Barny has lived and worked in various countries including Spain, Sri Lanka and Hong Kong as well as travelling extensively as a poker player.

His many jobs have included computer programming, teaching, journalism, advice work/advocacy, labouring and bar work.

Having been a player and inventor of board and strategy games he got serious about poker in the nineties and topped the European rankings in both Omaha and seven card stud.

He was a founding member of the Hendon Mob and appeared in Late Night Poker both as a player and a commentator. He has continued to succeed as a player and to promote the game in a wide variety of ways such as team events, TV appearances and writing, contributing to the highly regarded collection of poker fiction, He Played For His Wife and other stories.

He has more WSOP cashes than any other U.K. player, including two bracelets from fifteen final tables.

His greatest poker achievement came in 2024 when he won the Paris main event to become the oldest ever EPT champion.