How Robert Clark Won a Ticket to 888poker LIVE London from a Freeroll

Discover how Robert Clark went from winning a freeroll to competing in the prestigious 888poker LIVE London Main Event. An inspiring poker success story.

In the world of online poker, freerolls are a common occurrence—free tournaments where players can win tickets to major live events. However, very few manage to make the leap from a free entry all the way to competing in a prestigious live tournament. Robert Clarke’s story is a vivid example that even without spending a penny, you can find yourself at the tables of a marquee event like the 888poker LIVE London Main Event. Robert Clarke’s Journey: From Freeroll to the 888poker LIVE London Main Event Robert Clarke is a man with a full life and two jobs. He works as a teaching assistant at a school for children with special educational needs (SEN), and he’s also involved in youth programs for kids with similar challenges. His days are devoted to caring for his students, leaving him with little time for poker. “This job is about giving back, not about the money. I want to help children do things they normally wouldn’t have access to,” Clarke shares. Working with children with special needs requires patience, empathy, and attentiveness. According to Robert, the patience he’s developed at work also serves him well at the poker table: “When a child isn’t in the mood or doesn’t want to learn, you have to be patient. Poker is the same: sometimes you go hours without seeing good hands, and you just have to wait for your moment.” Despite his busy schedule, Clarke still finds time to play on 888poker. Earlier this year, he finished second in a PKO tournament with a $109 buy-in and a $100,000 guarantee, earning him over $7,000. Inspired by that success, Robert decided to try to qualify for the 888poker LIVE London Main Event—a tournament with a £1,250 buy-in and a guaranteed prize pool of £250,000. He began his journey with freerolls—free satellite tournaments where you can win tickets to the main qualifiers. “It was a regular freeroll satellite with quite a lot of players. I think the top 32 advanced. I made it through, then won the main satellite and got the £1,250 ticket,” Robert recalls. Debut at the 888poker LIVE London Main Event: Tournament Run and Key Hands Clarke entered the tournament on Day 1b. In poker tournaments, Day 1b is the second starting flight, giving players a chance to join if they missed Day 1a or want to re-enter. Robert got off to a strong start: “Right from the beginning I was picking up good hands—aces three times, queens twice. I quickly built my stack up to about 75-80 thousand, but then the pace slowed down.” Throughout the day, Clarke found himself seated with experienced players, including Dean Clay—a well-known regular—and John Duthie, a legendary figure in the poker world. Despite the pressure, Robert kept his composure and picked his spots to play actively. The highlight for him came during the 14th and final level of Day 1b. In a battle of the blinds against Geore Gergely, Clarke was dealt pocket tens. Gergely, short-stacked with 30,000 chips (10 big blinds), moved all-in with KJ. The flop brought a jack, giving Gergely the lead, but the turn delivered the ten of spades, improving Clarke to a set. The river changed nothing, Gergely was eliminated, and Robert’s stack climbed to 90,000. “He was short, so it was an obvious call for me with tens. I got a bit lucky on the turn,” Robert recalls. Finishing Day 1b with a healthy stack, Clarke was pleased with his performance. However, when he saw the table draw for Day 2, his enthusiasm dipped a bit: his table included strong players like Mitch Johnson, Fraser Bellamy, Jamie Walden, and 888poker LIVE Coventry 2024 champion Chris Da-Silva. “I saw the draw and realized—there are at least three or four players at the table with stacks of 200,000 or more. But there are also short stacks with 25-30 thousand. I’m short myself with my 80K, but there’s plenty of time to play, no need to rush. I’m an unknown player to them, so I can use that to my advantage,” Clarke says. Busting on the Bubble and Advice for Other Players Despite a confident start and solid strategy, Robert didn’t make it into the money—he busted close to the bubble (the point where only a few players remain before the payouts begin). Nevertheless, his journey from freeroll to the Main Event is truly inspiring. Clarke encourages other players to try this path: “If you have the time, definitely give it a shot. Winning the first freeroll is tough—a lot of people play very aggressively, often shoving all-in with any hand, and the starting stack is usually just 1,000 chips. But if you manage to build a stack, play tight and move forward. In the second stage, there are fewer players and your chances are better. It’s a great way to get into a big tournament, see new places, and play somewhere you otherwise couldn’t. I definitely couldn’t afford this buy-in myself.” Tournament Chip Counts and Prizes The original article doesn’t include the full final table or prize list, as the tournament was still ongoing at the time. Only some participants and their chip counts at the Day 2 table draw are known: Robert Clarke — 80,000 chips (Day 2, short stack) Mitch Johnson — over 200,000 chips Fraser Bellamy — over 200,000 chips Jamie Walden — over 200,000 chips Chris Da-Silva (888poker LIVE Coventry 2024 champion) — stack not specified Dean Clay — played on Day 1b John Duthie — played on Day 1b Geore Gergely — eliminated on Day 1b The buy-in for the 888poker LIVE London Main Event was £1,250, with a guaranteed prize pool of £250,000. Robert Clarke won his seat through a series of free satellites. Context: The 888poker LIVE Series and Its Features 888poker LIVE is a series of live tournaments organized by the 888poker room. Its London stop traditionally attracts top players and enthusiasts from around the world. The series’ Main Event stands out for its sizable buy-in (£1,250) and substantial guaranteed prize pool (£250,000), making it appealing even to professionals. For many players, the path to such tournaments runs through online satellites, including free freerolls. This is a unique opportunity for those who aren’t ready or able to pay the buy-in to take a shot at a major poker event. The tournament brings together both well-known professionals (such as John Duthie, Dean Clay, Chris Da-Silva) and amateur players who qualified online. The PKO (Progressive Knockout) format, in which Robert Clarke previously found success ($109 buy-in, $100,000 guarantee), is also frequently used on 888poker. In PKO tournaments, players earn additional cash prizes for knocking out opponents, adding extra dynamics and strategy to the game. Key Elements of Robert Clarke’s Strategy Patience and discipline . Clarke emphasizes that the patience he’s developed at work helps him wait for strong hands and avoid marginal spots. Adapting to opponents . Robert notes that being an unknown player at the table can work to his advantage if he plays carefully and doesn’t reveal his playing style. Smart stack management . Even though his stack was smaller than most at his Day 2 table, Clarke didn’t rush and planned to play tight, waiting for profitable situations. Navigating aggressive freerolls . In the early stages of satellites, many players play extremely aggressively, so it’s important to be cautious and know how to build a stack in a volatile environment. What This Means for PPPoker Club Players Robert Clarke’s story is a great example for PPPoker club players, showing that even with minimal investment, you can make it to major live tournaments. Many clubs on the PPPoker platform regularly run satellites and freerolls where you can win tickets to prestigious events. This is an opportunity for everyone—the key is to show patience and discipline, just as Robert did. For PPPoker club members, the takeaway is clear: don’t underestimate free tournaments and satellites. Even if the competition is fierce in the early stages and the structure feels like a lottery, this is where you can win your ticket to the big leagues. It’s important to build your strategy wisely: play carefully at the start, build your stack, and use your advantage in the later stages of qualification. Moreover, Robert Clarke’s experience shows that skills gained in everyday life—patience, the ability to analyze situations, and adapt to different opponents—are directly applicable in poker. Playing in PPPoker club tournaments not only gives you valuable experience, but could one day see you at the table of a major live event, making the journey from freeroll to Main Event.