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James Akenhead is an English professional poker player widely recognized as a member of the original “November Nine“. He is a prominent figure in the British poker community and a key member of the London-based group known as “The Hit Squad“.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With over $3.7 million in total live earnings (The Hendon Mob), James Akenhead ranks 37th on the England All Time Money List. His career-best live cash of $1,263,602 came from his 9th-place finish in the 2009 WSOP Main Event.
In the same historic year, Akenhead achieved the rare feat of reaching the final table of both the WSOP and the WSOPE Main Event, finishing 9th in both. Other major highlights include:
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Poker Million 8 (2009): 1st place for $500,000.
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2008 WSOP $1,500 NLHE: 2nd place for $520,000.
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Sunday Million (2012): Won the online flagship tournament as “Asprin1” for $213,750.
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WPT Vienna Warm-Up (2016): 1st place for €65,000.
Biography & Poker Background
Originally from London, England, Akenhead worked as a railroad conductor before turning professional. He rose to fame in the late 2000s as part of “The Hit Squad” alongside players like Praz Bansi and the Chattha brothers. After accumulating $3 million in winnings by age 30, he briefly stepped away from the game for two years to manage a pub and restaurant in London called The Reach Bar. However, he sold the business to return to the global poker circuit in 2016, quickly reclaiming his status with major wins in Vienna and Prague.
Play Style & Strategy
Akenhead is known for the high-aggression, high-pressure strategy synonymous with The Hit Squad, characterized by a total lack of fear on tournament bubbles. His nickname “Reader” reflects his reputed ability to pick up on physical and betting patterns. His strategy involves leveraging his stack to apply maximum pressure, a collective principle of his poker group designed to dominate fields by being more aggressive than single opponents. He remains a formidable regular in the modern game, recently recording deep runs at EPT Prague in late 2025.
