Jean-Robert Bellande: From Entrepreneurship to Poker-Playing

Perhaps, some of you think that Jean-Robert Bellande is quite new in the poker scene because his first public appearance as a professional poker player was only in 2005. But what some of you did not know is that Jean-Robert Bellandre had been frequenting casinos and gambling facilities ever since he experienced playing at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, California. Such first exposure to poker won him US$6,000. Apparently, such success was the main factor that encouraged him to continue playing poker. And since then, this professional poker player has been playing poker really well. Read on if you want to know more about the interesting life of this professional poker player.

Jean-Robert Bellandre was born in Long Island, New York on September 17, 1970. When he was still young, he did not have an inkling that he would someday be a professional poker player, which was why he went on to finish his studies until he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in marketing at the Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, California.

Jean-Robert Bellandre always thought that he would be a businessman, which was why he decided to gain some work experience by becoming a nightclub promoter in Los Angeles, California. Eventually, he resigned from such work to establish his own nightclub, which he called Sky Sushi. It was operating successfully until he had no other choice but to shut it down after the death of his father.

Currently living in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jean-Robert Bellandre got hooked in poker after he successfully played it for the very first time at the "Bike" casino. Because of his determination to improve his talent in poker, professional poker player Jeff Lisandro helped him by becoming his mentor until he was capable of playing a higher class of poker.

It was in 2005 when this professional poker player displayed his skills excellently, having placed third at the circuit event of the World Series of Poker and taking home a sum of US$210,900. The second placer in this event was Doug Lee and the grand prize winner was Jennifer Harman. Despite only finishing third, Jean-Robert Bellandre left his fellow professional poker players and the audiences in awe with his playing style by displaying an aggressive table banter.

Jean-Robert Bellandre also participated at the Bad Boys of Poker II Invitational event of the World Poker Tour, wherein he placed fourth. It was one of the best games he ever participated in because it was the first time he competed against such professional poker players as Tony G., Mike Matusow, Gus Hansen, and Phil Helmuth.

Do you want another interesting trivia about this professional poker player? Well, those of you who had the chance to watch the reality television show "Survivor: China" probably recognize Jean-Robert Bellandre. Yes, he was a contestant of that show but he was the eighth person to be voted out of the show.