Phil Laak

Phil Laak, 'The Unabomber' is a well known poker pro players. He is also known for his humor. Learn more about him here.

Phil Laak Biography

Highly recognisable at the table, almost always wearing his trademark hooded sweatshirt and sunglasses, ‘The Unabomber’ Phil Laak is widely regarded as one of the strongest cash-game players around. Laak’s now famous nickname was given to him due to the resemblance he bears when wearing these items to the forensic sketch of Theodore Kaczynski, who was then known as ‘The Unabomber.'

Born in Dublin in 1972 but relocating to Boston at an early age, Laak graduated from the University of Massachusetts with a degree in engineering. From there he went into many different jobs, including working as an engineer, a repo man, a gardener and a real estate investor. Laak also made a decent living as a world-class backgammon player, before discovering poker in 1999.

Despite being primarily known as a cash game player, Laak has also enjoyed success in tournament poker as well. Laak has won one World Poker Tour event and final-tabled three others, along with four World Series of Poker final tables, and a bracelet at the WSOP Europe in the £2,650 6-handed No-Limit Hold ‘em event which banked him £170,802.

Laak has proven to be a popular player on televised poker shows, known for his fun personality and table antics as much as his solid play. It is not uncommon to see Laak doing press-ups, standing behind the dealer for a first look at the board, or joking with the other players at the table.

Laak also currently co-hosts the TV show ‘I Bet You’ with fellow poker pro and best friend Antonio Esfandiari, with the two betting each other on almost anything. Laak is dating fellow pro and actress Jennifer Tilly, who credits her boyfriend with greatly improving her game.

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8 years ago7,310BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Sam Trickett Hitting Lightning vs Phil Laak

Sam Trickett finds his gin card on the turn and goes for max value against Phil Laak

8 years ago3,720BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Alec Torelli Pulling a Huge Bluff

Alec Torelli makes a big preflop bluff in a hand vs Sam Trickett, Jungleman and Phil Laak

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Phil Laak Special vs Liviu

Phil Laak pulls a sick bluff against Ignat Liviu

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Phil Laak Has Jungleman in Trouble

Phil Laak puts Dan 'Jungleman' Cates to a tough decision on the flop

8 years ago11,207BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Phil Laak Doing His Thing vs Luke Schwartz

Phil Laak annoying the hell out of Luke Schwartz

8 years ago82,019BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Poker Night in America S02 Ep11

New episode of Poker Night in America from Turning Stone Resort in Verona, New York. Formidable lineup including Phil Hellmuth, Li...

8 years ago8,270BestPokerVids,

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Phil Laak, Luke Schwartz and Two Pocket Pairs

Luke Schwartz playing a hand against Phil Laak (including a little needle by Laak on the showdown)

8 years ago9,446BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Jesse Sylvia Picks a Bad Time to Bluff Phil Laak

Jesse Sylvia fires three barrels on a dry board against Phil Laak

8 years ago11,315BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Shaun Deeb and Phil Laak Playing a Big Pot

Shaun Deeb going full speed against Phil Laak

8 years ago67,629BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Poker Night in America - Phils Tangling

Phil Laak trying a big bluff against Phil Hellmuth

Hilarious Tweets From The Poker Pros

​Since the US presidential campaign started, the Twitter Wars have gone to a whole new level. Most of the poker professionals in America joined the dispute.

Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari to Star in the 'Underground Poker' TV Show

Both Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari are great players and colorful characters in their own rights. But you put them together, and we are talking a whole new level of entertainment. All fans of high

Esfandiari And Laak Go Way Back

They’ve made many TV shows together and they’ve played against each other at countless poker tables, in a variety of environments, from the most dangerous underground poker venues to WSOP in Las Vegas and WPT across the USA.

Poker's Toughest Bluffs

The pros do it better, so let’s look at three well-executed bluffs featured in this very interesting 52 minute video.

Poker’s (Un)Happiest Couples!

Mercier and Barbour are far from being the first poker-pro marriage, so let’s look at some of the others and how pledging undying love worked out when the green felt was the common bond.

Poker Pros Top Movie and TV Shows Appearances

The big-name pros have also appeared in some less-expected films and TV shows

Kim Kardashian And Those Mirrored Sunglasses – She’s Not Alone!

Kim's far from the only one to don reflective eyewear at the table…

Phil Laak Punished On The River

Crazy hand from the recent Poker Night in America show featuring Phil Laak and David Silverman, with Phil Hellmuth being a surprisingly quiet participant given the action.

Live Poker Events, 9 years ago

Pokertube sit down with Phil "The Unabomber" Laak

When it comes to poker personalities, certainly one of the most fascinating is that of Phil "Unabomber" Laak. The 42 year old Dublin born pro has been around the circuti for quite a while, and has

Top 3 Funniest Players

In intense situations, people need to blow off steam. When there is great risk, humor and silliness act as a social defense mechanism.