Barny Boatman Explained

Barny Boatman
Nickname:Barmy Barny
Residence:Archway, London, England
Birth Name:Barny M. P. Boatman
Birth Place:St Pancras, London, England
Wsop Bracelet Count:2
Wsop Final Tables:16
Wsop Money Finishes:80[1]
Wsop Main Event Best Finish Rank:16th
Wsop Main Event Best Finish Year:2000
Wpt Titles:None
Wpt Final Tables:0
Wpt Money Finishes:6[2]
Ept Titles:1
Ept Final Tables:2
Ept Money Finishes:7

Barny M. Boatman (born 1956 in St Pancras, London[3]) is an English professional poker player and the oldest member of the poker-playing foursome known as The Hendon Mob. He is the older brother of Ross Boatman, and resides in Archway.[4]

During his lengthy poker career, Boatman became one of the pioneers of poker on television by regularly appearing in the Late Night Poker television series. He was also the first person to reach three consecutive final tables at the World Series of Poker (WSOP),[5] and came close to winning a WSOP bracelet.[6] In 2013, Boatman won his first career World Series of Poker bracelet in Event #49, $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em, winning $546,080. In February 2024, Boatman won the European Poker Tour Paris main event for €1,287,800, his largest live cash to date.[7] As of February 2024, he has over $5.4 million in live tournament winnings.[8]

Early years

Boatman grew up to socialist parents in Somerstown, London.[9] He left school at his earliest opportunity, following pressure from his ongoing truancy.[10] He went on to travel for some time early in his life, and has both lived and worked in Barcelona, Australia, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka. He has worked as a bartender, builder, English teacher, journalist, computer programmer (for P&O), and as a legal advisor in Bermondsey, where he never lost a trial. He credits a near-death experience he had in a motorcycle accident, and the death of his younger sister Jo from cancer of giving him a sense of perspective in life.[11] [12] [13] [14] Boatman's hobbies include sky diving, snowboarding, and scuba diving.[15] He is the godfather to his brother Ross' son.[16]

Boatman used to play poker at home with friends and later taught his brother, Ross, how to play. They began to attend poker tournaments together at the Vic on Edgware Road, where he won the first tournament he entered, a seven-card stud event paying around £2,000. Together they went to a private poker game run by Joe Beevers and Ram Vaswani, with whom they became good friends. The four went on to be called The Hendon Mob. Together, they were invited by Nic Szeremeta to take part in the brand new Late Night Poker television series, where he reached the Grand Finals in series 3 and 4. During series 5 and 6, he commentated for the show, alongside Jesse May.[17] [18]

Poker career

World Series of Poker

Boatman first cashed in a World Series of Poker (WSOP) event in 2000 in the $3,000 no limit hold'em event. 4 days later he finished in the money in the $10,000 no limit hold'em main event, finishing in 16th place. (According to the James McManus book Positively Fifth Street, he was the chip leader for much of the tournament.) He also finished in the money of the main event in 2001 (33rd) and 2006 (854th).[19] [20] [21] [22] [23]

Boatman narrowly missed out on a WSOP bracelet in the 2002 $2,000 pot limit hold'em event. His runner-up finish earned him $77,160 after outlasting a field including Erik Seidel, Johnny Chan, Phil Gordon, and John Juanda. This 2nd-place finish was one of a record three back-to-back final tables, which earned him a win in the European Poker Awards Tournament Performance of the Year category. He also finished one place off a fourth consecutive final table.

At the 2013 WSOP, Boatman bested a field of 2,247 entries to win Event #49, $1,500 No-Limit Hold'em. He defeated Brian O'Donoghue in a three-hour, back-and-forth heads-up match to win his first bracelet and $546,080.

Boatman also won another bracelet in 2015, at the World Series Of Poker Europe, in Berlin, Germany. He won Event #7, €550 Pot Limit Omaha for €54,725.

Other poker activities

Boatman made the final table of the first Poker Million tournament. He also made the final table of the first ever Showdown Poker Tour event, finishing runner-up to Mats Gavatin.[24] [25] [26]

His major titles include:

In 2005, Boatman appeared on the chatshow Heads Up with Richard Herring to discuss his life, career, and his love of poker. In addition to Late Night Poker, he has commentated for Poker Million, World Heads-Up Poker Championship, Celebrity Poker Club, European Poker Tour, Poker Nations Cup, and Victor Chandler Poker Cup. He also starred in his own series "Barny's Home Games" where he attended home poker games throughout Great Britain.[14]

As of 2024, his total live tournament winnings exceed $5,475,000.[33]

In addition, Boatman is a member of the Gutshot Card Club[34] and was sponsored by Full Tilt Poker.[14] [35] He has written over 50 articles for The Hendon Mob's website, and two online poker lessons for Matthew Hilger's site Internettexasholdem.com.[36] [37] [38]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Barny Boatman . 4 December 2023 . WSOP.com . 4 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204184610/https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=131 . live .
  2. Web site: Barny Boatman . 4 December 2023 . World Poker Tour . en-US . 4 December 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231204050601/https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/barny-boatman/ . live .
  3. Web site: Barny Boatman . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20080623213647/http://www.pokerlistings.com/poker-player_barny-boatman . 23 June 2008 . 1 August 2008 . PokerListings.com.
  4. Web site: Beevers . Joe . Joe Beevers . 13 December 2003 . The Sincerest Form of Flattery . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060813151731/http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers/the_sincerest_form_of_flattery.html . 13 August 2006 . 9 August 2006 . The Hendon Mob.
  5. Web site: Interview with Barney Boatman . Poker Shark Pool . 29 January 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20160828050037/http://www.pokersharkpool.com/poker-star-corner/interview-with-barney-boatman/ . 28 August 2016 .
  6. Web site: 33rd World Series of Poker - WSOP 2002, Pot Limit Hold'em . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060907233125/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=4398 . 7 September 2006 . 24 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  7. Web site: Grant . Calum . 25 February 2024 . A Great Day for Poker: Legend of the Felt Barny Boatman Completes Long Road to EPT Main Event Title . 25 February 2024 . PokerNews.com . en . 25 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225190609/https://www.pokernews.com/news/2024/02/barny-boatman-pokerstars-ept-paris-main-event-45488.htm . live .
  8. Web site: Barny Boatman's profile on The Hendon Mob . 25 February 2024 . The Hendon Mob Poker Database . en . 25 February 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240225195429/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=2 . live .
  9. Web site: Barny Boatman. www.BlondePoker.com. Boatman, Barny. 9 August 2006. 26 April 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060426230623/http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=7379.0. live.
  10. The Hendon Mob . The Hendon Mob . documentary . The Hendon Mob . London . 2005 .
  11. Book: Wilson, Des . 2006 . Swimming with the Devilfish . 28 March 2024 . Macmillan . 1-4050-8952-0 . 28 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240328132206/https://books.google.com/books/about/Swimming_With_The_Devilfish.html?id=p43fCgAAQBAJ . live .
  12. Web site: About the Mob . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060813180737/http://www.thehendonmob.com/about-the-mob.html . 13 August 2006 . 9 August 2006 . The Hendon Mob.
  13. Web site: Running the Mob! . . May, Jesse . Jesse May . 9 August 2006 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060213220032/http://www.pokerchannel.co.uk/index.php?pg=30&id=137&title=Running+The+Mob%21 . 13 February 2006 .
  14. Web site: Barny Boatman. Full Tilt Poker. Boatman, Barny. 9 August 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060718090221/http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/barnyBoatman.php. 18 July 2006. dead.
  15. Web site: Boatman, Barny . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20060913153521/http://poker.oddschecker.com/ukinternetpoker/id/poker-players-barny-boatmen . 13 September 2006 . 9 August 2006 . Poker.OddsChecker.com.
  16. Web site: Devine . Christy . 16 July 2004 . The Hendon Mob . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060910230900/http://www.cardplayer.com/magazine/article/14128 . 10 September 2006 . 9 August 2006 . Card Player Magazine.
  17. Web site: Late Night Poker Series 3, No Limit Hold'em - Grand Final . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060908204151/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=687 . 8 September 2006 . 26 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  18. Web site: Late Night Poker Series 4, No Limit Hold'em - Grand Final . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060908063540/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=922 . 8 September 2006 . 26 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  19. Web site: 31st World Series of Poker - WSOP 2000, No Limit Hold'em . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060909030131/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=2001 . 9 September 2006 . 26 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  20. Web site: 31st World Series of Poker - WSOP 2000, World Championship No Limit Texas Hold'em . 26 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en . 26 November 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231126001449/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=2010 . live .
  21. Book: McManus, James . James McManus . Positively Fifth Street: Murderers, Cheetahs, and Binion's World Series of Poker . 16 April 2003 . 0-374-23648-8 . registration .
  22. Web site: 32nd World Series of Poker - WSOP 2001, Championship Event - No Limit Hold'em . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060708092107/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=3066 . 8 July 2006 . 28 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  23. Web site: 37th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2006, No Limit Texas Hold'em - World Championship Event . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060820161949/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=15849 . 20 August 2006 . 28 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  24. Web site: Poker Million 2000, No Limit Holdem . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060907232406/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=633 . 7 September 2006 . 28 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  25. Web site: Bromham . Tony . 9 May 2006 . Barny Boatman Loses Out to Mats Gavatin in Showdown Tour . https://web.archive.org/web/20120322183033/http://uk.pokernews.com/news/2006/5/showdown-poker-tour-mats-gavatin.htm . 22 March 2012 . 9 August 2006 . uk.PokerNews.com.
  26. Web site: Gutshot.com European Series of Poker, Showdown Poker Tour No Limit Hold'em . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060909044852/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=19233 . 9 September 2006 . 28 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  27. Web site: 7th Torneo Di Poker 1998, Limit 7 Card Stud . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060909041408/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=15289 . 9 September 2006 . 28 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  28. Web site: 1999 FIM 1,000 pot limit Holdem/Omaha, Helsinki Freezeout results . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20061211164155/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=10148 . 11 December 2006 . 9 August 2006 . Hendon Mob Poker Database.
  29. Web site: European Poker Championships 2002, Pot Limit 7 Card Stud . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060909105241/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=1129 . 9 September 2006 . 28 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  30. Web site: 2003 Four Queens Poker Classic, Pot Limit Omaha . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060828215931/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=10704 . 28 August 2006 . 28 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  31. Web site: Helsinki Freezeout 2003, No Limit Holdem . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20060908131913/http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=1640 . 8 September 2006 . 28 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en.
  32. Web site: Christmas Cracker 2003, No Limit Holdem . 28 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob . en . 28 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240328132632/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=1634 . live .
  33. Web site: Barny Boatman's profile on The Hendon Mob . 28 March 2024 . The Hendon Mob Poker Database . en . 24 March 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240324194449/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=2 . live .
  34. Web site: Barny Boatman . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20071006185620/http://www.gutshot.com/e/monthlyleader.php?play=1472 . 6 October 2007 . 9 August 2006 . Gutshot Card Club.
  35. Web site: Interview with Barny Boatman - Part 1. uk.PokerNews.com. Bromham, Tony. 9 August 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060721214306/http://uk.pokernews.com/news/2006/5/barny-boatman-interview-part1.htm. 21 July 2006 . live.
  36. Web site: Articles by Barny Boatman. The Hendon Mob. Boatman, Barny. 9 August 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20090501125744/http://www.thehendonmob.com/barny_boatman. 1 May 2009. dead.
  37. Web site: Barny Boatman 1: SnG. www.InternetTexasHoldem.com. Boatman, Barny. 9 August 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060815001408/http://www.internettexasholdem.com/pokertutor/setInfo.php?siid=28. 15 August 2006. dead.
  38. Web site: Barny - William Hill Grand Prix. www.InternetTexasHoldem.com. Boatman, Barny. 9 August 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20060828142443/http://www.internettexasholdem.com/pokertutor/setInfo.php?siid=33. 28 August 2006. dead.