mizrachi leads with four Poker Players Championship titles
- $50,000 buy-in: The PPC maintains its status as poker’s most prestigious mixed game event
- 789 entries: Record field for the 2023 $1,500 Eight Game Mix
- 3-peat: Adam Friedman’s unique achievement in Dealer’s Choice (2018-2021)
- 9 games: Current format tests mastery across poker’s major variants
- 18 millionaires: Total number of million-dollar winners in PPC history
About the Author
Mixed Game Masters Editorial
Published: May 28, 2026 | Categories: Tournaments & Events, Mixed Games
Mixed Game Masters is the premier resource for non-Hold’em poker strategy, tournament coverage, and mixed game education. Our editorial team consists of experienced players and poker historians dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of poker’s most challenging variants.
We provide comprehensive coverage of stud games, lowball variants, and mixed game formats, helping players of all levels improve their skills beyond traditional No-Limit Hold’em.
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