There are few champions who have dominated the World Series of Poker in recent years with the kind of panache and verve that define Greg "Fossilman" Raymer. Truly, this poker player has mastered the art of intimidation, while bringing a healthy sense of style, humor and self-deprecation to his game play.

In some ways, the "Fossilman" could be considered the most unlikely of champions. A chemistry major at the University of Missouri, he moved on to earn a law degree from the University of Minnesota Law School in 1992. More than a decade following that accomplishment was devoted to the noble but less than glamorous life of a patent attorney. Yet all along, while sitting in a sterile office space crunching numbers, Raymer dreamed of bigger things. Those dreams would become reality, eventually.

It was in 1999 that Raymer first started playing poker at Foxwoods Resort Casino. And, only two years later, he entered the World Series of Poker in the $1,500 Omaha high-low split eight or better event. That event was won by Chris "Jesus" Ferguson but a fire had been lit inside Greg Raymer.

Three years later, the "Fossilman" won a whopping $5 million in the main event no-limit Texas Hold'em challenge at the WSOP. He entered the tournament by virtue of winning a $160 satellite hosted by Poker Stars, as did his predecessor Chris Moneymaker, who took home the big prize the previous year. Raymer now serves along with Moneymaker as a spokesman for Poker Stars.

Raymer was unable to repeat his stunning victory the following year, placing 25th out of 5,619 competitors in the 2005 WSOP. However, he is still one of the most dominant players on the entire circuit. And, if you were wondering how he got his unusual nickname, it is due to his lifelong hobby of collecting of fossils. To further bolster his intimidating persona, Raymer is known for wearing a pair of holographic sunglasses that appear to reflect menacing dinosaur eyes whenever he is seated in competition. (As if his status as a WSOP champ was not daunting enough.) And yet, ask just about any player on the professional poker circuit and he or she will probably tell you that under his dominating exterior, Greg "Fossilman" Raymer is one of the nicest guys you are ever apt to share a table with. Just goes to show, you truly can't judge a book by its cover.