Poker Pro meets Survivor China
Rumors of Bellande's apparent turn on reality TV buzzed during the World Series of Poker 2007, as his absence was noticed by many. Jean-Robert limitedly made an appearance or two during the WSOP series this year.
This season is taking place in the south central China province Jiang Xi. The format will be the same premise the series was founded on; contestants attempting to out wit, out maneuver opponents and avoid being voted off, in a goal to be the last survivor. Bellande is only one of 16 total contestants who will compete for the one million dollar prize.
"Poker is a mental game, and I think 'Survivor' is a mental game," notes Bellande, in a video interview available on the CBS website. "My strategy for this "Survivor: China" is going to be similar to my strategy in a poker tournament. For the first couple hours, I am evaluating my opponents; figuring out who the strong players are, who the weak players are, and then I plan my attack accordingly."
Survivor China is the 15th season in a long run as of the 10 most watched programs on American television. Survivor Fiji finished as number 15 when it aired. The host of Survivor Jeff Probst is a poker enthusiast who has played in various charity poker events. "Survivor 15: China" will premier Thursday, September 20th on CBS.