One of the coolest sites on the net just got a little cooler. The UK poker gang has joined the team of Poker Pros at Full Tilt Poker, bringing the list of player endorsements to an amazing thirty seven including the "Friends of Full Tilt." Many poker sites include player endorsements as part of their marketing strategy and business model, but FTP takes it to another level. Not only can you find the player's images on the front page, you can find the real Pros playing at the tables on a daily basis. Of course, it helps that they have so many players associated with them.

As you can tell, The Hendon Mob fits right in with the concept Full Tilt has for their profressional endorsements. The quartet is made up of Barny Boatman, Joe ‘The Elegance’ Beevers, Ram ‘Crazy Horse’ Vaswani, and ‘Rocky’ Ross Boatman.

The two brothers Boatman met Ram Vaswani back in the early nineties at Joe Beevers' home game in the London neighboorhood that gives them their name. The camaraderie that was first built around that kitchen table game has kept this foursome together on the path from local grinders to international tournament success.

While researching this arcticle, I had the opportunity to get a reaction from both a current Full Tilt Pro and The Hendon Mob. Joe "The Elegance" Beevers and Howard "The Professor" Lederer were good enough to answer a few of my questions.

First, here's what The Professor had to say about the news:

What is the most exciting thing about having The Hendon Mob join the team at Full Tilt?

-We have very strong US representation. Expanding with the most recognizable group of international players is very exciting for FTP. They are also great ambassadors for the game.

Which member of "The Mob" would you least like to see across the table from you?

-I am never happy to have any of them at my table. But, Ram's ultra-aggressive style can get me off my game.

What do you see for the future of Poker's international growth?

-Poker will continue to grow internationally, and in a few years, that growth may outpace US growth. FTP is committed to expanding its player base, and having a group like the Hendon Mob represent us will be a big part in that expansion.

Do you currently support multiple currency deposits and withdrawals?

-Not at this time. But, we know how important that is to the international player. We should be able to support multiple currencies before the end of the year.

I was very happy to get a Mobster's perspective as well, and this is what Joe "The Elegance" Beevers had to say on the subject:

How does it feel to join the team at Full Tilt Poker?

-The Hendon Mob joining FTP feels very natural; the partnership is a great fit. We are all very excited about working with FTP.

Who would you say your playing style most resembles– Howard Lederer, Phil Ivey, Chris "Jesus" Ferguson, or none of the above?

-If I had to choose I would say Chris. He is more calculating and methodical than someone like Phil, and there’s no way I play as many pots as Phil does.

How much do you play online, and do you look forward to sitting as a Full Tilt Pro?

-I will be playing at FTP on a regular basis. I play NLH and PLO at all limits, and sometimes you will even find me on the play money tables. I also play a few tournaments from time to time. The Mob has a great community that it brings to FTP, and we look forward to all the table chat with many old friends and of course all the new ones that we are making.

I am a huge soccer fan, what club and international sides do you support?

-I have followed West Ham Utd since I was about 5 years old. They are in the FA Cup next weekend (May 13th) so I’m very excited about that. I am just as excited with the England team and the FIFA World Cup this summer.


I'd like to thank Howard Lederer, Joe Beevers, Full Tilt, and www.thehendonmob.com for taking the time to give us the inside scoop on the new partnership. The other sites better hurry before Full Tilt corners the market on poker pros!