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 Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier was born
in France on February 8th, 1981. When he was three, he began playing computer games against his brother, usually winning. In high school,
ElkY’s competitiveness grew as he starting utilizing the internet to play games against people around the world, focusing particularly
on the game Starcraft.
After graduating from high school, ElkY was accepted into an advanced mathematics school. However, like many brilliant minds before
him, he grew restless after only a few days of classes, finding playing video games much more interesting and challenging than sitting
in a classroom. He had a friend who was making a decent living playing sponsored televised Starcraft tournaments in South Korea, and
ElkY was curious. The Frenchman remembers his decision to take the plunge, saying “I told myself, if I don’t give this a try, I will
regret it all my life. I never wanted a normal life anyway.”
At the age of 20, ElkY qualified for the World Cyber Games and headed to Seoul where he placed 2nd in the 2001 championship. A
sponsorship deal followed and ElkY continued his career as a professional gamer with much success and popularity. He soon became a
household name in South Korea, dazzling his fans with his gaming skills and enjoying his fame until he retired in 2004. ElkY had
conquered the world of video games, and had found a new challenge that he found more intriguing.
ElkY began playing poker with one goal in mind: to become the best. He consumed himself with the game from the very beginning, using
his quick wit and analytical gaming skills to dominate the games on PokerStars. His endurance was even more astounding, as he would
routinely play 10-12 tables at once for more than twelve hours straight. Because of his dedication, it’s not surprising that he was
the first player to achieve both Supernova and Supernova Elite status. ElkY reportedly lost a sizable amount of money while racing for
Supernova Elite, as the pace required to meet his goal was daunting. At one point, he played for 24 hours a day for a whole week,
sleeping only for 15 minutes every four hours. His game suffered, and although he lost money, ElkY came out on top after receiving the
hefty bonuses that PokerStars spoils their Supernova Elites with. ElkY’s celebrity status in South Korea and France combined with his
new popularity in the poker world soon landed him a coveted spot on Team PokerStars.
Once again, ElkY had achieved his goal of becoming one of the best. After conquering the world of online poker, he set his sights on
another challenge: tournaments. ElkY kicked off his live tournament career with several impressive cashes at the European Poker Tour
(EPT) and the World Series of Poker, including a remarkable 2nd place finish at the EPT Copenhagen in 2007, a score that delivered nearly
$400k and much heartbreak for the young pro. ElkY was reportedly devastated after losing the title, but came back from his loss in a
huge way later that season when he took home $2 million for winning the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure (an EPT event). ElkY outlasted
over 1,100 opponents to achieve what he has called the proudest moment of his poker career. Less than one year later, ElkY was crowned
champion of $15,000 Festa Al Lago World Poker Tour event, winning $1.4 million for his efforts. Just a few months later, ElkY returned
to the Bahamas in 2009 to defend his PCA title. Although he did not cash in the championship event, he instead won the $24,500 High
Roller Event, defeating the best tournament players in the world for over $400,000. Having a WPT and EPT title to his name, ElkY’s goal
was to now complete the “Triple Crown” of poker with a World Series of Poker bracelet. Despite having several deep cashes under his belt
at the Series (including an impressive run in the 2009 Main Event in which he finished 122nd), he is yet to accomplish this goal.
Off the felt, ElkY is obsessed with keeping his body as healthy as his mind. His approach to fitness is not unlike any other aspect of his
life: ElkY sees staying in perfect shape as a challenge that he must conquer. He considers himself “retired” from partying and has
worked hard to eliminate any distractions that might get in the way of his dedication to poker.
ElkY’s tournament career continues to soar, and his achievements seem limitless. With over $6 million in tournament cashes and no
signs of slowing down, it seems that ElkY is poised to conquer the world of poker in no time. Although he enjoys the money and fame
that his dedication has brought him, his competitive edge is what seems to drive him the most, saying “I want to leave a mark, and be
recognized as the best tournament player of my time.”
Bertrand Grospellier is a member of Team Pokerstars. |
