Posted on 01/02/2005 3:06:22 AM PST by PokerGod
LAS VEGAS - Greg Raymer, the 2004 World Series (news - web sites) of Poker champion, apparently knows how to wield more than a stack of chips when everything is riding on it.
The soft-spoken patent attorney from Stonington, Conn., fought off a pair of attackers Dec. 20 at the Bellagio hotel-casino after he had finished playing a cash game of poker, according to a Las Vegas police report.
Raymer was returning to his room about 2 a.m. when two men approached, the report said. As he opened the door to the room, they tried to push him in.
But the heavyset Raymer resisted and began struggling with the men, the report said. As he was fighting, one of the men pulled out a gun and said: "We just want the money."
But Raymer didn't give up, and yelled for security, causing the men to flee.
A security officer said one of the suspects was a poker player and also recognized him from a previous incident.
Police made an arrest in the case but the report didn't identify the person.
Raymer, known as the "Fossilman" in poker circles, won the WSOP Texas Hold'Em title and $5 million in cash. He beat out a field of 2,576 in May to win the prestigious event.
On a poker message board, Raymer recently wrote: "I don't write this to brag, I just want any robbery-minded people out there who hear about this to know that I'm a tough mark, and they won't get that much off me even if they succeed."
I'm glad that he stood up for himself although it was incredibly dangerous.
What's amusing about it?
Well it was incredibly brave what he did, but I find it amusing that he decided that it was worth risking his life to protect the money that he had on him. He was not carrying that much supposedly, and if I had been in his position, I think I would have just given it up. But I guess he has more guts than I do.
Yeah I think shooting them would have been okay.
He probably wouldn't have to go to jail because he could claim self-defense after being shown the gun- I think.
Attacking him in the Bellagio? I bet it's all on film. Should be a short trial.
Supposedly there were no cameras in the section of the hotel that Raymer was in.
Wow, wouldn't think there is much territory like that.
Why don't you think he was carrying that much money. If he was playing at the beligio, he could have been in a high stakes game and had many thousands of dollars on him, maybe a few $5000 chips.
I'm sure he was in a high stakes game, and h I'm sure he had at least 10k on him, but he is worth more than 5 million and risking your life for 10k is not worth it in my opinion. He'll make it back just from interest in a week.
The casino cage acts as a bank.
High rollers "sign" for cash.
They do not carry it.
Well he was carrying it. He stated on the message board in question that he was.
And he said "not much."
So he bluffed them.
I'm such a card! :-)
They[the robbers] folded. :P
SS. Stupid criminals!
I can attest that casino security on the Vegas Strip is top-notch. Locked myself out of my room once and had three burley armed dudes at the door within 5 minutes.
Only after several minutes of ID checks and confirmations with the front desk would they open the door for me. They were polite enough, but I wouldn't want to mess with them.
I like Raymer. I especially liked it when he beat that "showboat" drama queen (Whose name escapes me, dark hair)who kept verbally accosting him at the table during the championships.
I saw that too.
A real bee-itch.
Thugs and thieves thrive because of whimps like you. Grow a pair, newbie.
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