An Introduction to the Hendon Mob - Beevers, Vaswani, and Boatman's

An Introduction to the Hendon Mob

History of The Hendon Mob

Back in the early nineties brothers Ross and Barny Boatman played in a home
game in Ross's flat which was underneath Barny's flat in Archway, North
London. When that game broke up they started frequenting Joe Beevers’
game in nearby Hendon, befriending Joe, and the game's other regular
player, Ram Vaswani. The four would often drive together to games and
tournaments around the country. Perhaps it was the dark jackets and
shades, or maybe a jokey reference to actor Ross's on screen gangster roles,
but everywhere they went people would say 'here comes the Hendon Mob'.
The name stuck. They are not a team. They play as hard against each other
as they do against anyone in poker and are universally respected for their
integrity and fair play. What they are though is a family. Like four inseparable
brothers, they are always there to enjoy each other's successes and support
each other when times are hard. 'That' says Barny 'is our greatest strength.'
In the nineties the European tournament scene was growing and the Mob
traveled every where together winning money and tournaments in Paris,
Helsinki, Vienna, Amsterdam, anywhere that poker was played. In 1999 Late
Night Poker, the first ever televised poker tournament started it's immensely
popular run in Great Britain and The Hendon Mob were invited to take part.
Already well known on the European poker circuit, the show brought The Mob
to a wider audience and as poker grew in popularity they grew with it.
Countless appearances on TV and radio as well as innumerable features in
magazines and newspapers have made them household names all over
Europe and beyond. In August 2001 thehendonmob.com was launched by
The Mob in response to the increasing interest both in them, and in the game
in general. What started as a bit of fun with a few photos, tips and stories
soon grew into something much bigger. Thehendonmob.com is now Europe's
biggest poker portal. Tens of thousands follow the Mob's diaries and read
their poker tips; The site includes the world's most comprehensive poker
database, featuring ranking lists and details of just about every tournament,
and every player in the game. If you've ever cashed in a poker tournament,
from Atlantic City to Amsterdam, chances are your achievements are listed on
the Mob Poker Database. No wonder it is used every day by everyone in the
game. Amongst poker's greatest ambassadors, The Mob have helped to raise
awareness of poker as a sport. Starting with the first ever 'Poker Ashes' in
Melbourne Australia they have played team head's up challenges against
selected national teams from all over the world. They beat the Australians
and went on to defeat the French and Irish in successive matches. In 2004
they put their unbeaten record on the line against Team USA in poker's first
ever Transatlantic Challenge, the Ryder Cup of poker. The US fielded a
powerful team including Chris 'Jesus' Ferguson and Phil Ivy and in the event
The Mob were not disgraced in coming a close second! In recent years The
Hendon Mob have been making a big impression in the USA, with notable
successes in The World Series of Poker and elsewhere. The American public
have started to get to know them through appearances on such shows as
the Jimmy Kimmel show and Fox Sports live.

The Hendon Mob play exclusively at Full Tilt Poker

Barny Boatman

Barny Boatman is the only Mobster without a poker nickname. 'With a name
like mine', he reasons 'Who needs one?'

He loves adventure and has always been a traveller, living and working in
such disparate places as Barcelona Hong Kong and Sri Lanka. He has had
countless jobs from barman to builder from teacher to journalist, and before
turning to pro poker he was chief computer programmer for a multi national
company. In recent years he has worked as commentator for countless
televised poker tournaments including Late Night Poker, The World Heads Up,
The Poker Million, Poker Million The Masters, The Victor Cup and 'Celebrity
Poker Club'. In 2005 he recorded the first series of 'Barny's Home Games' a
popular TV show in which he visits and plays in home poker games around
Great Britain.

On the European poker scene Barny is known as much for his infectious good
humour as for his tournament successes. He is widely considered to be a
tricky, unreadable and daring opponent, best avoided.

Considered to be one of the most talented exponents of No Limit Hold 'em,
which he calls 'The Beautiful Game', Barny has figured in countless major
finals including the Master Classics, the European Open, The Aussie Millions
and the only ever Poker Million. His many recent victories on the world tour
include the 2003 Finnish Open Championship.

He burst onto the international poker scene in 1999 when he became
Europe's top ranked Seven Card Stud player. He also topped the European
Omaha rankings in 2000/2001, and won the European Championship Seven
Card Stud event in 2002. In both 2000 and 2001 he was Britain’s top finisher
in the World Series of Poker. He has a total of fourteen World Series cashes
and in 2002 he set a new record by making three World Series finals in a
row, an achievement that earned him an award for the outstanding
tournament performance of the year.

We spoke with Barny Boatman while he was playing $1/$2 No Limit Hold'em
at Full Tilt Poker. Here's some of what we spoke about:

UPF: I've seen you cashed in a few events lately.
BB: I don't play that many but, yes, I've got there a couple of times lately.
UPF: Good Luck in any other events you're in.
BB: Thanks. Next stop the WSOP.
UPF: How many events do you plan on entering in the 2006 WSOP?
BB: About a dozen.
UPF: Are you entering the HORSE event? What do you think about it?
BB: If I'm doing reaaallly well in cash games I may.
UPF: What limit cash games do you usually play?
BB: $10/$20 No Limit Hold'em.
UPF: Will you play satellites or buy-in directly to the Main Event?
BB: I do both.
UPF: Good Luck. I hope to see you cash in a few more events.
BB: Thanks sange.

Play poker with Barny Boatman only at Full Tilt Poker

Joe 'The Elegance' Beevers

After Joe left school, he joined his father in the family business. In his case,
that meant travelling the world as a professional blackjack player!

He went back to University to study Finance and paid his way by dishing out
poker lessons to some of his teachers and wealthier classmates. He left with
a BA Honours degree and a new trade! It's kept him in fast cars and designer
suits ever since.

Joe has gained admiration and respect as a strong and consistent
tournament pro. Career highlights include six final placings in eight events at
the Paris poker festival. He won the 2002 European championship Omaha
event the 2003 Irish Open championship and the 2004 Four Queens
championship event. In 2005 he finished 7th in the WPT Championship event
collecting $188,000 and went deep in the WSOP Championship collecting
$46,000.

Joe's cool head has helped him achieve an unparalleled record in televised
poker events. He made three out of six finals on late Night Poker, impressed
a huge TV audience when finishing second in SKY TV's 'Poker Million – The
Masters' and had yet more success as finalist in the 2004 Victor Cup and
runner up in the 2004 World Poker Championship in Dublin.

Play poker with Joe Beevers only at Full Tilt Poker

Ram "Crazy Horse" Vaswani

A talented sportsman, Ram is a former professional snooker player. he would
probably still be playing that game at the highest level if he hadn't discovered
his even more prolific talent for tournament poker.

Ram has always believed that he will be a world champion. He says it is
'nailed on', 'destiny'. This is not arrogance or bravado; it is Ram's natural
optimism, enthusiasm and love of the game. No one who knows him would
bet against it either.

Ram has proved his brilliance at tournament poker at the highest level. He
won the European Superbowl in 2000 and narrowly failed to defend his title
when he came in a close second in 2001. His innumerable victories include
the Dutch Master Classics in 1999, the French Championship in 2002 and the
European Poker Tour Irish Masters in 2004. In the 2002 World Series he
came second and third in two World Championship events and followed that
up with an impressive three WSOP finals in 2004.

Ram loves to gamble, he would bet on anything that moves, but when he
plays poker it is a game of skill and it’s a war. He is respected and admired as
a player with 'gears'. Many people believe he is Europe's best all round
tournament player.

Play poker with Ram Vaswani only at Full Tilt Poker

Ross Boatman is well known to the British public as a popular actor who also
plays poker. On the poker circuit, he is known as a top poker pro who also
happens to be an actor.

His acting skills no doubt contribute to the powerful presence and confidence
that help make him such a formidable and respected opponent. Relaxed and
good-natured, he is as popular as he is feared. Ross is probably best known
for his eight years as the lovable Kevin in 'London's Burning', Britain's most
successful ever TV drama series. He has many TV credits to his name and his
stage career has covered the full range from costume drama to light comedy,
most notably his starring roll in the award winning West End production of
Dealer's Choice a comedy based around a poker game! Ross's move roles
have included a staring as a gangster in 'Hard Men', the stylish black comedy
that is the acknowledged forerunner to 'Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels'.

Ross has an impressive and cosmopolitan poker pedigree. He made the
Austrian World Series Trial final four years in a row. He has been Irish Open
Omaha champion, Austrian Open Omaha champion and British Open Poker
champion. Despite juggling his two careers he was the top money winner on
the European tournament circuit in 2002. He continues to score highly on
world tour where his many recent achievements have included the 2004
British High-low Omaha championship.

Play poker with Ross only at Full Tilt Poker