The top professional poker players are not known for their healthy respect for money. Few think twice about paying $10,000 or even $50,000 to play a tournament such as the World Series main event or the H.O.R.S.E. event. The goal is to win. The money, well that’s just a good way to keep score.

Players such as Team PokerStars Pros Chris Moneymaker, Greg Raymer and Joe Hachem will tell you the same thing. Each has won the World Series main event and each will tell you that whilst the money is nice the fact that they are World Champion, a title that can never be taken from them, means more than anything else.

Team PokerStars Pro and 2005 World Champion Joe Hachem

Of course, the leap from novice to World Champion is a big one. Every pro will tell you the same thing - to start with the fundamentals, study the basics and learn as much as you can.

Team PokerStars Pro and 2004 World Champion Greg Raymer

That’s where PokerStars.net comes in and particularly the Weekly Round 2 competition, which allows you to pit your poker skills against fellow players in a realistic online tournament setting, and get yourself a mention on this blog if you win one of the two finals held each weekend.

Last weekend that honour went to ‘2Pat971’ and ‘LAMANCAY’.

After weeks of North American dominance in the Weekly Round 2 last Saturday saw a coup de grace by two French players who finished first and second for $287.60 and $166 respectively, with countryman ‘dnobru31’ taking the runner up spot to ‘2Pat971’.

And on Sunday the world was tipped on its head with a South American taking the first prize of $276. Argentinean player ‘LAMANCAY’ finishing ahead of a New Zealander and 801 other players (from thousands who took part) who were rewarded with real money prizes for their efforts.

Well done to all of those involved. Here’s a full run down of the results...

Weekly Round 2 results (Saturday 30 August)

1. 2Pat971 (France) -- $287.60
2. dnobru31 (France) -- $166.00
3. uu66ii (Finland) -- $100.00
4. Miiickle (Australia) -- $80.00
5. trelo19 (United States) -- $62.00
6. TSpikeOP (Canada) -- $50.00
7. cwspill (United States) -- $39.00
8. lakofka (France) -- $30.00
9. apple37 (Germany) -- $22.20

702nd Thulk530 (United States) -- $0.80

Weekly round 2 results (Sunday 31 August)

1. LAMANCAY (Argentina) --$276.00
2. UMUCKIWINOK (New Zealand) --$164.00
3. 4Bruce (United Kingdom) --$100.00
4. Jessicaplus5 (United States) -- $80.00
5. duckee1 (Canada) --$62.00
6. Luly24 (United States) --$50.00
7. AceOfSura (Sweden) --$39.00
8. Guizmo87 (France) --$30.00
9. EdddieeeD (Greece) -- $22.20

801nd mbaby77 (United States) -- $0.60

Qualifying for one of the two weekly events is easy. All you need to do is play in one of the Astronomer freerolls in the PokerStars.net lobby and finish within the top number of tables specified in the details.

The astronomer freerolls run several times a day so there’s never long to wait and if you’re successful your ticket into the Weekly Round 2 could see you win a cash prize.