James Grimes is a professional poker player from Houston, Texas and has been a regular on the American poker scene since 2002. His first major cash came at the 33rd World Series of Poker in April 2002, where he finished 10th and earned $2,200 in the $1,500 Limit Omaha event. At the World Series of Poker the following year, Grimes entered the $2,500 No Limit Hold'em event, where he fought his way to 25th place in a field of 259 entrants to pick up a check of $3,620.
Grimes won his maiden live tournament event at the 2004 Grand American Poker Classic in Robinsonville. Participating in the $100 No Limit Hold'em event with 290 entrants, Grimes performed admirably to not only make the final table, but also came out on top to win his first tournament and with it a check of $17,130.
James Grimes participated in three events at the 35th World Series of Poker in April 2004 with mixed fortunes. While he finished 17th in the $1,500 Pot Limit Hold'em event and 32nd in the $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em event, he secured an impressive 12th place in the $10,000 World Championship Event. In a field of 2,576 and with a pool of $24 million to play for, Grimes’s impressive show earned him a cool $373,000.
The Texan returned to the World Series of Poker in its 38th edition in July 2008. Competing in two events, Grimes played to mediocre outcomes on both. He finished 166th in the $2,000 No Limit Hold'em event, while a 507th place finish is the best he could manage in the $10,000 World Championship No Limit Hold'em event, giving him a tournament total earning of $28,885.