Robert Clarke Turns a Freeroll Into an 888poker LIVE London Main Event Shot
Summary
Robert Clarke, a part-time online grinder who works two jobs with special educational needs (SEN) children, qualified for the £1,250 888poker LIVE London Main Event after navigating freeroll satellites. Clarke used patience honed from his day job to grind through Day 1b, hit a key set of tens to boost his stack to around 90,000, bagged for Day 2, but ultimately bubbled out before reaching the prize positions. He faced established players including Dean Clay and John Duthie during the event and encourages others to try freeroll routes into live tournaments.
Key Points
- Clarke turned a sequence of freeroll satellites into a £1,250 seat for the 888poker LIVE London Main Event.
- He balances poker with two jobs working with SEN children and credits that work for improving his patience at the tables.
- Notable live moment: hit a turn ten to make a set of tens against Geore Gergely, lifting his stack to ~90K.
- Played Day 2 against tough opposition (Mitch Johnson, Fraser Bellamy, Jamie Walden, Chris Da-Silva) but was eliminated on the money bubble.
- Recommends freeroll satellites as a low-cost path to live events — chaotic early stages but valuable experience and travel opportunities.
Content summary
Clarke, who earlier finished second in a $109 PKO Main Event for over $7,000, opted to chase a live seat via 888poker freerolls. He qualified through initial freerolls (top-32 into main satellites) and won the satellite that awarded the £1,250 Main Event seat. On Day 1b he played patiently, caught several big hands (pocket aces multiple times, pocket queens twice) and won a pivotal pot with pocket tens when a ten hit the turn. He bagged for Day 2 but, despite a measured plan to play tight as the short stack, exited near the bubble. Clarke stresses the accessibility of freeroll paths for players who otherwise couldn’t afford direct buy-ins.
Context and relevance
This piece highlights the continuing pipeline from online satellites to live poker, showing that freerolls can still translate into tangible live chances. For recreational and budget-minded players it underlines an achievable route to big live festivals without large upfront investment. The story also reinforces a common theme in poker media: soft online entry points plus disciplined play can create memorable live-event opportunities.
Author style
Punchy: a concise, feel-good spotlight that puts the human element front and centre — patient grind, a lucky river, and an honest take on the freeroll route. Good for readers who like player-focused colour rather than technical strategy deep-dives.
Why should I read this?
Because it’s an underdog tale that actually happened — freerolls aren’t just novelty events. If you play cheap satellites or fancy a shot at a live festival without the bankroll, Clarke’s run is proof it’s worth trying. Plus: a neat reminder that patience (on and off the felt) pays off.