Jean-Robert bows out of Survivor

Supplied

OUT OF THE BLUE: Poker player Jean-Robert Bellande claims his eviction from Survivor: China was a mistake.

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Professional poker player Jean-Robert Bellande has played his final hand on Survivor: China after being “blindsided” by his team mates.

Bellande – a 36-year-old Las Vegas resident and nightclub owner who has pocketed more than $700,000 in poker winnings – was voted out of Survivor: China following a last-minute decision by members of the newly-merged tribe.

He told Stuff.co.nz he had no idea he was going to be voted out.

“I was completely shocked,” he said. “I was extremely disappointed. I never saw it coming. I just got blindsided.”

Bellande claims the tribe’s decision was a mistake as James Clement – a grave digger who holds the two hidden immunity idols – should easily make the top three.

“Right now was the time to get rid of James. We had the perfect plan to blindside him – he actually showed up at tribal council without his bags. He couldn’t have played the hidden immunity idols even if he wanted to.

“We should have sent him home – he was the biggest threat. That was the best move – not just for me but for everybody. It was a mistake to send me home.”

Bellande used his poker playing skills to create a Survivor game plan. He said phase two was kicking in just as he was voted out.

“One of the things you do in poker is you’re always looking a couple of moves down the road at an end-game strategy.

"The first part of my plan was to go in and be a lazy jerk and not be liked. Phase two was to start being a little more likeable, a little more charming.”

His image as a loud-mouthed trouble maker, and his feisty relationship with waitress Courtney Yates, was an act to go with his plan, he said.

“Being that aggressive and in your face, it’s usually mixed with some charm and fun. Most people find me to be quite likeable actually, even though I can be obnoxious. I’m definitely not as lazy as I tried to portray myself.”

“I wasn’t out there to make friends. I was out there to win a million dollars. Courtney not liking me didn’t bother me. She just didn’t like me, and I didn’t care.”

Unsurprisingly, Bellande picks James to win.

“He’s really likeable, he contributes to camp life, and he’s the favourite to win the immunity challenges from here on out. And he has not one but two hidden immunity idols.

"I don’t see how he loses from here.”

*Survivor: China screens at 8.30pm on TV3 on Thursday nights. Stuff.co.nz will exclusively interview every contestant as they are eliminated. For more information, visit the Survivor: China website.