Michel Zajdenberg

Hometown
Paris, France

Total Winnings
$224,850

Michel Zajdenberg was born and raised in France. While he always had some form of interest in poker throughout most of his life, he was an astute student and businessman who became a successful clothing designer. It was his lucrative business that enabled him to become a charter member of the Aviation Club in Paris, not something that everyone can afford to do, but Michel's hard work allowed him those types of perks in life. Michel spent his free time at the Aviation Club carefully honing his poker skills and enjoying the games and camaraderie there. By the late 1990's he tried his hand at some tournaments and found success and final tables. In 1998, he played in the Grand Prix de Paris main event and finished a highly respectable third, a feat that only encouraged him to aim for better and accomplish that poker tournament win. It was in his nature to strive to be the best. So when the World Poker Tour came to town in 2005, he wasn't going to miss the opportunity to shine. Not one to flaunt his money and simply buy in to a high-dollar event, Michel won his way in through a satellite that was the equivalent of $75. He then played the WPT Grand Prix de Paris main event and made it to the final table, though he finished third " same as he did in 1998 " but this time for a much bigger payout of more than $215,000. Since then, he has continued to play in poker tournaments in Paris when time allows, though he did make the trek over to Barcelona in 2005 to play in the European Poker Tour's main event, and just off his WPT success, he did cash in twelfth place.