Skilled in Variety: Barny Boatman, Expert Poker Player, Witnessed Diverse Experiences
In the annals of poker history, few names resonate as profoundly as Barny Boatman. As a founding member of the iconic Hendon Mob, Boatman has left an indelible mark on the game, shaping its landscape and influencing its development.
The Hendon Mob, a group of British poker enthusiasts that included Boatman, his brother Ross, Joe Beevers, and Ram Vaswani, began in the mid-1990s as a casual gathering of friends. Their shared passion for poker led them to form a group with the ambition of raising the bar for the game and tracking their results at tournaments across the UK.
The Hendon Mob's most significant contribution to the poker world was the creation of the Hendon Mob Database, the largest public database of live poker tournament results globally. This database, named after the group, was envisioned as a tool to help secure televised poker and sponsorships. Boatman's consistent results and presence have been instrumental in maintaining the database's relevance and prominence.
Boatman's career timeline is a testament to his dedication and skill. He began his professional poker journey in the 1990s and has since amassed numerous live tournament cashes and results, many of which are recorded in the Hendon Mob Database. His accomplishments include reaching the finals in the third and fourth seasons of the groundbreaking English show Late Night Poker, which introduced the new form of showing the game with players' hole cards.
In recent years, Boatman has continued to compete in major tournaments, including the World Series of Poker (WSOP). Despite being eliminated on Day 1a of the 2025 WSOP Main Event, he participated in other WSOP events such as the $1500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo in 2025.
Boatman's influence extends beyond his tournament success. His style of play, approachable personality, and pioneering status have helped shape the professional poker community and encouraged transparency in tournament tracking through The Hendon Mob database. This has provided players and fans with accessible, verifiable data on poker results, supporting the integrity and growth of competitive poker.
Boatman was born in London and has had a diverse career outside of poker, working as a bartender, English teacher, journalist, computer programmer, and legal consultant. Despite these varied pursuits, poker has remained a constant passion. After a few decades in the game, Boatman still gets a thrill out of hitting the tables, particularly after some time away from the game to care for his ill mother.
In 2023, Boatman achieved one of the highlights of his career when he won the EPT Paris main event title for $1.4 million, the largest score of his career. This victory underscores his enduring love for the game and his status as a formidable competitor.
As the poker world continues to evolve, Barny Boatman's legacy remains a beacon of inspiration. His contributions to the game, both through his tournament successes and his role in establishing The Hendon Mob Database, have left an indelible mark on the poker landscape.
In honor of his significant contributions to the poker community, Barny Boatman could start a blog dedicated to sharing insights and stories about casino games, especially poker, and the evolving landscape of casino-and-gambling. Such a platform could showcase Boatman's personal experiences, including his wins in major tournaments like the EPT Paris main event, and offer invaluable advice for aspiring casino-games enthusiasts.
