Poker Player - >Michael "The Grinder" Mizrachi
Michael Mizrachi is one of the new, younger generation of professional poker players, armed with confidence and even his own website www.michaelmizrachi.com which gives poker tips, news and updates on Michael's performance in various games. Like 2003 WSOP champion Chris Moneymaker, Michael learned many of his poker skills by playing online. Instead of a shady background of playing in smoky rooms in casinos, Michael used the accessibility of the Internet to hone the variety of approaches needed to play differing styles of opponent. He said "playing online helped me to learn how to play against passive and aggressive players. I adjust to many styles of play, so it makes it harder to play against me. Online you get dealt 4 times more hands than live."
Born on the 5th January 1981 in Miami, Florida, Michael is only 25 years old and took the first steps of playing online by following his brother Robert, who was becoming quite accomplished at online games. Starting with Paradise Poker and Poker Stars, his pot limits kept increasing with his improved ability and in 2004, he was ready to face the game live. His childhood ambition was to become a medical doctor, but at 15, the lure of poker took over, and eventually he decided to drop out of college in order to play full time.
Michael's playing style lacks the flashiness of some of the other players on the professional circuit. He isn't famous for a unique style of dress, like Scotty Nguyen or mental gymnastics, like Phil Laak. He has no eastern philosophies, like Howard Lederer to spur on his performance. Instead, he is quiet, but consistent, and quickly made a name for himself as "The Grinder". His style seemed unremarkable at first, but it became clear that Michael was regularly finishing tournaments "in the money", hauling in fewer victories, but raking in the cash. His reputation spread online first, and then has his live playing increased, he become well renowned across the poker industry as a whole.
In December 2004, Michael Mizrachi won first place in the Five Diamond World Poker Classic II held at the Bellagio. The event was the $2000 buy in No Limit Hold'em worth $274,000. In 2005, he finished fifth in the Sixth Annual Jack Binion World Poker Championship event (Prize money of $288,241), came first in the LA Poker Classic Championship (Prize money of $1,859,909) and 11th in the Third Annual Five Star World Poker Classic 25k WPT Championship (Prize money $94,355). Michael is ranked at Number 2 on the 2006 WSOP Money List, ranks 3rd on the WSOP All Time Money List and in the space of 3 short years, has total poker tournament earnings in excess of $5,029,037.
Michael now has now taken the first prize in at least 8 tournaments including the 2006 World Poker Tour Borgata Winter Open and plays regularly at the major Las Vegas weekly tournaments. It in inevitable that as time goes on, Michael Mizrachi's achievements will only increase.
Thanks to his incredible financial success, Michael has been able to combine his family life with poker playing tours. His wife, Aidilay and son, Paul William are now able to travel with him following the practical purchase of a stylish tour bus! He symbolises a fresh new breed of poker players on the circuit, playing smart and making more money in fewer wins than some of his older counterparts could ever have dreamed of. With players like Michael Mizarachi around, the profile of modern poker can only be raised higher!
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