Winter is coming. And that means big decisions for poker players around the world. Bracelets in The Bahamas? WPT’s World Championship in Vegas? Or snow with the EPT in Prague? In this daily series, we’ll find out what the players are up to and, more importantly, why.
Barny Boatman has decades of experience in the game, racking up tournament wins before the EPT was even a twinkle in John Duthie's eye. Yet it was the European Poker Tour that brought him his biggest career win earlier this year, with his victory in the EPT Paris Main Event netting him a payout of €1,287,800 (approx. $1.3M).
With his understandable fondness for the EPT - plus his appointment as a PokerStars ambassador - Boatman's choice of destination for live poker this month should come as little surprise.
Where are you going this December: WPT, Paradise or EPT Prague? And what events are you going to play?
I’m all booked up for Prague and I can’t wait. I’ll play the Eureka and EPT Main Events and if the latter doesn’t go to plan there is a very tasty looking Mixed Game Main that will be an exciting alternative.
There are a lot of PLO and mixed game events which make the festival very enticing. I only wish I could play them all, but then again, that would mean I wasn’t going deep in anything so maybe I’ll just settle for the big one.
These days Boatman can often be seen wearing his love for the EPT on his sleeve - and his top.What persuaded you to go there?
I didn’t need much persuading. I’ve been privileged to go to every EPT stop this year and I know what incredible events they are. Prague probably has the best line up of all, and it doesn’t hurt that it is in one of the world’s great (and most Christmasy) cities.
The cash action is pretty hot there too.
What's your favorite of all the EPT stops?
Well it would be churlish not to mention Paris, which is obviously very special to me, but I have to say Barcelona. I lived there as a teenager and have friends there. It’s an incredible city and of course the tournament is absolutely massive.
Where did you go last year?
After quite a few years away I returned to the EPT circuit this time last year and Prague was my first stop. The Bahamas event didn’t interest me at all, and the prospect of playing with jet lag weighed against the WPT, although that’s one I’d have liked to have played too.
Is this three-way competition good for players? Do you think it could end badly for one or more of the tours?
It does seem to be good for the players right now. I’m not sure about ending badly, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the WSOP moved their event, perhaps to January which would seem a most natural point in the calendar for them.
In conversation with his brother, actor and fellow poker player Ross Boatman.How have you been enjoying life as a Stars ambassador since your big EPT win?
I am loving everything about it. The other ambassadors and the whole PokerStars family are a great bunch. I include the qualifiers in that, some of whom make it to multiple events through the various means on offer at Stars.
What can I tell you? I’m traveling to some of my favorite places, with some of my favorite people playing my favorite game. I wake up every day with a grin on my face, or I do when I manage to get to sleep the night before.
What are your plans post-EPT? Christmas at home or more travels?
Christmas will be in London with family. That is a time when I catch up with a lot of old friends and do a little bit of partying. In January, I wouldn’t mind an actual holiday, but to be honest my mind is going to be on Paris, where this latest adventure began!
EPT Prague kicks off today. Follow Barny on X.
Images courtesy of Danny Maxwell Photography/Rational Intellectual Holdings Ltd.
