Greg RaymerNickname: Fossilman
Name: Greg Raymer
Born: 1965
Age: 40
From: North Dakota
Resides: Stonington, Connecticut
Before winning the World Series of Poker in 2004, Greg’s full-time "real" job was as a patent attorney for a large pharmaceutical company; Pfizer. In May he won the largest World Series of Poker main event prize to date. In the post-tournament press conference was an admission that he is not the world's best poker player. This is all but unheard of in this day and age but Raymer's humble outlook, jovial nature, and down-to-earth manner camouflages an intense dedication to poker and game strategy.
It began in college when he was playing with pals for nickel and dime stakes. After college he went on to blackjack and counting cards at casinos in the Midwest. While he was an attorney during the days he played at night. Mostly in 3-6 dollar games in Chicago playing either Omaha or Texas hold’em. After buying several books, his skill increased and his dollar games moved from 3-6 to 20-40. Later he moved to connecticut to the 150-300 level at Foxwoods casino.
Fossilman started playing in weekly No limit Hold’em tournaments at Foxwoods and was killing the cash games more than regularly. A year later Greg”Fossilman” Raymer finally burst on the poker worlds radar with a third place finish at The World Poker Finals. But that was just a sign of things. He then began playing at Poker Stars where he won a $160 buy-in satellite shootout and earned an entry fee to the World Series of Poker.
A few months later his life was about to change.Raymer was now sitting at Binion's Horseshoe in Las Vegas, playing the biggest tournament of his life amongst the best players in the world. In the end,wearing freaky holographic shades that have become a trademark, he defeated 2,575 players.
Greg acquired the nickname “Fossilman” because he uses a fossil at the table to protect his cards.
|
