Yes of course,

The whole competition is basically a marketing exercise for sites to promote their own offering. One of the requirements of the channel for all participating sites was that they have at least 2 professionals and preferably 3 out of the 6 that make the heat with the remainder being internet qualifiers.

The majority (if not all) of the pros in this event have been by invitation only and they have all had their buy in paid for by the sites (again this is to the best of my knowledge, there may be the odd one that has bought in).

Hi There,

As the pro for www.getmintedpoker.com (the site which mel qualified on to get the seat it tonights game) I thought it only correct to point out the mel (londonpokergirl) was one of the two internet qualifiers for the game tonight. Gus, Dave and Roy are the pros (subsidised by the network) and the other competitor is a journalist from the Telegraph who is also paid for by the network.