Player Interview: Sorel Mizzi aka Imper1um

Amy: So where are you from, how old are you and when did you start playing poker?

Imper1um: I'm from Toronto, Ontario. I’m 21 years old and I started playing Texas Hold’em in high school when I was 18 years old.

Amy: Why did you choose 'imper1um' and ‘zangbezan24' and which poker rooms do you play on?

Imper1um: zangbezan24 is my nickname on pokerstars - "zangbezan" is actually a word in Farsi meaning "call me". This refers to calling on the telephone but I thought it related to poker because of the obvious poker-related pun. I also really liked the flow of the word. Imper1um, on the other hand, means empire in Latin. Both myself and my mentor at the time spent all night coming up with this name after I won a tournament on pokerstars and decided to play on all sites, not just party and stars which were the only 2 sites I played at the time

Amy: You speak Farsi? Are you of Persian decent?

Imper1um: No, not Farsi, though throughout my life I've had several Persian friends. I heard my roommate Alex say it a few times on the phone and asked him what it meant and when he told me, I developed an obsession for the word, as weird as that may sound!

Amy: Sounds interesting - do you play poker full time? Or do you study or work aswell?

Imper1um: I play full time!

Amy: I remember seeing you sporting a photo of Tony G for a while as your avatar on Pokerstars – What was all that about?

Imper1um: Haha, you know that Tony G / Ralph Perry video where Tony G trash talks Ralph Perry before, during and after the hand? Well, when I'm stressed out and have taken one too many bad beats, I just watch that video and it puts a smile on my face every time! I told him this when we were playing the 5k PLH event at the WSOP and he smiled graciously. Afterwards, I eliminated him with my flush draw against his set and he walked up to me shook my hand and wished me the best of luck! Nothing but a class act - my hero!

Imper1um: Fearless. Nonchalant. Ambitious. Honourable. Reckless.

Amy: Good ones, and you have, quite rightly, a reputation as a serial online tournament winner. How did you develop your game to achieve this regular success?

Imper1um: Pwning newbs on a daily basis….

Amy: And what are the key skills that are required to close out big field tournaments and turn a deep finish into a big win?

Imper1um: Well… once I started playing seriously , everything just fell together….

Amy: Which online tournament wins have given you the most pride and are there any key moments or big plays that stand out in your memory?

Imper1um: Being able to exploit weak players, knowing how to play different stack sizes and being in a good mental state at all times. The Sunday warm-up was my biggest win and probably the one I'm most proud of for a few reasons. Firstly, because of the size of the field and the amount of money for first., Secondly, because I blinded out of that tournament for over an hour before getting home and starting to play. Thirdly, because I felt I made some really strong plays heads up and was able to get inside my opponents mind. I was in the zone throughout the entire tournament.

Amy: You have been ranked as the number one online tournament player on many sites in recent months, including Pocket Fives. Is it something you aimed for or that motivates you, or is it just icing on the cake?

Imper1um: In the past I've definitely aimed to be on top of the rankings. Obviously, it feels really good to be acknowledged as the best or one of the best. It also opens up opportunities for endorsements and sponsorships in the future, plus being able to say I'm #1 in the world online is a really good pick up line with the ladies…. just kidding, just kidding!

Amy: I bet! We have focused on online poker so far, but it’s been quite a year for you offline as well: 3rd in the Irish Open, deep in the $25K at the Bellagio, and deep in the Main Event at the WSOP. What have been the key factors needed to convert online pedigree into offline success?

Imper1um: When you're playing live there are so many more variables you have to consider in comparison to playing online. I think it's very important to profile players on your table and know what moves certain players are capable of making and what moves others are not capable of making. Also, the stacks are a lot deeper live so there's more post flop play involved as oppose to online where a lot of the action is pre flop.

Amy: Was this year your first WSOP?

Imper1um: Yes

Amy: How was the experience overall? Can you name any outstanding highlights or regrets?

Imper1um: The experience was great but I think I burned myself out a little bit. I had a huge regret about one hand I played on the final table bubble of the 1k rebuy, but other than that I thought I played very well for the most part. Especially in the main event - I felt I played almost flawlessly.

Amy: Are you looking forward to 2008?

Imper1um: Yes, so much! My plan is to try and win the online player of the year on CardPlayer and then make a run at the player of the year in January.

Amy: Outside of tournament poker, do you play cash or SNGs as well? If so what games and levels?

Imper1um: Yes, I play both, Cash anywhere from 3/6 NL to 300/600 NL. SNG's I play the 500-2k games regularly and when I'm playing live SNG's I'll play for almost any amount because most cash and tournament players don't really understand fundamental concept's in SNG's.

Amy: How much have you made from poker so far?

Imper1um: A good amount!

Amy: What was your worst run ever and what do you do to get through a big down-swing?

Imper1um: I lost about a quarter of a million one night playing high stakes cash online...0 usually, I cope with big down-swings by watching the Tony G video, listening to Mika "Relax, take it easy" or playing volleyball at the local YMCA.

Amy: And what other tips and tricks can you give out to the readers that might improve their games and build a bankroll?

Imper1um: I suck at bankroll management but recently I've realized its importance. I don't discourage taking shots because that's how I started my roll - but always have a backup plan and never play with money that you need. In terms of game strategy, constantly experiment with new and creative ways to extract chips and don't be discouraged when someone doesn't like your play. You're not playing for acceptance - you're playing to win money.