'Fossilman' Wins World Series of Poker

A 39-year-old patent attorney from Connecticut -- a virtual unknown in the Poker world -- has won the 2004 World Series of Poker, taking home $5 million for his efforts. Greg "Fossilman" Raymer, whose nickname refers to his hobby of collecting fossils, won the final hand with a full house (deuces full of eights) bigger than his opponent's full house (deuces full of fours).

"I played the best Poker of my life and I got as lucky as I've ever gotten in my life for such a sustained perior of time," Raymer said in a press release after winning the championship.

Raymer earned his entry into the World Series of Poker via a $150 satellite tournament on the Internet. He plays regularly at Foxwoods Casino, also in Connecticut.

The $5 million top prize is double what last year's winner, Chris Moneymaker, took home ($2.5 million). Second place finisher David Anthony Williams, a 24-year-old college student, took home $3.5 million. The total purse was $49 million.

Moneymaker was eliminated on the first day of this year's tournament. More than 2,500 people entered.

Additional coverage of the event:

Official Press Release (PDF)
Associated Press on CNN
PokerMag.com Summary
PokerMag.com Feature on Raymer