Robert Clarke Turns a Freeroll Into an 888poker LIVE London Main Event Shot
Published: 2025-09-13T14:00:00+00:00 | Source: PokerNews
Summary
Robert Clarke, a teaching assistant and youth worker in special educational needs (SEN), turned a series of 888poker freeroll satellites into a £1,250 seat for the 888poker LIVE London Main Event (£250,000 GTD). Balancing two jobs with limited poker time, Clarke used patience and select aggression to navigate Day 1b, picking up several big hands and building a stack that reached roughly 90,000 after a key set on the turn.
He faced established players such as Dean Clay and John Duthie, bagged for Day 2, but ultimately fell short near the money bubble. Clarke recommends trying freerolls as a route to live events for players who can put in the time and play carefully through the wild early stages.
Key Points
- Clarke qualified for the 888poker LIVE London Main Event by progressing from freeroll satellites to a £1,250 live seat.
- He works two jobs supporting SEN children and credits patience from his work for helping his poker game.
- On Day 1b he hit several premium hands (pocket aces, pocket queens, and pocket tens) and climbed to about 75–90K chips at one point.
- A pivotal blind-versus-blind pot saw Clarke turn a set with pocket tens to boost his stack to ~90K.
- Despite bagging for Day 2 and facing tough opponents, Clarke bubbled out before the payouts but still urges players to try freerolls for live-event seats.
Context and Relevance
This is a neat example of how online freerolls can provide accessible pathways into big live tournaments — especially at operators like 888poker that run satellite structures feeding their live series. For recreational players or those on tight budgets, Clarke’s run shows the realistic possibility of converting free online entries into live experiences and travel opportunities without the upfront buy-in.
Why should I read this?
Want proof freerolls aren’t a complete joke? Here’s one bloke who qualified from a free seat into a pricey London Main Event while juggling two jobs. Quick, human, and practical — gives you a sense of the grind, a concrete route to try yourself, and a few table-tips without needing a deep dive.
Author note
Punchy coverage from Matthew Pitt — a tidy human-interest piece that’s short on drama but useful for players hunting low-cost routes to live tournaments. We skimmed the match so you don’t have to.