Greg Raymer
- Nickname: Fossil Man
- Facebook: Greg-Raymer-Poker-Player
- Twitter: @FossilMan
- Website: www.fossilmanpoker.com
- Birthdate: 25th June 1964
- Birthplace: Minot, North Dakota
- Residence: Raleigh, North Carolina
- WSOP Bracelets: 1
- Biggest Win: $5 million
- Total Winnings: $7,401,939
- Sponsored by: Ex PokerStars
Greg first encountered poker at college where he played against friends for nickels and dimes. It wasn’t until he moved to Connecticut in 1999, working as a patent lawyer for a pharmaceutical company, that his game moved up a gear. Not only did he acquire valuable tournament practice at Foxwoods Casino but a nickname too. As a collector of fossils, Raymer would bring a specimen from his collection to use as a card protector and he soon began to be known as the ‘Fossilman’.
Alongside his fondness of relics, Greg dedicated himself to a quest for poker knowledge and regards David Sklansky’s book, “The Theory of Poker” as his most important influence. He was also very active in internet poker newsgroups and discussion forums which helped inform his play and thoroughly prepare him for what was to come. In 2001, Raymer entered the WSOP Limit Omaha Hi / lo event and came a creditable twelfth, he followed that up with two final table finishes in the WPT World Poker Finals in his favored game of No Limit Hold’em in the subsequent year.
The final heads-up of the 2004 WSOP Texas Hold’em world championship saw Greg Raymer pitted against Paul Williams. Raymer looked calm and impassive if a little unusual. He was wearing lizard-eye 3D hologram glasses which he had started wearing two years earlier, partly as a joke during a big hand in a 2002 tournament. They have been a fixture on his face in major tournaments since then and you might say they have become Raymer’s trademark. As a former patent attorney, Greg would probably have to point out he doesn’t own the rights to them as they’re just cheap comedy glasses purchased from Disneyworld. That and poker games worth $5 million are no joking matter.
Any lingering doubts people may have had that Raymer had just got lucky in 2004 were quashed the following year when he followed up his triumph with an admirable 25th place finish. He has won over many fans with his approachable affability and, despite not playing so many tournaments as many of his fellow professionals preferring to spend time with his wife Cheryl and daughter Sophie, he fares well when he is involved. In September 2012 he came first in Heartland Poker Tour (HPT) main event in St Louis banking $121,973.
Greg is a Poker Players Alliance member and has lobbied extensively to have poker regulated and classified as a game of skill. He is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the PPA. Raymer has visited Congress to voice his opinions against the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006 though Capitol Hill left him less than impressed. As the adage goes ‘If you want something doing…’ and Greg was doing just that, looking to enter politics in the future. He has even had talks with the Libertarian party to stand as their official candidate for Vice President of the United States.
He still regularly contributes in internet discussion forums, happy to advise and share his knowledge, he runs a poker school offering poker training. Greg Raymer was one of the original members of Team PokerStars Pro, as of 2011 he is no longer with them.
WSOP 2004
Although Greg won his place in the 2004 WSOP online through Pokerstars.com, he had been intending to enter the event anyway. He played solidly and had remained focused throughout the week and won through to the final table. He admits to a couple of lucky breaks during the final day including hitting a ten on the flop when playing a pair of tens against a pair of aces and getting a river queen high straight when playing and A♠ 10♦ versus A♦ K♣.
In consecutive hands, he knocked out Mike McClain and Mattias Andersson respectively. Raymer exuded a calm poise throughout the final hand, as well he might with a pocket pair of 8♠ 8♦. Williams was betting with an ever-dwindling chip stack and must have felt quietly confident when his A♥ 4♠ became a pair of fours with a flop of 4♦ 2♦ 5♠.
Raymer checked then re-raised William’s bet, his voice clear and steady as he announced his intentions. A 2♥ followed with a 2♣ on the river. Both men had full houses but Raymer’s was higher and he quickly announced ‘All in.’ Williams called and shrugged his shoulders as the cards were turned and Raymer let out a loud yell, his fists raised above his head. He stood up, threw his glasses onto the baize, his green lizard stare replaced by smiling eyes.
Last updated May 2013