Joseph Beevers

Childhood

Joseph Beevers was introduced to gambling at an early age by his father, who taught him how to count cards in blackjack when he was just 10 years old. Using a Sinclair ZX81 computer, Beevers learned to calculate probabilities and permutations, skills that would later prove invaluable in poker.

By 16, he left school and, at 18, joined his father’s card-counting team. They frequented the Sergeant Yorkes Casino in Luton, exploiting a croupier who often miscalculated payouts. Their success led to Beevers being banned from four London casinos and his father from 19—resulting in a combined ban from 21 out of 23 London casinos.

Before fully committing to poker, Beevers worked at NatWest and Citibank before earning a Bachelor of Arts in Finance and Accounting from Middlesex University at 24.

Career

Poker Career

Beevers began his poker journey with a £10 pot-limit stud rebuy tournament in Luton. He quickly built a £35,000 bankroll from seven-card stud games in North London. By the time he graduated, poker had become his primary income source.

The Hendon Mob & Television Fame

Beevers, alongside Ram Vaswani, Barny Boatman, and Ross Boatman, formed The Hendon Mob, a legendary British poker group. They gained fame through Late Night Poker, where Beevers made a record three grand finals.

World Series of Poker (WSOP) & Other Achievements

Beevers was the first Hendon Mob member to cash in a WSOP event, finishing 14th in the 1996 $2,500 Pot-Limit Hold'em. Other notable victories include:

• 2007 Great British Poker Tour Grand Final (£2,500 NLHE)
• 2003 Irish Open (€1,000 NLHE)
• 2004 Four Queens Poker Classic ($5,000 NLHE)

As of 2009, his live tournament earnings exceed $2.4 million.

Personal life

Beevers earned the nickname "The Elegance" due to his luxurious lifestyle, including a Porsche 911 with the personalized plate "Joe 911." A devoted West Ham United F.C. fan, he married his wife, Claire, at the Bellagio in Las Vegas after the 2005 WSOP. The couple has twin daughters, Millie and Lola, born in 2006.

Revenue

Beyond tournament winnings, Beevers was sponsored by Full Tilt Poker and contributed over 40 articles to The Hendon Mob’s website. He also wrote the introduction for Michael Kaplan’s "Aces and Kings" and authored poker strategy lessons.

Interesting facts

• Banned from 21 London casinos due to card counting.
• First called his flatmate at 3 AM to sing "We Are the Champions" after his first major poker win.
• One of the few players to support the hole cam in early televised poker.
  

Legacy

Beevers remains a pivotal figure in British poker, helping popularize the game through television and mentoring future players. His analytical approach, honed from blackjack, influenced his poker success.