Nationality
American citizen
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Born (date and place of birth)
December 8, 1987 in Laurel, Maryland, United States
Residence (current location)
Laurel, Maryland, United States
Education (institution, specialization)
Attended the University of Maryland, College Park
Year started playing poker
2007
Age when started playing
Started playing seriously at age 19
Year turned professional
2007
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
2012 World Series of Poker Main Event, $8,531,853
Main motivation for turning pro
To pursue a career in poker and escape struggles with addiction
First sponsor/backing
Winamax (signed after WSOP victory in 2012)
Total live tournament winnings
More than $10,475,000 in live tournament earnings
Number of tournament wins
At least 2 major tournament titles (2012 WSOP Main Event, 2012 WSOP Event #57)
Number of final tables
4 WSOP final tables recorded
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
$8,531,853 for first place in the 2012 WSOP Main Event
WSOP bracelets (number)
2 (2012 WSOP Main Event and 2012 WSOP Event #57 $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Six-Handed)
WSOP cashes (number)
17 WSOP cashes
Best WSOP Main Event result
Winner (1st place) in 2012, $8,531,853
Online tournament winnings
Over $1 million (including online cashes and known accounts under "gregy20723")
Poker team
Winamax Team Pro (signed after 2012 WSOP victory)
Country ranking
Among top U.S. earners in 2012
All Time Money List position
Ranked 79th on the All Time Money List as of 2025
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
No-Limit Hold'em
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Primarily major live tournaments; also active online
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Prefers short-handed and 6-max formats
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
NLHE, 6-max
Specialization limits
$10,000 buy-in championship events, Main Events
Online rooms where plays
PokerStars ("gregy20723"), Winamax
Favorite casinos/locations
Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Aggressive, analytical
Known for bluffs/traps
Known for well-timed aggressive moves, not overly reliant on bluffing
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Mathematical and GTO-inspired, with adaptation for opponents
Style adaptability
Demonstrated significant ability to adjust strategy during deep runs
Playing strengths
Short-handed play, tournament endurance, mental resilience
GTO strategy usage
Utilizes Game Theory Optimal strategies; cites use of simulation tools post-2012
Poker software usage
Uses poker simulation and tracking software
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
2012 WSOP Main Event Final Table broadcast on ESPN
Documentary films featuring (titles and links)
Featured in "All In: The Poker Movie"
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Bluff Magazine, PokerNews, CardPlayer, ESPN
Podcast appearances (podcast names, episode titles, dates, links)
"Poker Life Podcast" with Joey Ingram (2014)
Facebook (account link)
https://www.facebook.com/greg.merson
Posting frequency in social media
Sporadic, mostly around major events and public projects
Type of content in social media
Poker insights, personal recovery stories, industry updates
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
Winamax (Team Pro)
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
Winamax (since 2012), previously represented for promotional events
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
Winamax Team Pro ambassador since 2012
Own business (business names, descriptions, websites)
Owner of "The Grind," poker-themed coffee shop in Maryland (opened 2015)
Poker project investments (project names, involvement details)
Invested in online poker software development
Coaching services (availability, platforms used)
Offers private coaching periodically; details typically via email/inquiry
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
Contributed articles for PokerNews and CardPlayer
Coaching work (platforms used, student testimonials)
Occasional coaching sessions promoted on social media; past testimonials include successful student cashes
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
"Champion's Insight: Greg Merson Reflects on WSOP 2012" (PokerNews)
Conference speaking (conference names, dates, topics, video links)
Speaker at the 2013 CardPlayer Poker Tour seminar, Las Vegas
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
Some criticism for slow play and tanking during 2012 WSOP Main Event
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Addressed in interviews, citing tournament strategy and nervousness
Poker industry awards (award names, years, organizations)
2012 WSOP Player of the Year; 2012 BLUFF Magazine Player of the Year
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Widely recognized by peers for mental toughness and comeback story in recovery
Poker publication awards (publication names, award types, years)
2012 WSOP Player of the Year by BLUFF Magazine
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Winning 2012 WSOP Main Event; overcoming personal addiction and inspiring others
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Only player to win WSOP Main Event and $10,000 six-handed in same year (2012)
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Openly discussed addiction and recovery, destigmatizing mental health in poker
Charity tournaments (tournament names, amounts raised, beneficiaries)
Participated in WSOP charity side events; supported addiction recovery charities
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Inspirational for recovery, strategy evolution in tournament poker
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Helped standardize open discussion of mental health challenges for poker pros
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2023 | United States | World Series of Poker | Horseshoe Las Vegas | Event #13: $10,000 NLHE Main Event | $10,000 | 140 | $12,500 | 8,000 | 32.5 | 20.2 |||| 2012 | United States | World Series of Poker | Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino | Event #57: $10,000 NLHE Six-Handed Championship | $10,000 | 1 | $1,136,197 | 474 | 128.5 | 127.2 |||| 2012 | United States | World Series of Poker | Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino | Event #61: $10,000 NLHE Main Event | $10,000 | 1 | $8,531,853 | 6,598 | 250 | 250 |||| 2011 | United States | World Series of Poker | Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino | Event #28: $1,500 NLHE | $1,500 | 530 | $2,600 | 2,500 | 14.2 | 8.9