Inside the Life of Barny Boatman: Poker’s Reluctant Legend and Global Ambassador
Image Credit: PokerStars
The Poker Journey Begins: From Diverse Careers to Card Rooms
Image Credit: PokerStars
Barny Boatman’s story is anything but ordinary. Growing up in London, his early years were marked by adventure and an openness to new experiences. Boatman’s career path took him across the globe — from bustling Barcelona to the distant shores of Australia and the urban streets of Hong Kong. Along the way, he took on jobs ranging from bartender and English teacher to journalist, computer programmer, and legal consultant.
One particularly meaningful role for Boatman was advocating for vulnerable people in England as a legal consultant—a job he found both immensely rewarding and deeply stressful. Yet throughout all these professional detours, poker remained a recurring theme in his life. He consistently played home games with friends and his brother, Ross.
By the mid-1990s, Boatman’s interest in the game intensified, drawing him into tournament play at the Victoria Casino (“the Vic”) in London where buy-ins were modest by today’s standards, yet the thrill was enormous. Winning a few thousand pounds felt transformative. Reflecting on those days, Boatman notes how life-changing modest winnings could be, and how television coverage changed the public perception of poker forever.
Unlike many who associate televised poker’s golden age with shows like “World Poker Tour” and the World Series of Poker, Boatman is quick to point out the groundbreaking role of the British series “Late Night Poker.” Debuting in 1999, it was a pioneer in using concealed cameras, allowing viewers to see players’ cards and turning poker into a spectator sport.
Building the Hendon Mob: How Four Friends Changed Poker History
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Years before online poker’s explosion, Boatman was among the founders of a group that would leave a lasting mark: the Hendon Mob. Comprising Barny, his brother Ross, Joe Beevers, and Ram Vaswani, the group played London’s poker circuit and chronicled their journeys together.
Initially, the “Mob” started as a group of friends who wanted to create an organized database to track their tournament results. With Boatman’s programming experience, they launched a website similar in feel to a fan magazine. Their aim was to promote poker as a professional pastime and perhaps position themselves for future sponsorship opportunities.
Their instincts proved prescient. The Hendon Mob database quickly attracted interest from casinos and tournament organizers, becoming the definitive source for poker statistics worldwide. The site soon displayed results from across the globe, attracted sponsors, and helped broadcast the competitive edge of poker. Eventually, even a European betting exchange funded the project, tasking the group with creating odds and player bios.
By 2013, the database had grown far beyond its humble beginnings. The original founders ultimately sold the business, freeing them to return to their greatest love: playing poker professionally.
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Boatman’s own competitive record flourished alongside the Mob. By 2000, he was making regular trips to Las Vegas for the World Series of Poker, ultimately amassing more than $5.6 million in live tournament earnings and collecting two WSOP bracelets. Rather than focus solely on high-roller events, he chose tournaments with fields that matched his skills and favored environments, particularly the popular $1,000 and $1,500 buy-in games with large player pools and substantial prizes for deep runs.
Resurgence and Triumph: EPT Paris and Beyond
Poker, like any sport, is subject to generational shifts and new trends. In an era where younger players pour over GTO (Game Theory Optimal) strategies and detailed poker study, Boatman stands out as a respected “old-school” figure who continues to win at the highest level.
In February, he achieved a new career milestone by taking the top prize at the EPT Paris Main Event, securing $1.4 million—the largest single payout of his career. This success represents a resurgence in competitive poker for Boatman, who returned to the circuit after stepping back to care for his mother.
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His run in Paris spotlighted his veteran instincts and included a now-legendary call against Eric Afriat, a three-time World Poker Tour champion. The hand, which went viral among poker fans, showcased Boatman’s blend of patience, intuition, and experience.
PokerStars and the Revival of Live Events
Boatman’s journey with PokerStars has positioned him at the forefront of poker’s evolving landscape. He has championed the value of bringing live tournaments back to the United States, and was excited to see PokerStars return with large-scale events—especially as the company reestablished a presence in Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Ontario.
He admires the blend of American poker spirit with the structure and professionalism of the European Poker Tour (EPT), helping foster a global community and attract online qualifiers from around the world.
A Renewed Love for the Game
After decades of fluctuation between intense periods of play and extended breaks—sometimes due to family responsibilities—Boatman is embracing poker with fresh enthusiasm. Despite his long tenure and diverse experiences within and beyond poker, he finds renewed motivation at the tables.
In Boatman’s words, stepping away from constant grind and pursuing various interests outside poker may well be the secret to his longevity. Perhaps that balance is the real reason for his lasting presence at the highest levels of the game.
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