Bertrand Grospellier Wins Asian Poker Tour Superstar Challenge

Bertand Grospellier – Photo Credit: Asian Poker Tour

Bertrand Grospellier made his first cash in 2024 memorable when he won the 10th poker tournament of his impressive career by topping the field in the Asian Poker Tour Superstar Challenge in Taipei, Taiwan. The online poker legend known as ‘ElkY’ took home the top prize worth $372,250 to take his career tournament earnings close to $15.17 million. Grospellier is one of the few players who can claim the poker triple crown, with World Series of Poker, World Poker Tour, and European Poker Tour titles on his resume.

He also scored the glossy noir lion trophy, which Grospellier sounded excited about after the win. “I wanted the lion trophy so badly since I joined the APT, it’s the last thing I’ve ever wanted in poker. So I am so happy. I’m so ecstatic I finally won it,” said Grospellier to reporters after the win. He continued, “Even though I’ve already played poker for so many years, when you reach the final table it’s always so intense, with so much emotion. It means everything to me to win this trophy.”

Grospellier was one of the most consistent grinders on the tournament circuit for many years all over the world, but in recent years he had dialed back that volume, primarily playing at events in the Asian arena. This was his fifth cash in APT tournaments, with his previous scores booked in 2023. Two cashes came in South Korea, and the other pair was booked in Vietnam.

“I really wanted it. I came close twice in Hanoi and Incheon, and now finally winning it. I feel so great, it’s the best thing ever,” said a genuinely happy Grospellier after the win. He ended the exit interview with, “I’m so thankful to everyone who always supports and cheers for me even though I’m far from the best player now. So many people, especially in Taipei and Asia, always give me such a warm welcome and I’m so happy to come here and be able to win.”

The NT$800,000 buy-in no-limit hold’em tournament created a total prize pool worth $1,181,786 thanks to 49 entries. The final seven players all took home at least $62,048 in prize money, so two players at the final table would miss the min-cash on the final day of play in this inaugural SuperStar Challenge event for the tour.

The final table was an international affair with players from six different countries seated together with a large excited rail watching on the side. The talented final table also had millions upon millions in career tournament earnings between them. Sweden’s Mikael Andersson finished in seventh, and then bracelet winner Danny Tang from Hong Kong fell short of his second APT title in sixth place.

Austria’s Klemen Roiter busted in fifth place, and the other Hong Kong resident at the final table fell in fourth place when Biao Ding exited. Roman Hrabec from the Czech Republic was out in third to set up the heads-up final.

The final match saw Grospellier facing a 3:1 chip disadvantage against the chip leader at the start of the final day, Lester Edoc. The player from the Philippines took home $268,864 as the runner-up. Edoc now holds close to $1.2 million.

Here is a look at the final results for the tournament:

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