Bellande is at the final table of the $50K Poker Players Championship and is hunting his first World Series of Poker bracelet.
Can the Charlie Brown of poker finally catch a break and take one down?
Back in 2008, Bellande finished 2nd in the $1,500 Limit Shootout after starting the heads-up match with a massive lead.
After that, Bellande had nine WSOP cashes, including two deep runs in the Main Event.
The bracelet always elude him though.
In total, Bellande has $1.38 million in live tournament earnings and has a chance to nearly double it today.
There’s $1.27 million up for first and the final six are already guaranteed $184,222.
It’s not an easy road to victory though.
The 2015 Poker Players Championship final table consists of:
Seat 1: Chris Klodnicki - 2,130,000
Seat 2: Mike Gorodinsky - 2,589,000
Seat 3: Jean-Robert Bellande - 2,188,000
Seat 4: Ben Sulsky - 1,462,000
Seat 5: David “ODB” Baker - 3,227,000
Seat 6: Dan Kelly - 1,003,000
Last night, Bellande said he felt he had an edge over the field because the two new games, Badugi and no-limit 2-7, are his strongest games.
We'll see if Bellande can finally take it home.
Bellande Takes the Lead
Dan Kelly Eliminated in 6th
Dan Kelly was the short stack and the short man at the final table and just catch up.
The axeman was Bellande himself, who first took a chunk out of Kelly in a hand of PLO.
Kelly called Bellande’s button raise from the big blind and the flop came K♠ 9♣ 5♦. Bellande bet 150,000 and Kelly called.
The turn was a 5♥ and and Bellande fired 250,000.
Kelly folded and was down to 620,000.
When the game switched to Badgui --a game Bellande says is one of his best-- Bellande finished Kelly off.
Kelly called Bellande’s raise and took one card while Belalnde drew two.
Bellande raised after Kelly bet and Kelly called.
Kelly drew one card while Bellande stood pat.
Kelly check-called all-in and both players patted. Kelly turned over Q♥ 6♦ 3♣ A♠ while Bellande tabled 10♥ 5♣ 3♠ 2♦.
Bellande eliminated Kelly and rose to 3.3 million while Kelly won $184,222 for his fifth cash and second final table of the summer.
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