The Global Poker Index have confirmed the addition of three new players that will compete for #TeamFrance at the upcoming Global Poker Masters.
Accomplished singer, actor and poker player Patrick Bruel (GPI#1452) is one of the three new members that will compete for France. Seven of his albums have reached #1 on the French charts. Bruel’s acting abilities earned him a Best Actor nomination for the film “Le Prénom” at the 2013 Césars, France’s Oscars.
Bruel, who was voted Best Ambassador last night at the GPI France Poker Awards in Deauville, is also an accomplished poker player. He won a gold bracelet at the World Series of Poker in 1998, winning the $5,000 Limit Hold’em event. He would also reach a final table in the $2,500 Pot Limit Omaha event just a few days prior to his bracelet victory. In 2002, Bruel finished second to Robert Williamson III in the $5,000 event at the 33rd presentation of the World Series of Poker.
In February 2014, Bruel finished 4th in the World Poker Tour Los Angeles Poker Classic Main Event, where online poker legend Chris Moorman captured his very first win on the live tournament poker circuit.
Bruel is the ultimate sports fan; he never misses a match when his beloved “Les Bleus” take the pitch. In March, the ultra-competitive Bruel will have a shot at his own World Cup wearing the blue jersey for his nation. He becomes the first player to receive a “wildcard” entry into the Global Poker Masters.
“Patrick is an accomplished poker player,” stated Global Poker Index Chief Executive Officer Alexandre Dreyfus. “Due to his celebrity status, his participation in the Global Poker Masters will certainly help in the promotion of the event. His inclusion on a already strong Team France will certainly bring another level of excitement in our efforts to #Sportify poker.”
ELKY READY TO REPRESENT
PokerStars Team Pro Bertrand “ElkY” Grospellier (GPI#119), one of the best live tournament poker players in history, has also been added to Team France. The former World #1 has earned over $10M on the circuit and tops all French players on the All-Time Money List. He is one of a select few players to have won Poker’s Triple Crown – winning major titles on the WPT, EPT and a WSOP gold bracelet.
Rising star Paul Tedeschi (GPI#181) is the third player to be added to #TeamFrance. Tedeschi won his very first event on the live tournament circuit just a short week ago at WPT National Cyprus.
The trio joins GPI European Challenger Cup winner Erwann Pecheux (GPI#73) and 2013 World Series of Poker November Niner Sylvain Loosli (GPI#188), who were added to Team France last month.
As a team, the French nationals have earned well over $16M on the live tournament circuit. They have combined for 16 victories, including four major titles, and 117 Top 10 finishes.
TEAM FRANCE
Erwann Pecheux
Sylvain Loosli
ElkY
Paul Tedeschi
Patrick Bruel
