WSOPE Round-Up: Bertrand Grospellier Closes Shows with First Win in Seven Years

November 6th, 2019 | by Jason Reynolds

Bertrand Grospellier, aka ElkY, has closed out the 2019 World Series of Poker Europe (WSOPE) with a win in the Colossus.

Bertrand Grospellier wins the last bracelet of the 2019 WSOPE after taking down the Colossus. (Image: YouTube/Dans le carré)

The Frenchman may have bigger scores on his résumé, but the victory is his first live win since 2012. What’s more, it’s his first WSOPE bracelet.

Indeed, despite holding the 2011 $10,000 WSOP Seven Card Stud title, taking down the €550/$610 Colossus was no less impressive.

Small Stakes Big Payout for Grospellier

Even with a significantly smaller buy-in, the tournament reached epic proportions after 2,738 entries were collected over nine starting days.

That turnout not only meant the Colossus lived up to its name but generated a prizepool worth €1.3 million/$1.4 million.

By the time the final day rolled around on November 4, just 11 players remained. Topping the bill in terms of experience and stature were Grospellier and Shaun Deeb.

All eyes were on the latter as he was fighting for the WSOP Player of the Year (POY) title. Entering the day third in chips, Deeb needed to finish fifth or better to topple Daniel Negreanu in the POY race.

Unfortunately for him, the pressure of being favorite to win took its toll. Not wanting to fold his way to victory, Deeb stepped on the gas and pushed the pace.

Aggression Marks Final Table

That aggressive strategy led to his demise within 15 minutes. After Deeb went out in a blaze of glory, it was Grospellier’s time to shine.

Using Deeb’s logic that a high-variance tournament like the Colossus require an aggressive strategy, he went on the offensive.

Hitting a lucky double up against Dieter Becker, ElkY was able to push himself into contention and not look back. Indeed, as Becker went from chip leader to spectator in under 15 minutes, Grospellier took control.

In the end, only Avraham Dayan could prevent the former gamer another poker title.

Heads-up, the two players were evenly matched in chips. This dynamic remained in place until pocket tens sealed the deal for Grospellier.

WSOPE Colossus Result

1 – Bertrand Grospellier – $213,220

2 – Avraham Dayan – $131,746

3 – Marian Kubis – $96,513

4 – Mick Heder – $71,310

5 – Dieter Becker – $53,146

6 – Christoph Peper – $39,955

7 – Sergii Karpov – $30,304

8 – Alessandro Pezzoli – $23,187

9 – Francesco Candelari – $17,902

Four-betting all-in over the top of Dayan, ElkY was comfortably in the lead after his opponent called with A♣T♣. Needing to avoid an ace, Grospellier watched as the board ran out 7♥4♣ 2♠3♦4♠.

With that, Dayan was sent to the rail as Grospellier banked $213,220 and his first WSOPE title.

Another High for WSOPE Main Event

Prior to the Colossus bringing the festival to an end, Alexandros Kolonias became the new WSOPE Main Event champion.

Outlasting 540 others in the $11,500 showdown, Kolonias picked up one of the biggest titles in poker after beating Germany’s Claas Segebrecht heads-up.

WSOPE Main Event Result

1 – Alexandros Kolonias – $1,258,383

2 – Claas Segebrecht – $777,709

3 – Anthony Zinno – $538,673

4 – Dario Sammartino – $379,289

5 – Anh Do – $271,565

6 – Rifat Palevic – $197,770

7 – Julien Martini – $146,539

8 – Jakob Madsen – $110,506

That win earned the Greek grinder his first WSOPE title and $1.2 million in prize money. What’s more, it helped bring another successful World Series of Poker Europe to a glittering conclusion.