Greg Raymer, otherwise known as Fossilman after the fossil he uses as a card protector, was the winner of the 2004 WSOP main event.
Raymer was born in Minot, North Dakota in 1964 but his family moved several times while he was growing up. He studied at the University of Missouri-Rolla, majoring in chemistry and later graduated from law school and became a patent attourney. He is now a full time poker professional, and a member of Team PokerStars.
Greg is best known for three things – his 2004 world championship title, his fossil card protector, and his sunglasses he often wears while playing which have holographic lenses. He had finished in the money previously in a WSOP event back in 2001 when he placed in the $1,500 Omaha hi-lo splt 8 or better, won by Chris Ferguson. In 2004 he won the main event, beating David Williams heads up to take the $5 million first prize. The following year he defended his title finishing 25th and earning another $30,000 – the best result of a defending champion since Johnny Chan’s back to back wins in the 1980s.
In 2005 he came third in the first ever British Poker Open, and in 2009 he also placed third in the $40,000 buy-in No Limit Hold’em WSOP event taking over three quarters of a million dollars.
Outside of playing poker, Raymer is actively involved in lobbying for poker to be legalised in the US. He is also interested in politics, and was quoted in an interview in 2006 stating that he was considering running as a candidate for the Libertarian Party for Vice President, but he did not run.
Name: Greg Raymer
Nickname: Fossilman
Born: 1964
Hometown: Raleigh, North Carolina
Greg Raymer’s Poker Career
WSOP bracelets : 1
WSOP money finishes: 13
Highest WSOP Main event finish: 1st (2004)
WPT titles: 0
WPT money finishes: 2
Career tournament winnings: $6.5 million
Career Highlights:
WSOP wins
2004 – $10,000 main event
2009 – $40,000 no limit hold’em (3rd)
Greg is one of the Pokerstars pros. You can play and chat with Greg and the other pros by visiting PokerStars, and joining up using our exclusive promotional code:PSP13185 to get a 100% bonus on your first deposit up to $600, or simply click here to be taken to PokerStars and have the bonus code applied automatically.
