Friday, 29th March 2024 10:47
Home / Uncategorized / $25K High Roller: ElkY the highest of rollers

Any player can win a poker tournament in any number of circumstances. An individual can sometimes go on the biggest rush of their life and make all the right decisions at all the pivotal moments; another can just get lucky time and again. But sometimes, every now and then, the result just seems obvious – and today was one of those days.

The Team PokerStars Pro Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier was never going to lose this high roller tournament and he didn’t. The $433,500 first prize is one thing, the way people will look at him from now on is something else entirely.

“It feels great,” said ElkY shortly after the last hand. “Last year’s main event was bigger but this means a lot. The field was so prestigious and I played very well against good players. This will be a great memory for me.”

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Nobody ever doubted ElkY’s ability, known by that nickname since his professional gaming days in South Korea. His record in the EPT is among the very best, starting two years ago in Copenhagen when he went into the heads up with an overwhelming lead only to blow it. It was a mistake he was determined never to make again.

A year later this same Bahamian venue was his playground, winning the PCA main event for $2 million. Then came his WPT success at the Bellagio in October that cemented his reputation as the genuine article in a game where many falsely make that claim.

The final of the $25,000 high roller event started with an all-star cast, a table studded with bracelet winners and world superstars, featuring the likes of Humberto Brenes and fellow WSOP champions Eli Elezra, Scott Seiver and Daniel Alaei.

But when it came to the crunch, none could get anywhere near the Frenchman from London via South Korea and Team PokerStars Pro.

You can read updates on all the action throughout the day, including eliminations, key double ups and the intricacies of in between. But for now it’s time to celebrate one of the game’s most prolific talents, one that reassures you that poker will continue to have its heroes for at least a generation to come.

Keep on rolling
The last of the high rollers
Level 12 and 13 updates
Level 15 updates
Level 16 updates
Level 17 and 18 updates

The final result:

1st – Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier – Team PokerStars Pro – France – $433,500
2nd – Will Molson – Canada – $228,000
3rd – Scott Seiver – United States – $137,000
4th – Liya Gerasimova – Russia – $91,300
5th – Humberto Brenes – Team PokerStars Pro – Costa Rica – $70,800
6th – Eli Elezra – United States – $68,500
7th – Daniel Alaei – United States – $57,000
8th – Nick Schulman – United States – $45,700


Watch PCA 09: ElkY wins the High Roller Event on PokerStars.tv

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