Jean-Noel Thorel

Main Information

• Nickname: “OscarBrown” and “The Nutty Professor”;
• Nationality: France;
• Residence: Paris, France;
• Born: Châtillon, France;
• Age: 77;
• Last Results: In early August 2023, he sat at the final table of the Triton Poker Series London Main Event and finished in second place for his largest prize pool to date of over $2.8 million.

Jean-Noel Thorel’s Biography

Jean-Noel Thorel is a French professional poker player who was born on July 31, 1947 in Châtillon. There is virtually no information about his childhood and youth, as his life before the beginning of his professional career was mostly hidden from publicity.

By education, Jean-Noel Thorel is a pharmacist. He was trained in France and started his career in Paris, working in a regular pharmacy. In 1973, he joined the pharmaceutical company PHARMEX. A few years later, he got a new position and became the director of the GOUPIL laboratory.

However, by 1977, disagreements between Thorel and his colleague Jean-Jacques Goupil reached their peak, and Jean-Noel left his post. Instead, he founded his own research center, CEREDAP, and began working on a line of care products.

Over the years, Thorel grew his business and made significant strides in the field of pharmaceuticals. However, at one point he discovered a new passion for himself – poker.

With his analytical mind and quick decision-making skills, Thorel became one of the successful professional poker players in Europe. He has participated in numerous tournaments and competitions around the world, winning prizes and fans.

Jean-Noel Thorel is a vivid example of a man who was able to successfully combine two such different spheres of activity, becoming famous both in the world of pharmaceuticals and in the world of professional poker.

Poker Career

Jean-Noel Thorel is a shining example of how you can succeed in the world of poker starting from scratch. At the beginning of his career he was just a “money bag” for experienced players, but over time he became one of the most dangerous opponents at the poker table.

An important moment in Thorel’s poker career was his runner-up finish at the EPT High Roller in 2009. This success was the impetus for him to seriously study the game and improve his level. He realized that poker is not only about gambling, but also about making the right decisions in difficult situations.

For Jean-Noel, poker became not just a hobby, but an opportunity to take risks, which he lacked in business. He learned to control his emotions at play and to remain cautious with his bankroll. This discipline and responsibility helped him become one of the most successful players.

For Thorel, poker is not only a game, but also an opportunity to multiply his investment. He realized that it is important not only to win, but also to know how to manage his money. It was only when he started to take the game more seriously, playing in big buy-in tournaments, that his results began to improve significantly.

Live Poker Achievements

• European Poker Tour – EPT Deauville 2009 – 2nd place in No Limit Hold’em – High Roller (€115,200);
• European Poker Tour – EPT Barcelona 2013 – 3rd place in No Limit Hold’em – High Roller Re-Entry (€181,500);
• European Poker Tour – EPT Prague 2015 – 2nd place in #50 No Limit Hold’em – High Roller – 8 Handed (€383,200);
• PokerStars Caribbean Adventure – PCA 2018 – 3rd place in #8 No Limit Hold’em – High Roller ($339,480);
• European Poker Tour – EPT Barcelona 2018 – 2nd place in No Limit Hold’em (Event #17) (€703,000);
• Triton Poker Super High Roller Series Jeju 2024 – 2nd place in No Limit Hold’em – Main Event (Event #11) ($2,875,000).

Online Poker Achievements

• World Series of Poker – WSOP Online 2020 at GGPoker, Online- $1,050 No Limit Hold’em – Beat the Pros [Bounty] (Event #82) – Prize is $1,617;
• World Series of Poker – WSOP Online 2020 at GGPoker, Online – $500 No Limit Hold’em Mini Main Event (Event #63) – Prize is $1,444;
• World Series of Poker – WSOP Online 2020 at GGPoker, Online – $1,500 MILLIONAIRE MAKER (Event #48) – Prize is $6,076.

Top Five Career Cashes

Jean-Noel Thorel is a famous French professional poker player who has been involved in this game for many years and has achieved a lot of success in it. His career is dotted with numerous victories and big wins that have made him one of the most successful poker players. Here are five of his most significant career wins:

Jean-Noel Thorel’s Socials

Professional poker player Jean-Noel Thorel, known for his success in world poker, is not an active social media user. His social media accounts are maintained mainly by his agency and the team of his cosmetics company.

However, despite this, Jean-Noel’s fans and admirers can follow his progress and poker news through the official tournament pages. There they publish photos and videos from tournaments, interviews with Jean-Noel himself, as well as other relevant information about his participation in major poker events.