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Greg " Fossilman " wins $5 million first prize and gold bracelet at World Series of Poker 01 June 2004
By Ken Wough
Greg Raymer, a 39 year old corporate patent attorney from Stonington, Connecticut, won the $5 million first prize at the World Series of Poker.
Greg Raymer won the $5 million first prize at the World Series of Poker. A 39 year old corporate patent attorney from Stonington, Connecticut, he defeated all the other 2,575 entrants. Raymer's nickname, "Fossilman", comes from the fossils he uses as card protectors at the table.
Like second place finisher David Williams, and 2003 WSOP winner Chris Moneymaker, Gregory Raymer qualified online through the Pokerstars website.
Since Both Williams and Raymer play poker online it could well be that online poker players have become superior to the poker regulars and celebrity players.
Even if they are not, they certainly have a huge advantage in these tournaments, since players like Raymer and Williams and some other online qualifiers have the opportunity to play in large no-limit tournaments every single day. Online poker gives them the experience to deal with the WSOP, and to play aggressively if needed.
Greg Raymer began the final day on Friday as the chip leader and he was relentless, knocking out the final table within a matter of hours. He raised pots and was not afraid to come over the top with spectacular re-raises as well. Internet poker has a new champion following the success of Moneymaker last year!
Raymer personally eliminated 7 of the 8 players at the final table, while Williams knocked out the Texan Matt Dean, who finished 7th after a great surge up the leaderboard yesterday. Greg Raymer, a mild-mannered lawyer, completely changes his ways at the poker table. Anyone who challenged him, including the great player Dan Harrington, left the table soon after in a defeated daze.
Only nine players were left at the final table, including Greg Raymer, the chip leader, former World Series of Poker champion Dan Harrington, and David Anthony Williams, with 23 years the youngest player at the table.
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