Prior to the festivities of this year’s National Heads-Up Poker Championship, Greg “Fossilman” Raymer was spotted wearing a Full Tilt Poker patch.
The 2004 WSOP Main Event Champion has been in search of a new online sponsor, since taking his leave from PokerStars nearly a month ago. Raymer was part of a “purge” in which several long-time pros were forced to take a pay cut. As one of the original members of the company’s elite, Fossilman wasn’t too thrilled by the proposition.
His most likely suitor, to the surprise of no one, is PokerStars’ primary competitor, Full Tilt Poker. So the sight of Raymer sporting their badge wasn’t a completely unexpected sight. But according to a report from Bluff magazine, the sponsorship for Heads-Up Championship is a one-time deal. The possibility for an extended deal is still strong, which could turn this into a feeling-out period between the two parties. Single tournament sponsorships are not an unheard of practice in the industry, but, if Raymer puts in a good showing, Full Tilt may be ready to consider a long-term partnership.
Fossilman will square off against Mike “The Mouth” Matusow in the first round. It should be an entertaining matchup, given the contrasting playing styles employed by each.