The seventh freeroll in the Betfair Grand Prix was played on Monday evening 24 July 2006. There was a slight change as the size of entry reverted back to 300 places, after the extension to 800 during the World Cup.

We apologise to those unable to get on and register, and for the late change, we found out about it here very late, and as such two of the PokerPlayer posse were unable to take part.

So without ‘Dudek’ amd ‘darklord5’, the famous five rode into town to face 295 other players all depserate for those important Leaderboard points, as the Live Final draws ever nearer.

First out was ‘HillyFish’. When questioned as to how he did, we received the following reply:

"My details: Enjoyed a marvellous 9 holes at Royal Queens Park pitch & putt, stopped off for a couple of cold beers on the way home, then logged on at 8:15 to find I’d been knocked out in 251st place."

Our watery friend has an excuse though – he’s currently over Greenland on his way to Las Vegas to play in the World Series of Poker Main Event, where he will eat, drink, sleep, drink, breathe and drink poker for 10 days. So maybe he deserved a night off.

Next out was ‘Dicey’ in 239th KOed by ‘Jeffster’ whose pocket Queens flopped a third Queen. With no Ace on the board – and Jeffster fast playing his set – ‘Dicey’ thought that his Kings were good. They weren’t, and out he went.

‘Shafty78’ followed quickly after on the double Nelson, 222nd. He led all the way to river with pocket Jacks against K-Q on a board with three Sixes. His opponent rivered a Queen unfortunately – cue a lot of swearing.

After those two examples of half decent play, the sheriff, ‘K-Unknown’ went out poorly. Trying to break his curse of A-K he decided to push all-in in the face of a raise and re-raise. It didnt’t work and he admits: "I deserved to go out and am suitably ashamed by my play".

‘Tallulah’ was last to go in 122nd. She raised with about a quarter of her stack, in mid position with J9 suited, and got one caller. She then flopped a gutshot straight flush draw. the oppo, ‘beterman’ bet (obviously), she re-raised all in and he called with middle pair. ‘Tallulah’ didn’t hit and the pair 8s held up.

Congratulations to ‘djohnson’ who went on the to win Freeroll 7, beating peeko in heads up play. Special mention must also go to ‘Kicker1’, who despite winning Freeroll 6, and qualifying for the Live Final, competed again, and came a highly creditable 4th.