Greg Merson

Gregory Merson was born on December 8, 1987, in Washington, D.C., United States. He grew up in Laurel, Maryland, and began playing poker online under the screen name "gregy20723" on PokerStars and Full Tilt Poker. Before his live tournament success, Merson established himself as a shorthanded cash game specialist online.

Merson's first World Series of Poker cash came in the 2009 Main Event, where he finished 639th out of 6,494 entrants for $21,365. He made his first major breakthrough at the 2012 WSOP, winning the $10,000 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold'em World Championship for $1,136,197. The victory was notable for the shortest final day in WSOP history, as he won on the first or second hand of Day 4.

At the 2012 Main Event, Merson's tournament almost ended early when he was down to just 50,000 chips with blinds at 10,000/20,000 and a 3,000 ante, leaving him on the verge of a 150th-place finish ($52,718). He staged an incredible comeback, entering Day 7 in 12th place out of 27, then surging to the chip lead. After the field narrowed to nine, he finished Day 7 third in chips. On the final day, Merson held over 46% of chips in play among the final three and defeated Jesse Sylvia heads-up to win the championship and $8,531,853. He became the first player since Chris Ferguson (2000) to win a WSOP bracelet and the Main Event in the same year.

Thanks to his two bracelets and deep Main Event run, Merson clinched the 2012 WSOP Player of the Year title with $9,785,354 in WSOP earnings that year. He also narrowly overtook Phil Hellmuth in the standings after the WSOP Europe series. Beyond the WSOP, Merson has three World Poker Tour (WPT) cashes including a final table, and two European Poker Tour (EPT) cashes. His total live tournament earnings exceed $11,484,627, placing him among the top American players on the all-time money list.

Merson's top five live cashes include:

• 1st place, 2012 WSOP Main Event ($8,531,853)
• 1st place, 2012 WSOP $10,000 Six-Handed Championship ($1,136,197)
• 2nd place, 2014 PCA $25,000 High Roller ($948,996)
• 4th place, 2015 WSOP $5,000 No-Limit Hold'em ($152,126)
• 13th place, 2016 PCA $25,000 High Roller ($88,020)

He also recorded deep runs in later WSOP events, including a 52nd-place finish in the 2025 Main Event for $200,000 and a 39th-place finish in the 2022 $10,000 Pot-Limit Omaha Hi-Lo Championship. Merson continues to compete in both live and online tournaments.

Merson is known for an aggressive, pressure-based style, particularly in shorthanded and deep-stack situations. He combines mathematical precision with strong psychological reads, allowing him to make big bluffs and thin value bets. Online, he is a professional cash game player specializing in six-max No-Limit Hold'em, and his experience on PokerStars and Full Tilt has contributed to his live success.

Greg Merson's 2012 WSOP double championship and Player of the Year award cemented his place in poker history. He is remembered for one of the most remarkable comebacks in Main Event history and remains a respected figure in both live and online poker communities. His total live earnings of over $11.4 million attest to his sustained success at the highest levels.