24 Jul 2025 Bertrand "ElkY" Grospellier used to be a crossover star who excelled at both StarCraft and poker. However, a financial controversy has now engulfed him. ElkY is well-known to poker fans; he's been famous in both online and live poker for almost twenty years. In the late 2000s, he went from being a StarCraft superstar to becoming one of Team PokerStars' most visible ambassadors. From Stardom to Debt: What Happened? The accusation comes from @cuntycakes123, a famous Twitter user who used to play high-stakes poker and issued a strong warning on social media: “Just a PSA to all on financial dealings with @elkypoker. Over the past year, he has engaged in repeated unethical behavior of borrowing money and not paying back resulting in 7 figures of debt. I’ve considered him a close friend for quite some time but going forward I can’t condone this type of behavior and am obligated to warn and protect others.” He had a sponsorship deal with GGPoker not long ago, and until this incident, he had a mostly positive reputation in the public eye. It looks like even the most well-known poker players aren't safe from the game's darker financial currents. Quickly, the post went viral in the poker world, getting tens of thousands of views and sparking speculation, disappointment, and, perhaps most telling, acceptance from the community. Community Reaction Redditors didn't waste any time talking about what the story meant. Some people felt sorry for ElkY and saw his situation as a warning about the variance and extravagant lifestyle that one can not afford.` FurriedCavor: Comment byu/Striking_Cut_2904 from discussion inpoker evergreen4851: Comment byu/Striking_Cut_2904 from discussion inpoker PassionOfCube: Comment byu/Striking_Cut_2904 from discussion inpoker PassionOfCube: Comment byu/Striking_Cut_2904 from discussion inpoker Some turned to sarcasm and dark humor. Material_Pirate_7922: Comment byu/Striking_Cut_2904 from discussion inpoker So, What Happens Next? ElkY hasn't said anything about the allegations yet. We will have to wait and see if he plans to deny the claims, explain them, or keep quiet. However, the damage may have already occurred. People trust each other, so character is valuable. Right now, it looks like his is worthless. What is the key takeaway? Poker looks cool on the outside, but behind the sunglasses and sponsors is a world full of risk, chance, and ego. What's today's hero could be tomorrow's lesson. As PunkDrunk777 aptly put it: Comment byu/Striking_Cut_2904 from discussion inpoker
