Barney Boatman is one of the most popular and well known faces on the poker circuit today and we at Pokersharkpool are privileged to have him share a bit of his precious time with us. Barney burst onto the poker scene when he appeared on Channel 4’s Late Night Poker show in the UK.
He has also commentated on many poker programmes including Late Night Poker, The Poker Million and the European Poker Tour amongst others. But that is nothing compared to Barney’s on the table achievements.
He has made many final table appearances in major tournaments including the European Open, British Open and the Poker Million to name but a few.
In 1999, Barney was the highest ranked 7 card stud player in Europe and he also topped the European Omaha rankings in 2000 and in 2001. Other notable performances by Barney include:
* European 7 card stud champion
* Top English finisher in the 2000 and 2001 $10,000 buy in World Series of Poker main event
* A record 3 consecutive final tables in a row in the World Series
Before turning to poker Barny, you did numerous jobs including one as a movie reviewer. Can you tell us a bit more about that?
I love film but have always hated reading reviews as they so often simply outline the plot. I wanted to write the kind of reviews I would like to read. My girlfriend at the time was a magazine designer and she got me in with some of the publications she worked for. It was perfect for me, I got to see movies before they were released and was actually paid to write my thoughts about them. I couldn’t believe my luck!
What made you decide to go into poker at the outset and when was it?
I was always a games player and a bit of a gambler. I also tried my hand at inventing board games. I don’t remember deciding to go into poker, it just started taking up more and more of my time until I gave up my last full time job in about 1998.
Who was your greatest inspiration in the game and also out of the game?
I’m glad you said out of the game because although there are many players I admire, my real heroes are from other more important areas of life. To list a few: Nelson Mandella, Mohammed Ali, Cerys Matthews, Martin Scorsese, Phillip Roth, and my sister Joe.
You started out as a seven stud player initially, is this your strongest game still?
No. I hardly ever play it now. In fact I think the last two times were the WSOP this year and last! I love playing tournament stud and I think I have a good handle on it, but there are lots of people who have really put the hours in who would probably iron me out over time in a stud cash game. My cash poker is stronger in Hold-em and Omaha, and I would say my tournament game is too.
I first recall seeing you on Late Night Poker on Channel 4, your NL hold’em game has come on an awful lot since those days hasn’t it?
You’re not kidding! I didn’t have a clue in series one. But I’ve given the game a lot of thought over the past few years and I’m very happy with my game now. You never stop learning or you shouldn’t anyway.
You were the highest placed English finisher in both the 2000 and 2001 World Series $10,000 buy in tournament. Does that feat make you proud?
Proud… I don’t know. I haven’t won many big events so I’ll make the most of whatever achievements I do have. I think after the dissapointment of blowing a big chip lead in 2000 it was actually a greater acheivment to come back the following year and battle my way back into contention again.
I play professionally online but I have always wondered how being on television affects your game and state of mind, did you struggle with being on television knowing that your professional reputation was on the line?
I do care what people think although I hope I don’t let that affect the way I play. I honestly believe that I am one of the more underestimated tournament pros because, although I keep getting into good positions in major events I don’t often seem to get the breaks at that crucial last-two-tables stage.
Going on TV is a risk but it’s done me a lot more good than harm. Late Night Poker got me started as a face so I shouldn’t complain about the downside, but for instance in the 2005 Hills Grand Prix I know I played a very good heads up game in the heat and semi but the programs told a different story. That was frustrating, but it would be childish to let it get to me too much. Although I want to be recognised as a talented player I really care more what people think of me as a person.
Obviously no two players could hope to get the same results let alone four players so how did you arrive at the decision for the mobsters to have pieces of each other in tournaments and what happens if one of the mob struggles?
Well, you’ve answered your own question. It’s great to have friends let alone family that you can trust in the game, who will help you out during the bad times. We all believe in each other and we get a lot of strength from that.
There is a tremendous amount of money to be made in online games Barney and especially the big NL games, do you play much online?
I play almost every day on Full Tilt Poker. As you know, I am a social animal and I love the experience of playing on Full Tilt, it combines the best of both the live and online world. The software is great and, most importantly, the action is fantastic. I’m having a pretty good run right now.
What are your hobbies and interests away from poker?
Music, cinema, literature, art, languages and wide open spaces. If I ever get any time away from poker I’ll be looking into all those things!
The Hendon Mob web site (www.thehendonmob.com) is getting bigger and bigger by the week, what plans do you have for the site in the future?
It does just keep growing, and our relationship with Full Tilt has given things a whole new impetus. We have a great team of people and we are always working on something new. For instance the new Mob Trumps game is going to be something everyone in poker will enjoy.
Speaking of poker sites, what is your opinion of the future of online poker with regard to the latest developments within the United States to ban financial transactions between sites and US banks?
Full Tilt’s legal team have studied this very carefully and I am very encouraged by their confidence on the matter. We’ll have to wait and see, but right now I’m not too worried. Then again, I’m not American!
Do you still get to play as much poker these days due to your other business interests?
I’ve never put as many hours in as most of the other players I know. If anything I’m playing more than usual right now because I love playing on Full Tilt so much. But I don’t get to play as many live events as I would like, particularly in the US.
So what does the future hold for Barney Boatman?
Eventually I will be known as a writer who used to play a bit of poker. Didn’t he win that World Series of Poker a couple of times??
You are known in the game for your rapier wit, know any decent jokes?
As for jokes I know plenty. Next time you see me, ask me to tell you the Bee joke, the greatest joke ever told.
