Barny Boatman Reflects on His Storied Poker Career, Winning a WSOP Bracelet & More

March 17, 2014

Chad Holloway PR & Media Manager

"If I have any edge it's my enthusiasm for the game, which helps me to stay focused and to keep learning."

That’s what Barny Boatman said when asked what makes him such a successful poker player. The elder Boatman — who along with his brother Ross, Ram Vaswani, and Joe Beevers comprised the Hendon Mob — was recently featured in Michelle Orpe’s popular Top Ten series of Learn.PokerNews.com.

Boatman, who has more than $2.7 million in career tournament winnings, has a long and storied career in the poker world, but it wasn’t until Event #49: $1,500 No-Limit Hold’em at the 2013 World Series of Poker that he captured the most coveted prize in poker — a gold bracelet.

“I'm gonna say it was indescribable. And then I'll attempt to describe it. It was... indescribable,” Boatman joked. “The rail made the occasion for me, and probably won me the bracelet, too. It belongs to all of them and I will never forget that.”

Boatman also talked about the most famous player he’s ever played poker against, which happened to be Hollywood A-lister Clive Owen.

“[Ross] and I used to play a lot, often three-handed, with his good mate Clive Owen. He may not have been a huge star then, but he was and is as nice a man as you'll ever meet,” Boatman said before revealing who he would choose to play him in a film about his life. “Jean Reno. He's very cool, and about the only good-looking person I've ever been told I look like. And Sam Trickett to be my stunt double for the clever poker stuff.”

Orpe’s next Top Ten will focus on the other Boatman brother, Ross. Be sure to keep an eye on Learn.PokerNews.com for that piece.