Greg Raymer Wins Record 4th HPT Title Of 2012
November 20, 2012 2:59 pmGreg Raymer is on an incredible heater after winning an unparalleled 4th Heartland Poker Tour title in as many months. In his latest victory, the 2004 WSOP Main Event champion overcame a field of 336 players over four days to lift the title, and collect the $106,030 first place prize.
Prior to this month’s win at the HPT Championship Open in Florence, in July Raymer took down the HPT New Mexico for $71,875, in September the HPT Missouri for $121,973, and in October the HPT Iowa for $72,089.
As the $1,500 HPT Florence reached its final table of six, Greg “FossilMan” Raymer was one of the short-stacks, but eight hands later he had propelled himself into a chip lead, culminating in the elimination of Kenny Hicks holding A-Q to Raymer’s A-K. With Kenny Hicks exit in 6th for $20,588, an even stronger warning signal was then raised amongst the remaining contenders and as postman Jason Guinn had commented earlier:
“Whatever happens today, I’m just excited to be here. I’m a recreational player and there’s a world champion here.”
Guinn then became the next finalists to fall in 5th ($25,324), and after he was joined by Iverson Snuffer in 4th ($32,941), and Bruce Ostrander in 3rd ($38,088), it was left up to Jacob Bazeley to stand in the way of fate and stop Greg Raymer from picking up yet another title. As heads-up got underway, Raymer held a 5.36m to 2.955m chip lead over Jacob Bazeley. However, just 20 hands later it was all over after both players were all-in pre-flop and Raymer’s AQ held against Bazeley’s A-6.
Not surprisingly, members of the poker community were quick to congratulate ‘Fossilman’ on his unprecedented run, who acknowledged their best wishes by tweeting: “Thank you all so much for the many kind tweets. It has been an unbelievable run here the last 5 months on @HPTPoker. Winning 4/6 is too much.”
The final table payouts were as follows:
1. Greg Raymer – $106,030
2. Jacob Bazeley – $59,706
3. Bruce Ostrander – $38,088
4. Iverson “Cotton” Snuffer – $32,941
5. Jason Gwinn – $25,324
6. Kenny Hicks – $20,588