Two dozen slots players from all over the United States sailed on Royal Caribbean's newest ship, Liberty of the Seas, on August 4th as invitees to Royal Caribbean's 2007 Club Royale Masters Slot Tournament.

Each of the players received a complementary entry valued at $750 to the qualifying rounds.

The leaders after the first two rounds made it to the finals together with participants from a buy-in round, where players who had not made it in regular qualifying were able to return to the machines for a last-ditch chance to play for the championship.

In round one, played on the first sea day of the cruise to the Eastern Caribbean, Harry D took the tournament lead and won a bonus $1,000 as the first round qualifying winner. The second qualifying round was won by Barbara C, who also picked up a $1,000 bonus. But both were nervously eyeing Ed M, the 2006 tournament winner, who held the combined lead after the first two qualifying rounds.

Before the finals, the players had four days of cruising in the Caribbean -- visiting San Juan, St. Maarten ( two ports rumored to have casinos with slot machines) as well as Labadee, Haiti. Many of the tournament participants also spent their shipboard evenings honing their skills prior to the final round, which was held on the last day at sea.

The final round produced some major upsets, with the two qualifying round winners and 2006 winner Ed M all finishing out of the top money.

The upset winner was Florida's Lisa A, who from fifth place after the two qualifying rounds, sailed away from the pack in the finals tp claim the top prize of $13,125.

Finishing second was Susie S, who took home $5,675, and Ed M's wife Susan, who pulled in third-place money of $2,950.

The other seven finalists each walked away from the machines (well, maybe walked away for a few minutes) with a consolation prize of $500.

In the course of the week, the invitees -- who all enjoyed a complimentary balcony cabin or suite -- were hosted at a welcome reception, two luncheons in Liberty's private areas, and received a variety of gifts and amenities delivered throughout the cruise to their staterooms.

In chatting with several tournament participants, it became clear that even those who did not take home trophies disembarked feeling that they were indeed winners.