Misplaced Pages

Phil Laak: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 21:00, 28 September 2011 editTheTakeover (talk | contribs)185 edits Changed birthdate. Explanation given on talk page.← Previous edit Latest revision as of 12:39, 19 December 2024 edit undoMaxine McKeown (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users1,523 editsNo edit summaryTags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit Advanced mobile edit 
(207 intermediate revisions by more than 100 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Irish-born American poker player (born 1972)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2024}}
{{infobox poker player {{infobox poker player
|name=Phil Laak |name=Phil Laak
|nickname=The Unabomber |nickname=The Unabomber
|image=Phil The Unabomber Laak.jpg |image=Phil The Unabomber Laak.jpg
|caption=Phil Laak at the ] |caption= Laak in 2006
|hometown=San Francisco, California |hometown=Los Angeles, California, US
|birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1972|9|8}}}}<br/>], ] |birth_date = {{nowrap|{{birth date and age|1972|9|8}}}}<br />Dublin, Ireland
|partner = ] <small> (2004–present)</small>
|wsop bracelet count=1 |wsop bracelet count=1
|wsop money finishes=9 |wsop final tables=6
|wsop money finishes=21
|wsop main event best finish rank=''None'' |wsop main event best finish rank=412th
|wsop main event best finish year=2015
|wpt titles=1 |wpt titles=1
|wpt final tables=3 |wpt final tables=4
|wpt money finishes=7 |wpt money finishes=9
|ept titles=''None'' |ept titles=''None''
|ept final tables=''None'' |ept final tables=''None''
|ept money finishes=1 |ept money finishes=1
|updated=2010-09-16 |updated=2014-07-16
}} }}
'''Philip "Phil" C. Laak''' (pronounced "lock"; born September 8, 1972)<ref></ref>{{Failed verification|date=July 2011}} is a ] ] player, now residing in ]. Laak holds a ] (WPT) title,<ref name="WPTprofile"> {{cite web|url=http://www.worldpokertour.com/Shared/Players/Bios/P/Philip_Laak.aspx |title=Phil Laak |accessdate=2008-04-24 |work=worldpokertour.com }}</ref><ref name="stats"/> a ] (WSOP) bracelet and has appeared on numerous nationally-aired television shows.<ref> {{cite web|url=http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1884316/ |title=Phil Laak |accessdate=2008-04-24 |work=IMDb }}</ref> '''Philip Courtney Laak''' (born September 8, 1972) is an Irish-American professional ] player and a poker commentator, now residing in Los Angeles, California. Laak holds a ] (WPT) title,<ref name="WPTprofile">{{Cite web |title=Phil Laak |url=https://www.worldpokertour.com/player/phil-laak/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080414171038/http://www.worldpokertour.com/Shared/Players/Bios/P/philip_laak.aspx |archive-date=April 14, 2008 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=World Poker Tour |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="stats" /> a ] (WSOP) bracelet, and has appeared on numerous nationally aired television shows.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1884316/ |title=Phil Laak |access-date=April 24, 2008 |work=IMDb }}</ref>


==Early life== ==Early life==
Laak was born in Dublin, raised on the ], and now lives in ] and ]. He graduated from the ] with a degree in ] and worked as an ], a ], a dishwasher on ], a stock ], a gardener and a ] investor, prior to getting into open poker games in ]. He is a former roommate of fellow professional poker player and close friend ]. Prior to his move west, Laak lived for several years in New York City where he honed his skills as a world-class backgammon player before he turned his focus to poker. Laak was born in Dublin, Ireland, raised on the ], and now lives in ] and ]. His family moved to Wellesley, Massachusetts, when he was four years old.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beggy |first=Carol |date=October 6, 2005 |title=No limits |url=https://archive.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2005/10/06/no_limits/ |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=The Boston Globe |language=en}}</ref>

He graduated from the ] with a degree in ] and worked in varying jobs prior to getting into open poker games in California. He is a former roommate of fellow professional poker player ]. Prior to moving to the west, Laak lived for several years in New York City where he honed his skills as a ] player before turning his focus to poker.


==Poker career== ==Poker career==
Laak learned to play poker as a child.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pokerworks.com/poker-players/phil-laak.html |title=PokerWorks.com |publisher=PokerWorks.com |date=1972-09-08 |accessdate=2010-09-30}}</ref> His first major tournament victory was at the ] (WPT) Celebrity Invitational in February 2004. He has made two other WPT final tables since: sixth place in both the season two Battle of Champions and the 2005 Five Diamond World Poker Classic. Laak learned to play poker as a child.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phil Laak |url=http://pokerworks.com/poker-players/phil-laak.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719234026/http://pokerworks.com/poker-players/phil-laak.html |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |access-date=September 30, 2010 |website=PokerWorks.com}}</ref> His first major tournament victory was at the ] (WPT) Celebrity Invitational in February 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Poker Tour - WPT Invitational, Main Event - No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=6748 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> He has made two other WPT final tables since his victory: sixth place in both the season two Battle of Champions and the 2005 Five Diamond World Poker Classic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=World Poker Tour Battle of Champions II, No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=16573 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fourth Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic, Main Event - No Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=16138 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>


At the ] (WSOP), Laak finished second to ] in the $2,500 ] ] event. Laak defeated ] to win the inaugural ], taking home the £150,000 first prize. He has also competed in numerous ] series. Laak appeared on seasons two through six of ] on GSN, and served as the dealer on the short-lived ] series '']''. At the ] (WSOP), Laak finished second to ] in the $2,500 ] ] event.<ref>{{Cite web |title=36th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2005, Pot Limit Hold'em |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=8809 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> Laak defeated ] to win the inaugural William Hill Poker Grand Prix, taking home the £150,000 first prize.<ref>{{Cite web |title=William Hill Poker Grand Prix, No Limit Hold'em - Grand Final |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=14092 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> He has also competed in numerous '']'' series. Laak appeared on seasons two through seven of '']'' on GSN, and served as the dealer on the short-lived television series '']''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pajich |first=Bob |date=August 9, 2006 |title=GSN Renews High Stakes Poker |url=https://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/1271-gsn-renews-high-stakes-poker |access-date=December 17, 2023 |website=CardPlayer.com}}</ref>


Laak was a winner of ]'s '']'', earning the weekly prize of $120,000. The tournament was entitled "]" because both Phil Laak and ] were contenders. Apart from Laak and Hellmuth the table consisted of ], ], ], and ]. He again won $120,000 in the ] episode, defeating ], ], Antonio Esfandiari, ] and Phil Hellmuth. Laak was a winner of ]'s '']'', earning the weekly prize of $120,000. The tournament was titled "]" because both Phil Laak and ] were contenders. Apart from Laak and Hellmuth the table consisted of ], Antonio Esfandiari, ], and ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season I, Week 5 - Phil Phil |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=26379 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref> He again won $120,000 in the "]" episode, defeating ], ], Antonio Esfandiari, ] and Phil Hellmuth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Poker After Dark (PAD) Season VI, Week 2 - Nicknames |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/event.php?a=r&n=41549 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>


At the 2007 conference of the ] in Vancouver, British Columbia, Laak and fellow professional player ] competed against, and beat, ], a poker playing computer program developed at the ], in two of the four rounds with the remaining rounds being a loss and a draw. At the 2007 conference of the ] in Vancouver, British Columbia, Laak and fellow professional player ] competed against, and beat, ], a poker playing computer program developed at the ], in two of the four rounds with the remaining rounds being a loss and a draw.


In 2008, Laak made a ] in the ], where he was credited as "Poker Pro".<ref>http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1114258/fullcredits#cast</ref> In 2008, Laak made a ] in the ], where he was credited as "Poker Pro".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1114258/fullcredits|title="Knight Rider" Knight Rider (TV Episode 2008)|via=www.imdb.com}}</ref>


Laak has written a monthly column called "Being Phil Laak" in the poker-themed '']'' since late 2005. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluffmagazine.com/magazine/Being-Phil-Laak-Phil-Laak-269.htm |title=Being Phil Laak by Phil Laak &#124; Bluff Magazine October-2005 |publisher=Bluffmagazine.com |date= |accessdate=2010-09-30}}</ref> Laak co-hosted a show called '']'' on the (MOJO network) with his friend Antonio Esfandiari where they can be found betting on any and all things. Laak wrote a monthly column called "Being Phil Laak", in the poker-themed '']'', from 2005 until the magazine folded in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bluffmagazine.com/magazine/Being-Phil-Laak-Phil-Laak-269.htm |title=Being Phil Laak by Phil Laak &#124; Bluff Magazine October-2005 |publisher=Bluffmagazine.com |access-date=September 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120721182024/http://www.bluffmagazine.com/magazine/Being-Phil-Laak-Phil-Laak-269.htm |archive-date=July 21, 2012 }}</ref> Laak co-hosted a show called '']'' on the (MOJO network) with his friend Antonio Esfandiari, where they can be found betting on any and all things.


Laak also played in the 2009 ] cash game Invitational.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2009-aussie-millions/cash-game/day1/ |title=2009 Aussie Millions |publisher=Pokernews.com |date=2009-01-26 |accessdate=2010-09-30}}</ref> Laak also played in the 2009 ] cash game Invitational.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pokernews.com/live-reporting/2009-aussie-millions/cash-game/day1/ |title=2009 Aussie Millions |publisher=Pokernews.com |date=January 26, 2009 |access-date=September 30, 2010}}</ref>


In October 2009, Laak was crowned ] World Open V champion winning $250,000 in the process. He overcame an extremely strong final table that included Luke 'FullFlush' Schwartz and Laak's long-term partner - actress and poker pro ].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.partypoker.com/world-open-v/phil-laak-is-crowned-partypokercom-world-open-v-champion.html/ |title=Phil Laak is crowned PartyPoker.com World Open V Champion |publisher=Blog.PartyPoker.com |date=2009-10-16 |accessdate=2010-09-30}}</ref> In October 2009, Laak was crowned ] World Open V champion winning $250,000 in the process. He overcame a final table that included ] and Laak's long-term partner, actress and poker pro ].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.partypoker.com/world-open-v/phil-laak-is-crowned-partypokercom-world-open-v-champion.html/ |title=Phil Laak is crowned PartyPoker.com World Open V Champion |publisher=Blog.PartyPoker.com |date=October 16, 2009 |access-date=September 30, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20091019074134/http://blog.partypoker.com/world-open-v/phil-laak-is-crowned-partypokercom-world-open-v-champion.html/ |archive-date=October 19, 2009 }}</ref>


⚫ On September 16, 2010, Laak won his first career WSOP bracelet by winning the £2,500 buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em championship at the ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Donnie |date=September 16, 2010 |title=2010 WSOPE Event #1, Day 3: Phil Laak Wins First Bracelet! |url=https://www.pokernews.com/news/2010/09/2010-wsope-event-1-day-3-phil-laak-wins-first-bracelet-8999.htm |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=PokerNews.com |language=en}}</ref> His win came after an accident involving an ] in August, where he suffered a broken elbow amongst other injuries.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Julio |date=August 6, 2010 |title=Poker Pro Phil Laak Hospitalized After ATV Accident |url=http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/9545-poker-pro-phil-laak-hospitalized-after-atv-accident |access-date=December 17, 2023 |website=CardPlayer.com}}</ref>
In early January 2010, Laak launched his own online poker site, Unabomber Poker. The site, which features cartoon style graphics, is a member of the Cake Poker Network. <ref> {{cite news | title = Phil Laak gets real | date = 2010-01-01 | url = http://www.bluffeurope.com/interview/en/Phil-Laak-gets-real-_6445.aspx | work = Bluff Europe | accessdate = 2011-06-21}}</ref>

⚫ On September 16th, 2010, Laak won his first WSOP bracelet by winning the ₤2,500 buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em championship at the ]. His win came after an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle in August, where he suffered a broken elbow amongst other injuries.<ref>http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/9545-poker-pro-phil-laak-hospitalized-after-atv-accident</ref>


{| class="wikitable" {| class="wikitable"
|- |-
|+ World Series of Poker bracelets |+ World Series of Poker bracelet
|- |-
!Year !Year
Line 51: Line 56:
!Prize !Prize
|- |-
|] |]
|£2,650 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em |£2,650 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em
|£170,802 |£170,802
|} |}


<small>An "E" following a year denotes bracelet(s) won at the World Series of Poker Europe</Small>
⚫ As of 2010, his total live tournament winnings exceed $2,300,000.<ref name="stats">{{cite web|url=http://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=s&n=16576|title=Phil Laak - Stats|publisher=The Hendon Mob|author=Butt, Robert|accessdate=2010-04-22}}</ref>

⚫ As of 2018, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3,650,000.<ref name="stats">{{Cite web |title=Phil Laak's profile on The Hendon Mob |url=https://pokerdb.thehendonmob.com/player.php?a=r&n=16576 |access-date=December 18, 2023 |website=] |language=en}}</ref>


==Nickname and personality== ==Nickname and personality==
] and Phil Laak right after her win at the ] $1,000 Ladies Only Event - No Limit Hold'em.]] ] and Phil Laak right after her win at the ] $1,000 Ladies Only Event - No Limit Hold'em.]]


Laak became known widely in the poker scene as the "Unabomber" because of the ] <ref name="UBJT"> {{cite web|url=http://www.playubt.com/ubt_teamubt_prfbio.aspx?pge_id=145&pge_pge_id=124&ply_id=96 |title=Ultimate Blackjack Tour - profile |accessdate=2008-04-24 |publisher=playubt.com }}</ref> and ] he wears at the table, making him resemble the forensic sketch of ] who was known as the Unabomber. Laak is known also for his unusual and inventive manner of speech. He coined the poker term "felted" to mean having lost all of one's chips (i.e. nothing left in front of the player except the table felt).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pokerplayernewspaper.com/viewarticle.php?id=2246 |title=Pokerplayernewspaper.com |publisher=Pokerplayernewspaper.com |date= |accessdate=2010-09-30}}</ref> Laak became known widely in the poker scene as the "Unabomber" because of the ]<ref name="UBJT">{{cite web|url=http://www.playubt.com/ubt_teamubt_prfbio.aspx?pge_id=145&pge_pge_id=124&ply_id=96 |title=Uher=playubt.com }}</ref> and sunglasses he wears at the table, making him resemble the forensic sketch of ], who was known as the Unabomber. These items were given to him by fellow poker player ]. Laak is also known for his unusual and inventive manner of speech. He coined the poker terms "felted", which means having lost all of one's chips (i.e. nothing left in front of the player except the table felt), as well as "upstuck", meaning being down from your high point of the session (i.e., if you won $15,000 and then lost $10,000 within the same session). He also coined the terms "POW" (Pay-off wizard), which he uses in a self-mocking fashion (i.e. one who pays off big bets on the river), and "Cherry bomb", which refers to large, ultimately unsuccessful bets.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pokerplayernewspaper.com/viewarticle.php?id=2246 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120910061538/http://www.pokerplayernewspaper.com/viewarticle.php?id=2246 |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 10, 2012 |title=Pokerplayernewspaper.com |publisher=Pokerplayernewspaper.com |access-date=September 30, 2010 }}</ref>


He is currently dating actress ], who won a WSOP bracelet in 2005 in the $1,000 buy-in Ladies ] ] championship. He is currently dating actress and ] $1,000 buy-in Ladies no-limit Texas hold 'em champion poker player ].


Phil Laak played the first day of the Main Event of the 2008 World Series of Poker incognito, in a latex mask, wig, make-up and costume. His disguise was reported thereafter by AP reporter Oskar Garcia.<ref>{{cite news |accessdate=2009-03-16 |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/othersports/369798_page2fill07.html |title=World Series of Poker top prize announced after registration |agency=Associated Press |date=2008-07-06 |author=Garcia, Oskar }}</ref> The WSOP 2009 rules added a new rule prohibiting wearing masks at the table. Laak played the first day of the Main Event of the ] incognito, in a ], wig, make-up, and costume. His disguise was reported thereafter by ] reporter Oskar Garcia.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Oskar |date=July 6, 2008 |title=World Series of Poker top prize announced after registration |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/othersports/369798_page2fill07.html |access-date=March 16, 2009 |website=SeattlePI.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> The WSOP 2009 rules added a new rule prohibiting wearing masks at the table.


On June 2nd-7th 2010, at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Laak set the world record in longest time spent playing poker in a single session. He halted at 115 hours. The previous official record, 72 hours and 2 minutes, was held by Larry Olmsted set at the Foxwood casino in 2004. Guinness allows one 5 minute break every hour, in which Laak could do whatever he wanted, and Laak could "bank" those 5 minute breaks into longer breaks if he played through. Laak banked several breaks to take a 30 minute nap (allowed), but he vows that he did not use caffeine or any stimulants. Playing $10/$20 No Limit Hold'em (with uncapped buyins), Laak finished up $6,766 and donated half of his winnings to charity. He did this for ], a charity that helps sick children enjoy summer camp. His feat was witnessed live on streaming video by over 130,000 people. <ref>{{cite web|last=Pempus |first=Brian |url=http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/9203-phil-laak-breaks-world-record/ |title=Phil Laak Breaks World Record |publisher=CardPlayer.com |date=2010-06-06 |accessdate=2010-09-30}}</ref> On June 2–7, 2010, at the ] in Las Vegas, Laak set the world record for the longest time spent playing poker in a single session. He halted at 115 hours. The previous official record, 72 hours and 2 minutes, was held by Larry Olmsted, set at the ] in 2004. Guinness allows one 5-minute break every hour, in which Laak could do whatever he wanted, and Laak could "bank" those 5-minute breaks into longer breaks if he played through. Laak banked several breaks to take a 30-minute nap (allowed), but he vows that he did not use caffeine or any stimulants. Playing $10/$20 No-Limit Hold'em (with uncapped buy-ins), Laak finished up $6,766 and donated half of his winnings to charity. He did this for Camp Sunshine, a charity that helps sick children enjoy summer camp. His feat was witnessed live on streaming video by over 130,000 people.<ref>{{cite web|last=Pempus |first=Brian |url=http://www.cardplayer.com/poker-news/9203-phil-laak-breaks-world-record/ |title=Phil Laak Breaks World Record |publisher=CardPlayer.com |date=June 6, 2010 |access-date=September 30, 2010}}</ref>


==Notes== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist}}


==External links== ==External links==
⚫ *
<!--======================== {{No more links}} ============================
⚫ *
| PLEASE BE CAUTIOUS IN ADDING MORE LINKS TO THIS ARTICLE. Misplaced Pages |
*
| is not a collection of links nor should it be used for advertising. |
*
| |
*
| Excessive or inappropriate links WILL BE DELETED. |
⚫ *
| See ] & ] for details. |
*
| |
| If there are already plentiful links, please propose additions or |
| replacements on this article's discussion page, or submit your link |
| to the relevant category at the Open Directory Project (dmoz.org) |
| and link back to that category using the {{dmoz}} template. |
======================= {{No more links}} =============================-->
⚫ *
⚫ *
⚫ *


{{2010s WSOP Bracelet Winners}} {{2010s WSOP Bracelet Winners}}


{{Authority control}}
{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see ]. -->

| NAME =Laak, Phil
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES =
| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
| DATE OF BIRTH =1964-09-08
| PLACE OF BIRTH =
| DATE OF DEATH =
| PLACE OF DEATH =
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laak, Phil}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Laak, Phil}}
] ]
] ]
] ]
⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
⚫ ]

]
]
]
]
]

Latest revision as of 12:39, 19 December 2024

Irish-born American poker player (born 1972)

Phil Laak
Laak in 2006
Nickname(s)The Unabomber
ResidenceLos Angeles, California, US
Born (1972-09-08) September 8, 1972 (age 52)
Dublin, Ireland
World Series of Poker
Bracelet(s)1
Final table(s)6
Money finish(es)21
Highest ITM
Main Event finish		412th, 2015
World Poker Tour
Title(s)1
Final table(s)4
Money finish(es)9
European Poker Tour
Title(s)None
Final table(s)None
Money finish(es)1
Information last updated on 16 July 2014.

Philip Courtney Laak (born September 8, 1972) is an Irish-American professional poker player and a poker commentator, now residing in Los Angeles, California. Laak holds a World Poker Tour (WPT) title, a World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet, and has appeared on numerous nationally aired television shows.

Early life

Laak was born in Dublin, Ireland, raised on the East Coast of the United States, and now lives in Los Angeles and Las Vegas. His family moved to Wellesley, Massachusetts, when he was four years old.

He graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst with a degree in mechanical engineering and worked in varying jobs prior to getting into open poker games in California. He is a former roommate of fellow professional poker player Antonio Esfandiari. Prior to moving to the west, Laak lived for several years in New York City where he honed his skills as a backgammon player before turning his focus to poker.

Poker career

Laak learned to play poker as a child. His first major tournament victory was at the World Poker Tour (WPT) Celebrity Invitational in February 2004. He has made two other WPT final tables since his victory: sixth place in both the season two Battle of Champions and the 2005 Five Diamond World Poker Classic.

At the 2005 World Series of Poker (WSOP), Laak finished second to Johnny Chan in the $2,500 pot limit hold 'em event. Laak defeated Ram Vaswani to win the inaugural William Hill Poker Grand Prix, taking home the £150,000 first prize. He has also competed in numerous Poker Royale series. Laak appeared on seasons two through seven of High Stakes Poker on GSN, and served as the dealer on the short-lived television series E! Hollywood Hold'em.

Laak was a winner of NBC's Poker After Dark, earning the weekly prize of $120,000. The tournament was titled "Phil Phil" because both Phil Laak and Phil Hellmuth were contenders. Apart from Laak and Hellmuth the table consisted of Doyle Brunson, Antonio Esfandiari, Jennifer Harman, and Erik Seidel. He again won $120,000 in the "Nicknames" episode, defeating Annette Obrestad, Mike Matusow, Antonio Esfandiari, Erick Lindgren and Phil Hellmuth.

At the 2007 conference of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence in Vancouver, British Columbia, Laak and fellow professional player Ali Eslami competed against, and beat, Polaris, a poker playing computer program developed at the University of Alberta, in two of the four rounds with the remaining rounds being a loss and a draw.

In 2008, Laak made a cameo appearance in the Knight Rider television movie, where he was credited as "Poker Pro".

Laak wrote a monthly column called "Being Phil Laak", in the poker-themed Bluff Magazine, from 2005 until the magazine folded in 2015. Laak co-hosted a show called I Bet You on the (MOJO network) with his friend Antonio Esfandiari, where they can be found betting on any and all things.

Laak also played in the 2009 Aussie Millions cash game Invitational.

In October 2009, Laak was crowned PartyPoker.com World Open V champion winning $250,000 in the process. He overcame a final table that included Luke 'FullFlush' Schwartz and Laak's long-term partner, actress and poker pro Jennifer Tilly.

On September 16, 2010, Laak won his first career WSOP bracelet by winning the £2,500 buy-in Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em championship at the 2010 World Series of Poker Europe. His win came after an accident involving an all-terrain vehicle in August, where he suffered a broken elbow amongst other injuries.

World Series of Poker bracelet
Year Tournament Prize
2010E £2,650 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em £170,802

An "E" following a year denotes bracelet(s) won at the World Series of Poker Europe

As of 2018, his total live tournament winnings exceed $3,650,000.

Nickname and personality

Jennifer Tilly and Phil Laak right after her win at the 2005 World Series of Poker $1,000 Ladies Only Event - No Limit Hold'em.

Laak became known widely in the poker scene as the "Unabomber" because of the hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses he wears at the table, making him resemble the forensic sketch of Theodore Kaczynski, who was known as the Unabomber. These items were given to him by fellow poker player Gus Hansen. Laak is also known for his unusual and inventive manner of speech. He coined the poker terms "felted", which means having lost all of one's chips (i.e. nothing left in front of the player except the table felt), as well as "upstuck", meaning being down from your high point of the session (i.e., if you won $15,000 and then lost $10,000 within the same session). He also coined the terms "POW" (Pay-off wizard), which he uses in a self-mocking fashion (i.e. one who pays off big bets on the river), and "Cherry bomb", which refers to large, ultimately unsuccessful bets.

He is currently dating actress and 2005 $1,000 buy-in Ladies no-limit Texas hold 'em champion poker player Jennifer Tilly.

Laak played the first day of the Main Event of the 2008 World Series of Poker incognito, in a latex mask, wig, make-up, and costume. His disguise was reported thereafter by AP reporter Oskar Garcia. The WSOP 2009 rules added a new rule prohibiting wearing masks at the table.

On June 2–7, 2010, at the Bellagio in Las Vegas, Laak set the world record for the longest time spent playing poker in a single session. He halted at 115 hours. The previous official record, 72 hours and 2 minutes, was held by Larry Olmsted, set at the Foxwoods Resort Casino in 2004. Guinness allows one 5-minute break every hour, in which Laak could do whatever he wanted, and Laak could "bank" those 5-minute breaks into longer breaks if he played through. Laak banked several breaks to take a 30-minute nap (allowed), but he vows that he did not use caffeine or any stimulants. Playing $10/$20 No-Limit Hold'em (with uncapped buy-ins), Laak finished up $6,766 and donated half of his winnings to charity. He did this for Camp Sunshine, a charity that helps sick children enjoy summer camp. His feat was witnessed live on streaming video by over 130,000 people.

References

  1. "Phil Laak". World Poker Tour. Archived from the original on April 14, 2008. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  2. ^ "Phil Laak's profile on The Hendon Mob". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  3. "Phil Laak". IMDb. Retrieved April 24, 2008.
  4. Beggy, Carol (October 6, 2005). "No limits". The Boston Globe. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  5. "Phil Laak". PokerWorks.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  6. "World Poker Tour - WPT Invitational, Main Event - No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  7. "World Poker Tour Battle of Champions II, No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  8. "Fourth Annual Five Diamond World Poker Classic, Main Event - No Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  9. "36th World Series of Poker - WSOP 2005, Pot Limit Hold'em". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  10. "William Hill Poker Grand Prix, No Limit Hold'em - Grand Final". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  11. Pajich, Bob (August 9, 2006). "GSN Renews High Stakes Poker". CardPlayer.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  12. "Poker After Dark (PAD) Season I, Week 5 - Phil Phil". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  13. "Poker After Dark (PAD) Season VI, Week 2 - Nicknames". The Hendon Mob Poker Database. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  14. ""Knight Rider" Knight Rider (TV Episode 2008)" – via www.imdb.com.
  15. "Being Phil Laak by Phil Laak | Bluff Magazine October-2005". Bluffmagazine.com. Archived from the original on July 21, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  16. "2009 Aussie Millions". Pokernews.com. January 26, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  17. "Phil Laak is crowned PartyPoker.com World Open V Champion". Blog.PartyPoker.com. October 16, 2009. Archived from the original on October 19, 2009. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  18. Peters, Donnie (September 16, 2010). "2010 WSOPE Event #1, Day 3: Phil Laak Wins First Bracelet!". PokerNews.com. Retrieved December 18, 2023.
  19. Rodriguez, Julio (August 6, 2010). "Poker Pro Phil Laak Hospitalized After ATV Accident". CardPlayer.com. Retrieved December 17, 2023.
  20. "Uher=playubt.com".
  21. "Pokerplayernewspaper.com". Pokerplayernewspaper.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2010.
  22. Garcia, Oskar (July 6, 2008). "World Series of Poker top prize announced after registration". SeattlePI.com. Associated Press. Retrieved March 16, 2009.
  23. Pempus, Brian (June 6, 2010). "Phil Laak Breaks World Record". CardPlayer.com. Retrieved September 30, 2010.

External links

2010s WSOP bracelet winners
Note: number in brackets represents the number of bracelets earned in that year
2010/
2010 E
2011/
2011 E
2012/
2012 E
2013/
2013 AP/
2013 E
2014/
2014 AP
2015/
2015 E
2016
2017/
2017 E
2018/
2018 E
2019/
2019 E
Categories: