Sorel Mizzi wins the PartyPoker Premier League VII at the Playground Poker Club in Montreal, after defeating Jeff Gross in heads-up action at the end of a strenuous and superlative stretch of poker.
Sorel Mizzi reminds the poker world that he is one of the most feared tournament players on the planet after defeating Jeff Gross in heads up action to take the title of PartyPoker Premier League VII champion at the Playground Poker Club in Montreal.
Mizzi won the third heat and took two fourth place finishes to end the preliminary rounds with one of the top four spots, finishing on 33 points behind both Dan Colman and Jeff Gross.
That gave him the edge over the likes of Brian Rast, Jason Koon and Scott Seiver and you don’t give men like Mizzi edges if you can help it.
Here are the bite-sized chunks of the final day of action.
Brian Rast was the first player to be eliminated and was a tad unfortunate to find the rail first. Rast calling the six bet jam by Dan Colman with pocket kings and was just hoping to fade an ace when he saw the [As] [Kc] of his aggressive opponent.
Fade the ace he did, however, he did not fade the barrage of clubs that hit the board to hand Colman the pot with a King high flush and Rast was out.
Jason Koon continues to inch closer to within touching distance of these major tournaments, but will have to wait for the next one to roll around after coming up short in a hand against Sorel Mizzi.
Mizzi opened the action to 16,000 holding [9s] [7s] and Koon defended the big blind holding [Tc] [6h]. The flop rained down [Ts] [6d] [5s] and as you would expect both players stuck the money in the middle and the [8d] on the turn handed Mizzi the straight to eliminate Koon.
The Premier League V winner was next to jump over to the rail and it was Dan Colman who was responsible for his demise. Scott Seiver opened the action to 16,000 holding [As] [7c], Colman three-bet to 29,000 holding pocket tens and Seiver made the call. The flop was [Ad] [Td] [9c] Colman checked his middle set, Seiver moved all-in with top pair and was snapped off.
That exit handed Colman the initiative with a million chips, Mizzi was seated in second with 700,000 and Jeff Gross was trailing in third place with 234,000.
Mizzi would soon take control after a crucial pot against Colman. The Internet wizard raised to 24,000 holding pocket fours, Mizzi three-bet to 70,000 holding pocket kings, Colman moved all-in and Mizzi called. The kings held and Mizzi zoomed into the lead.
Colman would then exit in third moments later courtesy of Mizzi. The pair getting it in with Mizzi once again finding the pocket kings, and Colman holding [Kh] [Ts]. Once again the kings held true and Mizzi was left to face Jeff Gross in heads up action.
Heads Up: Tale of the Tape
Sorel Mizzi: 1,807,000
Jeff Gross: 210,000
It only took one hand of heads-up action for Gross to find the double up. The short stack limping into the pot with [Jh] [Th] and then calling off a Mizzi shove who was holding [7h] [4h]. A Jack on the flop giving Gross a ray of hope.
Then we had a match on our hands after Gross doubled for a second time just four hands later. Gross once again limping into the pot, this time with [Kc] [Qs], and Mizzi checking his option with [Qs] [7c]. The flop was [Kd] [7s] [5d] and both players checked. The turn was the [Qh] Mizzi bet 16,000, Gross raised to 61,000, Mizzi raised to 125,000, Gross pumped it up to 221,000, Mizzi moved all-in and Gross called. The [3d] hit the river and the stronger two pair of Gross meant both players were virtually all square at a million chips apiece.
The match would be a ferocious one from that point onwards with Mizzi continually pulling away only for Gross to find the crucial double up to haul the Canadian right back into the thick of things. Then Mizzi created some more light between the two when this happened.
After 186 hands of play Gross open shoved his short stack with pocket queens and was called by Mizzi holding [Qs] [8s]. The [Ts] [9h] [4s] flop handing Mizzi a flush draw, which was completed by the time the [7s] hit the turn and Mizzi was crowned the PartyPoker Premier League VII champion.
Final Standings
1st. Sorel Mizzi – $466,000
2nd. Jeff Gross – $274,000
3rd. Dan Colman – $194,000
4th. Scott Seiver – $130,000
5th. Jason Koon – $118,000
6th. Brian Rast – $102,000
