Bertrand Grospellier
In his early forties, Bertrand Grospellier, known as “ElkY”, has reached the top of the poker arena. The poker player has won prestigious titles – he has two WSOP bracelets, a WPT and EPT winner. As of 2024, Grospellier is one of only 9 “Triple Crown” poker players to have won three major events – the World Series of Poker (WSOP), the World Poker Tour (WPT) and the European Poker Tour (EPT). The total earnings of the charismatic Frenchman exceeded $14 million.
Main Information
Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier is a French professional poker player who was one of the best StarCraft players before his career began. He was a member of Team Pokerstars Pro for almost 12 years. He holds a world record: in 2009 he entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the maximum number of CpG tournaments played. In 1 hour, the Frenchman played 62 events for $6.50.
- Nickname: ElkY;
- Nationality: French;
- Residence: London, United Kingdom;
- Born: February 8, 1981;
- Age: 43;
- Last Results: In June 2022, he was named to the Poker Hall of Fame finalist list; in March 2024, he won the Asian Poker Tour Superstar Challenge in Taipei, Taiwan for $372,250.
Bertrand Grospellier Biography
“ElkY” was born on February 8, 1981 in Melenay, France. From an early age, Bertrand was interested in logic games and computers. His childhood was spent in the town of Melenay, located near Paris. There he first began to study strategic games and with great passion played on the computer. As a teenager, Grospellier became interested in cybersports, choosing the game StarCraft, which was incredibly popular at the time.
After graduation, Bertrand focused on cyber sports. He traveled to Seoul, the cyber sports capital of the world. He devoted all his time to training and participating in tournaments. In 2001, Grospellier took second place at the World Cyber Games championship in StarCraft discipline, becoming one of the first famous Western cyber sportsmen in Asia. He also earned the famous nickname “ElkY” in Korea, which he also uses in his poker career.
Despite his success in cybersports, Grospellier became interested in poker in the early 2000s. He was attracted by the possibility of using strategies in a new format, as well as broad financial prospects. The Frenchman started playing online poker on PokerStars, quickly rising to high limit tournaments.
Bertrand soon decided to focus solely on poker and gradually began to participate in live events. In 2007, he finished runner-up in the PCA Bahamas, which was his first major success in a live tournament and brought him fame in the poker community.
Poker Career
Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier went from a top cyber athlete to a professional poker player, winning the Triple Crown. The ability to analyze stats and calculate moves acquired in cybersports has been the key to his success in live and tournament play.
Live Poker Achievements
Bertrand has had success in live shows, earning prestigious titles and major prize money:
- January 2008 – Winning the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (PCA) Main Event, $2,000,000;
- October 2008 – 1st place at the World Poker Tour (WPT) Festa al Lago, $1,411,015;
- April 2009 – 3rd place at EPT High Roller in Monte Carlo, €223,000;
- June 2011 – First bracelet at the World Series of Poker (WSOP) in a seven-card stud tournament, $331,639;
- July 2019 – Second WSOP bracelet in the $180,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em and $180,000 Omaha High-Low Limit Hold’em event;
- September 2019 – 2nd place in the €100,000 Super High Roller EPT Barcelona, €1,191,900;
- December 2019 – 2nd place in the €50,000 Super High Roller EPT Prague, €501,590;
- September 2022 – Finalist in the Triton Poker Series in Cyprus, $1,000,000.
Online Poker Achievements
ElkY has won many titles, confirming his status as a strong player with good analytical skills:
- 2007 – The first player to achieve “Supernova Elite” status on PokerStars – the result of an incredible amount of play;
- September 2009 – two wins at the WCOOP (World Championship of Online Poker) on PokerStars within three days;
- 2011 – won the SCOOP (Spring Championship of Online Poker) tournament on PokerStars;
- 2012 – 2nd place in the Sunday Million on PokerStars, $122,000;
- 2013 – 1st place in the Turbo Championship of Online Poker (TCOOP) on PokerStars;
- 2015 – 3rd place in the Sunday Million on PokerStars, $150,000.
Top Five Career Cashes
After leaving cybersport, Bertrand almost immediately started playing in major poker tournaments. In 2007, ElkY took second place at EPT Copenhagen, which was a serious motivation for further development. A year later he took gold at the same tournament in the Bahamas and earned his first multi-million dollar winnings. Currently his net worth exceeds $17,000,000.
The table shows the five biggest wins that were landmark events in the poker player’s career:
| Tournament | Venue | Year | Prize money | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PokerStars Caribbean Adventure | Bahamas | 2008 | $2,000,000 | 1-е |
| WPT Festa al Lago | Las Vegas, USA | 2008 | $1,411,015 | 1-е |
| EPT Barcelona Super High Roller | Barcelona, Spain | 2019 | €1,191,900 | 2-е |
| WSOP Seven Card Stud Championship | Las Vegas, USA | 2011 | $331,639 | 1-е |
| EPT Prague Super High Roller | Prague, Czech Republic | 2019 | €501,590 | 2-е |
Bertrand Grospellier Socials
Grospellier interacts with fans on socials. He shares successes, news and approaches to poker. The Frenchman regularly publishes updates on his performances and posts photos from his trips to different countries.
| Social network | Profile |
|---|---|
| https://twitter.com/elkypoker | |
| https://www.instagram.com/elkygrospellier | |
| https://www.facebook.com/BertrandElkY |
FAQ
Is Bertrand Grospellier good at poker?
The Frenchman is one of only nine players in the world to have won three of the most prestigious tournaments in the world – WSOP, WPT and EPT.
How old is Grospellier?
Bertrand was born on February 8, 1981, he is 43 years old.
Does Bertrand Grospellier still play poker?
Yes, the poker player is a regular participant of high roller tournaments. And after leaving the PokerStars team, he signed a contract with PatryPoker.
What is Bertrand Grospellier’s nickname?
Bertrand’s poker nickname is “ElkY”.
What is Bertrand Grospellier’s net worth?
The capital is estimated to be around $17-18 million, not including earnings from cyber sports.
Has Bertrand Grospellier set a world record?
Yes, Bertrand Grospellier has become the first player to achieve Supernova Elite status on PokerStars.
What is Bertrand Grospellier’s most notable tournament win?
His most notable win was winning $2,000,000 at the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure in 2008.
What was Player’s longest online poker session?
Bertrand’s longest poker session lasted about 24 hours. In 2009, he competed in several consecutive tournaments on PokerStars to retain his Supernova Elite status.