Jeff Lisandro

Jeffrey Lisandro was born in Perth, Australia, but spent much of his youth near Salerno, Italy. His mother taught him to play poker at the age of five. He later returned to Australia, initially working as a real-estate investor before pursuing poker full-time. Lisandro is known for his calm demeanor at the table, earning him the nickname "The Iceman." He is regarded as one of the premier seven-card stud players in the world and a specialist in mixed games.

Lisandro made his first WSOP final table appearance in 1997 in the $3,000 pot-limit hold'em event won by Phil Hellmuth Jr. He won his first bracelet in 2007 in the $2,000 Seven-Card Stud event, defeating a final table that included Daniel Negreanu and Nick Frangos. The following year, he won a World Poker Tour (WPT) title at the 2008 World Poker Finals.

His most famous accomplishment came in 2009 at the WSOP, where he cashed six times and won three bracelets in a single summer—the first player ever to win a World Series title in all three seven-card stud disciplines in the same year: Stud High, Stud High-Low, and Razz. This historic feat earned him the 2009 WSOP Player of the Year award. Only six players in history have won three WSOP bracelets in a single year.

Lisandro's total WSOP bracelet count stands at six, including wins in Omaha and 2-7 lowball events. He also won a 2005 WSOP Circuit event at Lake Tahoe for $542,360, famously defeating Phil Ivey heads-up. In the 2006 WSOP Main Event, he finished 17th for $659,730. At the 2009 WSOP Europe, he added further cashes.

Beyond the WSOP, Lisandro has cashed in major tournaments worldwide, including the Aussie Millions, European Poker Tour (EPT), and the Asia Pacific Poker Tour (APPT). In 1996, he made final tables at the Vienna Spring Poker Fest and won a stud event at the Torneo Di Poker Nova Gorica. He also recorded deep runs at the California State Poker Championship, the Studmaster, and the Legends of Poker in Los Angeles.

In 2011, his best finish was 11th in the $50,000 Poker Players 8-Game Mix Championship for $143,400. As of 2025, Lisandro remains active on the poker circuit, adding a 51st-place finish in the WSOP $1,500 H.O.R.S.E. event. His lifetime tournament earnings exceed $5.8 million, placing him in the top ten on Australia's all-time money list. He is a member of the Australian Poker Hall of Fame.

Lisandro is widely considered one of the greatest mixed-game players in history. He employs an aggressive yet calculated approach, leveraging position and precise reads. In stud games, he reads opponents' betting patterns to narrow hand ranges. He is known to balance aggression with patience, applying pressure when advantageous but folding when necessary. His unflappable table presence earned him the nickname "The Iceman."

Lisandro has stated in interviews that he prefers mixed games over No-Limit Hold'em because they require a more complete skill set. He has also authored instructional materials focusing on mixed-game strategies, contributing to his reputation as a teacher of the game.

During the 2006 WSOP Main Event, Lisandro was involved in a notable incident with Prahlad Friedman. Friedman believed Lisandro had failed to post the 5,000-chip ante on a hand, though the dealer corrected a mistake by a third player at the table. The incident, while tense, provided a moment of levity when another player at the table mentioned he was married to an Italian woman and planned to visit her parents. Lisandro quipped, "Can you take him [Friedman] with you?"

Jeff Lisandro's career demonstrates the value of specialization and emotional control. By mastering less popular game variants, he carved a profitable niche away from the crowded Hold'em scene. His six WSOP bracelets and Player of the Year award place him among the elite in poker history. He remains a respected figure in the poker community and continues to compete at the highest levels.