Formerly a professional gamer and now a highly respected PokerStars pro, Frenchman Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier has had a storming couple of years, making up for his heads-up defeat to Magnus Petersson at the 2007 EPT Copenhagen (see ‘Top 10 Rubdowns’ this issue) by first winning the 2008 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure and following it up with a slew of high-profile cashes.
“ElkY” collected $2 million dollars for that PCA win and it’s rumoured that he received an additional $500k plus a new car from PokerStars for winning his first major event. Later in the year, he took down his first WPT event and at the start of 2009 took down another PCA title, the $24,500 High Rollers event, bagging just shy of $500,000. Not bad for the London-based 28 year-old computer game geek who likes to dress as comic book characters. Allez!
Bertrand, which gives you more of a buzz - taking down a poker tournament or destroying someone at StarCraft?
Definitely winning a poker tournament, because it means defeating a large field of opponents, rather than just one. I get a much more satisfaction
from that!
Being a professional gamer or being a professional poker player – which gets
you more chicks?
I guess it was easier living in Korea, since StarCraft players have such a celebrity status over there. I met my girlfriend Cathy over there, and I have been with her for quite a while now, so it would be difficult for me
to compare the poker world to the StarCraft world in that respect!
Will we still see you on the poker circuit when StarCraft 2 comes out this year?
Most definitely. Poker is my world now. But I'll play some StarCraft if my schedule allows.
Do you still play (bad aces) - according to Magnus Petersson?
Haha! I will just say that I like to be unpredictable and difficult to read
at the poker table! [check out our Top 10 Rubdowns feature this issue for the lowdown on the ElkY vs. Petersson clash].
When was the last time you cried?
Probably when I busted out of the WPT Main Event in Las Vegas last December, as my hopes to become Player of the Year vanished right there and then.
What’s so good about living in Clapham?
The park’s nearby; having other poker players as roommates; the pubs; the great restaurants.
And what sucks?
The weather; the cost of living; the size of the houses.
Daft Punk or Air?
Daft Punk.
Tell us a joke.
I fold. I'm not a great story teller.
Your dream poker table - you and 5 figures from history, alive or dead?
Stu Ungar, Bruce Lee, Albert Einstein, Barack Obama, Angelina Jolie.
Have you dressed up as any more comic book characters lately?
Sadly, no.
Fancy a game of heads-up Space Invaders? $50 to the winner.
Good call – you’re on! |
