Bertrand Grospellier

Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier is a professional poker player and former esports competitor from France. Born in Melun, he grew up in the Nancy area before pursuing competitive gaming. In 2001, he moved to South Korea, where he became one of the first Western players to establish himself in the professional StarCraft scene and competed at a high level for several years.

Grospellier’s nickname, “ElkY,” came from “Elkantar,” a character he created while playing Dungeons & Dragons. His friends shortened the name, and it became his identity in both esports and poker. Fellow gamers introduced him to poker in South Korea, and he began developing his skills online. He became known for his analytical approach and ability to adapt across different forms of competition.

Although Grospellier had established himself as a poker professional, he remained closely connected to gaming. In 2015, he returned to competitive esports by joining Team Liquid's Hearthstone division. He also streamed poker and gaming content on Twitch and YouTube and coauthored “The Raiser's Edge”, a poker strategy book published in 2011. Throughout his career, he represented major poker brands such as PokerStars, partypoker, and GGPoker.

Outside poker, Grospellier has pursued business, technology, and charitable work. He became an adviser to blockchain-based sports entertainment company Chiliz in 2018 and invested in gaming-focused supplement company MADMONQ in 2021. He has also supported Peace and Sport, including by visiting a youth centre in East Timor in 2013 that benefited from his fundraising efforts. His pioneering esports experience, poker expertise, and work in gaming-related ventures make him a distinctive figure in both industries.