Greg Raymer

Greg Raymer shot to prominence by winning the 2004 World Series Of Poker Main Event for $5 Million. However at this point he already had considerable poker experience both live and online. Raymer’s nickname ‘The Fossilman’ comes from his use of fossils (which he collects) as card caps during tournaments – he also plays under this name on PokerStars, the online site which he represents.

Poker Beginnings

First introduced to poker while studying biochemistry at university, Raymer’s first found Blackjack a more profitable casino games – counting cards in local Indian reservation casinos. Only later, while working in Connecticut as a patent lawyer, did he start to take poker seriously, playing $3 / $6 limit at the Foxwoods casino.

Study of the game was an integral part of the Fossilman’s early poker career. He could often be found posting on the 2+2 forums in threads discussing the finer points of poker strategy. Reading David Sklansky’s ‘Theory Of Poker’ apparently also helped his game.

The WSOP

Greg Raymer won his place in the 2004 World Series of Poker Main Event in the same way as 2003 winner Chris Moneymaker – through a satellite qualifier on Poker Stars.

This was not his first taste of the World Series success, this came in the year 2000 with a cash place finish in the Omaha hi-lo split 8 or better event, eventually won by Chris ‘ Jesus’ Ferguson. Raymer also had a track record at his local casino Foxwoods – regularly cashing in the no-limit Holdem tournaments there.

In the main event of 2004 his prior tournament experience lead to the biggest cash of his career. Greg Raymer accumulated enough chips while battling his way through the field of more than 2,500 players to reach the final table with a significant chip lead.

He held on to this lead as players were eliminated to reach the heads-up endgame as 2-to-1 chip leader over poker pro David Williams – going on to win when his pair of 8’s held on against William’s Ace-Four to claim the title and $5 million prize.

Almost a Repeat

To prove that his win was no fluke Raymer returned to the World Series in 2005, taking 25th place in the Main Event in a field of over 5,000 after taking a bad beat. This run winning him over $300,000. Raymer also reached two final tables in 2007 in 7 card stud and 7 card stud hi-lo events, in addition to finishing 14th in the prestigious HORSE event.

Raymer continues to play poker online and has had recent successes in several large buy-in events at the site of his sponsors – Poker Stars. These include final table finishes in the Sunday Million and World Championship of Online Poker events.

With the exception of the World Series, Greg Raymer is not a regular on the tournament circuit. This is partly due to his involvement in a law-suit with the World Poker Tour in which several high-profile players are claiming that the terms and conditions of this tour unfairly infringe on their rights.

Outside of poker Raymer is a dedicated family man. He spends as much time as possible with his wife Cheryl and daughter Sophie at their home in Raleigh, North Carolina. 

LAST: Joe Hachem | NEXT: Allen Cunningham