The Online Advantage

Sorel Mizzi, from Canada, is one of the most accomplished online poker players in the world, playing under the names "Imper1um" and "Zangbezan". He consistently sits in the top spots of online poker leader boards with his extremely aggressive play and by-the-instincts rather than by-the-math strategies.



If any tournament in the World Series of Poker favours the online player, it is the six-handed format, where the vast majority of six-handed play is found. Given Mizzi's online experience, and his considerable success, Mizzi is a player to watch in the $5000 No Limit Hold'em Six-handed field.

Card Player caught up with Mizzi after the fourth level of day one in the tournament.





Cameron Yoos: Is the six-handed event the one tournament that really favors the online player?



Sorel Mizzi: Definitely. One thing online players are best at is pre-flop aggression, and knowing when to reraise pre-flop, and getting into the minds of players. In a six-handed tournament, any sort of aggression is going to be favored over any sort of passive play. I find that live players are a lot more passive, and online players are a lot more aggressive. And because a lot of the tournament is about pre-flop aggression, I definitely think the online players have a huge edge.



CY: Do you play a lot of six-handed tournaments, or when you play cash games, do you favor six-handed tables?



SM: When I do play cash games, I usually do play six handed, but in terms of tournaments, there really aren't many available. But I feel my style is geared towards six handed tournaments as opposed to any other. Aggression is always the way to go. And even when I say aggression, it doesn't mean you should be raising ace-five or ace-six, those kind of hands, it's more about picking spots and getting into people's minds, and knowing what they are thinking about. It gets really psychological.



CY: Did you play in other six-handed events? Did you have them circled as your moments to shine at the WSOP?



SM: I was in the $1500 and busted out pretty quick. I wanted to play the $2500 as well but was deep in another one, so I've only played one six-handed event. But this is the one I was kind of looking forward too.



CY: Tell me about the table you are at. You have Jennifer Tilly there, and Amit Makhija.



SM: I feel like I have a really good table. Amit is on my right, which is nice. I know how he plays in general, and he's a pretty solid player. I have a lot of respect for his game. Jennifer Tilly is playing really well as well. In one hand I misread the board, and tried to value bet, and she called me with a low flush. I flipped over my hand and she flipped over hers, and I felt really confident. Then I was like, wait a minute, I have trip eights. So I lost a big pot to her. But my table, I'd rather be at my table than most tables, just because of the positioning, and the way the chips are distributed. And there are a few players on my left I think I can pick on as well.



CY: Are you happy with how the series has gone for you so far?



SM: Not really. I've had a lot of disappointments. I've been going deep a lot, and then things aren't going as well as I expected. But hopefully I can turn things around.

Card Player Live Player Database – Sorel Mizzi

Sorel Mizzi is a member of Team Bet Fair