Bertrand Grospellier (Elky)

Bertrand Grospellier, better known as Elky is one of, if not the greatest French player in the history of the game. A "Pro Gamer" and Starcraft champion in his youth, Elky enjoyed a successful conversion to poker, racking up performances and millions all over the planet.

Starcraft champion

Bertrand Grospelier was born in Melun on February 8, 1981. Introduced to video games by his older brother, Bertrand soon dreamed of becoming a "pro gamer". A career unthinkable in France, Bertrand left for South Korea, where video gaming is considered a national sport. He quickly became one of the top Star Craft players, joining the best teams in the world and building up a championship record in the "Brood War" edition. His name ElkY is inspired by the World Of Warcraft character "Elkantar".

Transition to Poker

The transition to poker comes in 2005. "ElkY" cut his teeth in Sit&Go, multi-table relentlessly, until he became the first player to achieve Supernova status on Pokerstars. His presence in the room, his horde of fans and his appetite for the game were to catch the eye of the online room, which sponsored the player from 2006.

From 2007 onwards, Elky begins to "crush". His breakthrough came at the EPT Copenhagen, where he finished runner-up to Magnus Petersson for almost $400,000. The following year, he reached his first WSOP final table in a $2,500 event, then broke all records in 2008, winning the EPT "PCA" in the Bahamas for $2 million. That same year, he followed up with a $10,000 final table at the Grand Rendez vous Paris and then a juicy win at the WPT Las Vegas for $1,411,000.

In the world's elite

The ElkY phenomenon is launched. Bertrand will then string together results to establish himself as one of the best days of his generation. He robbed the Bahamas again in 2009, this time taking the High Roller for $433,000, won the BPT Lille and the Haussmann Trophy in Paris in 2010, and then in 2011, two High Rollers at the same EPT Madrid, for a combined $1 million. A few weeks later, he picked up his first WSOP bracelet in the Seven Stud Championship, with the added bonus of 3rd place in the $10,000 6-max, for $777,000 in two tournaments. Bertrand Grospellier thus becomes the first French player to achieve the triple crown (1 title on each of the major circuits, EPT, WSOP and WPT), a feat achieved by only eight people in poker history.

Becoming one of the most formidable players on the circuit, stringing together performances with disconcerting regularity, ElkY continues to rage on the Live circuit to this day. His biggest win came in the $111,111 High Roller for One Drop at the 2017 WSOP, finishing 2nd to Doug Polk for $2,278,000. In 2019, he achieved another feat at the WSOP Europe at King's Casino in Rozvadov, his new Poker Room of choice, winning the €550 Colossus in front of a field of 2,177 players.

ElkY also appears on several TV shows, writes various books on the game, including the "Kill Elky" trilogy. 1st in the GPI rankings in 2011, Bertrand Grospellier occupies 1st place on the French All-Time Money List, with more than $14 million accumulated in his career. ElkY is also the author of several books on the game, including the "Kill Elky" trilogy.