If anyone doubts the value of learning to play poker skillfully online before entering live play, all one has to do is examine the poker profile of “The Grinder”, Michael Mizrachi. Graduating from $5-10 Limit Hold ‘em on Paradise Poker to $100-200 Limit Hold ‘em on Pokerstars, Michael developed the skills necessary for success in the world of live tournament play. Still a youngster, (born January 5, 1981 along with fraternal twin brother Eric), Michael, now graduated from online to face-to-face poker tourneys, made back-to-back final tables in World Poker Tour Events in 2005, and that same year was a winner in the LA Poker Classic.
But it was in 2004 that “the Grinder” (so-called because of his persistent playing style) scored his biggest win to date: winning first place in the Five Diamond World Poker Classic II at the Bellagio in Las Vegas. His take home prize money was $274,000 for the $2,000 buy-in No Limit Hold ‘em Event.
Michael gives full credit to his online poker-playing experiences with helping to make the adjustments necessary to play live tournament poker with players of the highest skill levels. “The Grinder” knows that facing these toughest of opponents around the poker table has enabled him to formulate playing strategies against both passive and aggressive players.
Certainly, it was online poker that honed Michael’s development as a player, but it was his older brother Robert who must be credited with peaking Michael’s initial interest in the game. A successful player in his own right, Robert has finished in-the-money on several occasions in live tournament play.
Michael grew up in North Miami Beach with his three brothers, (he has a younger brother, Daniel), and the family later moved to Hollywood, Florida where Michael still resides with his wife Aidiliy, son Paul and daughter Julie. Twin brother Eric has followed in his brother’s footsteps as a professional poker player, but brother Daniel broke the tradition when he became a professional magician.
Thus far, Michael – one of the youngest high-ranking players in professional poker – has amassed the considerable sum of $5,247,299 in prize money which includes an impressive first place victory at the 2006 Borgata Winter Park Open No-Limit Hold ‘em Event on February 1st, 2006, in which Mizrachi’s prize money was $1,173,373.
In 2005, Michael showed such formidable players as Daniel Negreanu and Scotty Nguyen that he was a player to be reckoned with in that year’s World Series of Poker Tournament, placing fifth and earning a reputation as one of the circuit’s most outstanding poker professionals.
Kenneth Bateman writes numerous articles on the subject of poker and its players. To read more player profiles or about online poker at XL Poker.com.