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 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.

Click Here to see Barny’s profile in the Mob Database.

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Joe 'The Elegance' Beevers

After Joe left school, he joined his father in the family business. In his case, that meant traveling 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' in 2003 and had yet more success as finalist in the 2004 Victor Cup and runner up in the 2004 World Poker Championship in Dublin.

2007 saw Joe's best year to date. Hand picking about 16 events to play in total Joe managed to cash in nearly half of them winning the GBPT Grand Final in Bristol for £87,000 and in December he finally managed to secure a TV victory winning $1,000,000 in the Poker Million Grand Final which was shown live on SKY TV.

In 2008 Joe became the only British player to make the Great British poker team for the third year in a row. He helped the team regain the Poker Nations Cup which they won previously in 2006.

Click Here to see Joe’s profile in the Mob Database.

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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 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.

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.

In 2007 Ram finally struck gold when winning his first WSOP bracelet in the $1,500 Limit Shootout event collecting $217,438 and taking his career tournament winnings past the $3million mark.

Click Here to see Ram’s profile in the Mob Database.

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'Rocky' Ross Boatman

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.

Click Here to see Ross’s profile in the Mob Database.

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