Joe Beevers

Beevers' father taught him how to count cards in blackjack from age 10. His father also taught Beevers how to work out permutations and probabilities on a Sinclair ZX81 computer. Beevers left school at age 16, and became a part of a card-counting team with his father and two others at age 18. They often played at the Sergeant Yorkes Casino in Luton, where they found a croupier who often paid out 3–1 on blackjacks, and sometimes also paid out when a player's hand was bust. The team eventually stopped playing as their success led to Beevers being banned from 4 London casinos, and his father being banned from 19. Between them they were banned from 21 out of 23 London casinos. They also went to gamble on horse racing events about three times a week.{{cite book | last = Wilson | first = Des | title = Swimming with the Devilfish | publisher = Macmillan | year = 2006 | isbn = 1-4050-8952-0 }}{{Cite web |last=Beevers |first=Joe |date=December 10, 2003 |title=You've Got to Start Somewhere |url=http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers/youve_got_to_start_somewhere.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060501120609/http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers/youve_got_to_start_somewhere.html |archive-date=May 1, 2006 |access-date=3 August 2006 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database}}{{Cite news |date=3 October 2004 |title=Risky Business |publisher=Business Times Online |location=London |url=http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9070-1277882,00.html |access-date=3 August 2006 |archive-date=11 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240511020325/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/ |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |last=May |first=Jesse |author-link=Jesse May |title=Up Close and Personal with The Elegance |url=http://www.pokerchannel.co.uk/index.php?pg=30&id=9&title=Up+Close+and+Personal+with+The+Elegance%21&ind=17 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204045943/http://www.pokerchannel.co.uk/index.php?pg=30&id=9&title=Up+Close+and+Personal+with+The+Elegance!&ind=17 |archive-date=4 December 2023 |access-date=5 August 2006 |publisher=The Poker Channel}}

Beevers worked first for NatWest (as his father had done before him) then for Citibank in Hammersmith. He went on to attend Middlesex University as a mature student towards of the end of his 4 years playing regular blackjack, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Honour's degree in Finance and Accounting at the age of 24.

Around this time, Beevers placed dog racing bets for future Hendon Mobster Ram Vaswani in Harrow, and they later met in Luton, starting an ongoing friendship.

Beevers began playing poker by entering a £10 pot limit stud rebuy poker tournament during a blackjack session in Luton. He went on to regularly play in a seven-card stud game in North London, where he estimates he won £35,000 to start his bankroll. By the time he finished university, he was earning well enough from playing poker and giving lessons to teachers and other students that he never returned to office work.{{Cite web |title=The Hendon Mob |url=http://www.thehendonmob.com/about-the-mob.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813180737/http://www.thehendonmob.com/about-the-mob.html |archive-date=13 August 2006 |access-date=3 August 2006 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database}}

Prior to the emergence of televised poker, Beevers ran private poker games with Ram Vaswani. They played much pot limit Omaha there, which Beevers considers to be his preferred poker variant.{{cite web|url=http://www.pokerlistings.com/joe-beevers-861|title=Joe Beevers|publisher=PokerListings.com|author=Rydin, Staffin|access-date=3 August 2006|archive-date=7 September 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060907041149/http://www.pokerlistings.com/joe-beevers-861|url-status=live}} It was in this game that they met Barny and Ross Boatman, the other two members of the Hendon Mob. Beevers began to travel to tournaments and won his first major event in Amsterdam in 1997. Upon winning, Beevers called his flatmate at 3am and sang Queen's "We Are the Champions" down the phone to him.{{Cite web |title=Master Classics of Poker 1997, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=19765 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328145059/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=19765 |url-status=live }}

Beevers and the rest of The Hendon Mob were invited by Nic Szeremeta to appear in the brand new Late Night Poker television series, and supported the then-questionable idea of using a hole cam to make poker into a spectator sport. Beevers appeared in all 6 series of the show, and is tied with Dave Colclough for a record 10 appearances. Beevers made the Grand Final in seasons 1, 4 and 5.

Beevers was the first member of The Hendon Mob to cash in a World Series of Poker (WSOP) event, placing 14th in the $2,500 pot limit Texas hold 'em event in the 1996 World Series of Poker.{{Cite web |title=27th World Series of Poker - WSOP 1996, Hold'em Pot Limit |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7838 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328145134/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7838 |url-status=live }}

Beevers also finished as the runner-up both to Jimmy White in the 2003 Poker Million and to Xuyen Pham in The Gaming Club World Poker Championship. He also finished on the TV bubble of the World Poker Tour (WPT) season 3 championship and finished in the money of the 2005 WSOP $10,000 no limit hold'em main event.{{Cite web |title=Third Annual Five-Star World Poker Classic, Main Event (WPT) - No Limit Hold'em Championship |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=10082 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en |archive-date=25 November 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231125200501/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=10082 |url-status=live }}{{cite web|url=http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers/bellagio_bits_n_pieces.html|title=Bellagio Bits 'n' Pieces|publisher=The Hendon Mob|author=Beevers, Joe|access-date=8 August 2006|archive-date=14 January 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070114021249/http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers/bellagio_bits_n_pieces.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=36th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2005, No Limit Texas Hold'em - World Championship Event |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14015 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104194230/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14015 |url-status=live }}

His major titles include:

• £2500 No Limit Hold'em, Great British Poker Tour – Grand Final 2007
• Hold'em 100, 2000{{cite web|url=http://www.holdem100.com/winners.html|title=Hold 'em 100 Winners Hall of Fame|publisher=Hold 'em 100|author=Anonymous|access-date=3 August 2006|archive-date=7 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051207013212/http://www.holdem100.com/winners.html|url-status=live}}
• £200 pot limit Omaha, British Open 2002{{Cite web |title=British Open 2002, Pot Limit Omaha |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=1040 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}
• €1,000 no limit hold'em, Irish Open 2003{{Cite web |title=PaddyPower Irish Poker Open 2003, No Limit Holdem |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=1418 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en |archive-date=16 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416183408/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=1418 |url-status=live }}
• £300 pot limit hold'em, Poker Classics 2003{{Cite web |title=European Poker Classics 2003, Pot Limit Holdem |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=1555 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328145303/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=1555 |url-status=live }}
• $5,000 no limit hold'em, Four Queens Poker Classic 2004{{Cite web |title=2004 Four Queens Poker Classic, No Limit Hold'em Final Day |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7633 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328145318/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=7633 |url-status=live }}
• Poker Nations Cup 2006 {{Cite web |title=The Seniors V' World Championship of Poker, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=18448 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328145332/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=18448 |url-status=live }} and 2008 {{Cite web |title=PartyPoker Poker Nations Cup , Final |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=31478 |access-date=28 March 2024 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en |archive-date=28 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240328145402/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=31478 |url-status=live }}
• 2007 Poker Million{{Cite web |title=Poker Million VI, Final |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=29794 |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en |archive-date=24 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324205646/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=29794 |url-status=live }}

As of 2009, his total live tournament winnings exceed $2,400,000.{{Cite web |title=Joe Beevers' profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=1 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231224015130/https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=1 |archive-date=24 December 2023 |access-date=24 December 2023 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database |language=en}}

He is sponsored by Full Tilt Poker.{{cite web|url=http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/joeBeevers.php|title=Joe "The Elegance" Beevers|publisher=Full Tilt Poker|author=Anonymous|access-date=3 August 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718103722/http://www.fulltiltpoker.com/joeBeevers.php|archive-date=18 July 2006}}

Beevers has written over 40 articles{{cite web|url=http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers/|title=Articles by Joe Beevers 'The Elegance'|publisher=The Hendon Mob|author=Beevers, Joe|access-date=3 August 2006|archive-date=30 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090430115101/http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers|url-status=live}} on The Hendon Mob's website, the introduction to the European edition of Michael Kaplan's book Aces and Kings ({{ISBN|1-84529-298-7}}){{cite web|url=http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers/aces_and_kings.html|title=Aces and Kings|publisher=The Hendon Mob|author=Beevers, Joe|access-date=5 September 2006|archive-date=14 December 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061214211814/http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers/aces_and_kings.html|url-status=live}} and two poker lessons for Matthew Hilger's website [http://www.internettexasholdem.com/ internettexasholdem.com].{{cite web|url=http://www.internettexasholdem.com/pokertutor/setInfo.php?siid=30|title=Joe Beevers 1: SnG|publisher=InternetTexasHoldem.com|author=Beevers, Joe|access-date=3 August 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815001143/http://www.internettexasholdem.com/pokertutor/setInfo.php?siid=30|archive-date=15 August 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://www.internettexasholdem.com/pokertutor/setInfo.php?siid=34|title=Beevers 6-Handed NL|publisher=InternetTexasHoldem.com|author=Beevers, Joe|access-date=3 August 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060815093059/http://www.internettexasholdem.com/pokertutor/setInfo.php?siid=34|archive-date=15 August 2006}}

Beevers' nickname "The Elegance" originates from the lifestyle he has been able to live through his poker winnings. He drives a Porsche 911 with the personalised number-plate Joe 911. In fact, Beevers is the only member of The Hendon Mob who kept his original nickname given by Victoria Coren in the first article on them, in the Evening Standard in September 2000. He is a season ticket holder at West Ham United F.C.{{cite web|url=http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers/when_the_bubble_is_not_the_bubble.html|title=When the Bubble is not the Bubble|publisher=The Hendon Mob|author=Beevers, Joe|access-date=3 August 2006|archive-date=13 August 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060813151750/http://www.thehendonmob.com/joe_beevers/when_the_bubble_is_not_the_bubble.html|url-status=live}}

Beevers lives in Hendon with his wife Claire, whom he married at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Nevada at the conclusion of the 2005 WSOP. He has twin daughters, born 21 February 2006, named Millie and Lola.{{Cite web |last=Beevers |first=Joe |date=2006 |title=The Irish Open, The Pubs are Closed |url=http://www.thehendonmob.com/the_mob/irish_open_the_pubs_are_closed.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060423213145/http://www.thehendonmob.com/the_mob/irish_open_the_pubs_are_closed.html |archive-date=April 23, 2006 |access-date=3 August 2006 |website=The Hendon Mob Poker Database}}

{{reflist|35em}}

{{Commons}}

• [https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-players/1275-joe-beevers Card Player profile]
• [http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=1 Hendon Mob profile]
• [https://www.wsop.com/players/profile/?playerid=182 WSOP profile]

{{Poker Million Winners}}

{{Irish Poker Open Winners}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Beevers, Joe}}

Category:1967 births

Category:English blackjack players

Category:Irish Poker Open winners

Category:Living people

Category:People from Hendon

Category:Sportspeople from the London Borough of Barnet

Category:People from Marylebone

Category:Sportspeople from the City of Westminster

Category:The Hendon Mob

Category:Alumni of Middlesex University

Category:Poker players from London