Congratulations to my good friend Pat Pezzin. Pat has recently become one of PokerStars’ newest Team-Pros representing Canada. Pat is also one of the top bocce players in the world.

Pat was born in Toronto, but has dual-citizenship in both Canada and Italy, thanks to his parents who immigrated to Toronto. His Italian roots and his dad’s passion for the sport of bocce was passed on to Pat at a young age. When he is not playing poker, either at PokerStars.com or in live events across the globe, you will undoubtedly find him in the bocce court. He has represented the Canadian National Bocce Team at events around the world, and has won numerous open tournaments across North America. Pat doesn’t just play the game; he also volunteers countless hours organizing tournaments and promoting the sport of bocce in his dual roles as Vice President of the Canadian Bocce Association and President of the Ontario Bocce Association.

PokerStars is the largest online poker site in the world. Pat became a member of Team PokerStars Pro earlier this year. His poker career started out with frequent trips to Las Vegas, where he built a solid reputation as a cash game player specializing in mixed games. He started playing online around 2004, and began steadily making money in tournaments soon after. He has posted some impressive cashes at PokerStars, including a runner-up finish in an event at the 2010 Spring Championship of Online Poker (SCOOP), and a recent win in the Super Tuesday for $80,000- one of the toughest events anywhere online. Pat has also cashed at many of the world’s biggest live events. He came close to winning a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet when he finished 2nd in a preliminary event in 2009 for $285,195. He has a career total of 4 WSOP final tables and 21 WSOP career cashes. Pat has been seen playing Poker on ESPN and on many occasions the announcers have mentioned his association to bocce.

Pat credits his bocce skills to making him a better poker player. “In poker, like in bocce – you need to know your opponent’s skills and weaknesses; you also need to know when to be aggressive versus defensive whether you’re on the court or on the felt”.

Pat took 1st Place at the
2009 Toronto 777     
Bocce Club Tournament

Follow Pat’s poker achievements on Twitter @PatPezzin or on Facebook @ Pat Pezzin – PokerStars Team-Pro.

Good luck on the courts and on the felt Pat!