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Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier is a French professional poker player and one of the most iconic “Triple Crown” winners in the history of the game. A former professional StarCraft gamer turned high-stakes titan, ElkY is celebrated for bringing the relentless work ethic of esports to the felt, becoming a multi-time WSOP bracelet winner and a global ambassador for the sport.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings surpassing $15,617,000 (according to The Hendon Mob), Grospellier sits at #2 on France’s All-Time Money List. His career-best live score of $2,278,657 came from a runner-up finish in the 2017 World Series of Poker (WSOP) $111,111 High Roller for One Drop. Grospellier is one of the few players to hold the “Triple Crown,” possessing 2 WSOP bracelets, a World Poker Tour (WPT) title, and a European Poker Tour (EPT) title. His most recent major success includes a victory in the 2024 Asian Poker Tour (APT) Superstar Challenge for $372,250. His longevity across two decades of high-stakes play contributes to an estimated poker net worth of over $10 million.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in 1981 in Melun, France, Grospellier first rose to fame as “ElkY” in the world of professional esports. He was one of the top StarCraft: Brood War players in the world, famously moving to South Korea to compete in the early 2000s. In 2003, he transitioned to poker and applied his high-volume gaming background to the digital felt, becoming the first person to ever reach “Supernova” and “Supernova Elite” status on PokerStars. In 2009, he set a Guinness World Record by playing 62 Sit-and-Go tournaments in a single hour. After nearly 12 years with PokerStars, he became an ambassador for GGPoker and PartyPoker, and he continues to bridge the gap between gaming and poker, even competing in professional Hearthstone for Team Liquid.
Play Style & Strategy
ElkY is the pioneer of the “High-Volume Aggressive” play style, a strategy he detailed in his co-authored book, The Raiser’s Edge. His background in StarCraft allowed him to master multi-tabling (at times playing 36 tables at once), which translated into a live strategy characterized by an incredibly high “Actions Per Minute” mindset. He is known for a Loose-Aggressive (LAG) approach, utilizing frequent three-bets and polarized ranges to keep opponents off-balance. ElkY is also a major advocate for physical fitness in poker, believing that a peak physical state is required to maintain the mental stamina needed for 12-hour sessions. Whether navigating a Triton Poker Series high roller or a WSOP championship, his strategy revolves around technical aggression and the psychological pressure born from his years in elite competitive gaming.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to follow “ElkY” as he continues to dominate the global high-stakes circuit? You can do so here:
