Poker Tales - The Magician and The Unabomber
Poker masters, best friends, millionaires and mad men
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.
Official Website
Unabomber Poker: Phil LaakWikipedia
Phil LaakWorld Series Of Poker
Phil LaakWorld Poker Tour
Phil LaakPublished 9 years ago
New Show - 'Underground Poker' with Laak and EsfandiariNew upcoming poker TV show called 'Underground Poker' debuts this week on the Discovery Channel. The show features Antonio Esfandi...
Published 11 years ago
PartyPoker Big Game IV - David Viffer vs Phil LaakAt the PartyPoker Big Game IV we saw David Viffer go up against Phil Laak. Everyone watching thought that Viffer had it or did he?...
Published 8 years ago
PartyPoker World Open - Big Hand KK vs QQ vs 1010 vs 58A big hand with some great laydowns in the Party Poker World Open from 2010. Featuring Phil Laak, Philipp Gruissem, John Tabatabai...
Published 9 years ago
Patrik Antonius Makes Sick River Call Against Phil LaakPhil Laak trying to pull off a big bluff against Patrik Antonious but it blows up in his face
Published 15 years ago
Phil LaakAmanda Leatherman chats with Phil Laak after hes had a few drinks. They chat about yummy drinks and what he would do if he only ha...
Published 14 years ago
Phil Laak & Neil Channing - PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo 2009Interview with Phil Unabomber Laak & Neil Channing at PokerStars EPT Monte Carlo 2009.
Published 9 years ago
Phil Laak Almost Pulls the TriggerPhil Laak wants to go for a bluff against Negreanu, but thinks better of it - correctly
Published 9 years ago
Phil Laak Baffled by Tom DwanPhil Laak is facing a huge river raise from Tom Dwan
Published 8 years ago
Phil Laak Doing His Thing vs Luke SchwartzPhil Laak annoying the hell out of Luke Schwartz
Published 15 years ago
Phil Laak Gets His Feet Out For AmandaPhil explains why he removed his socks at the table in the $10K Pot-Limit Holdem event. 2008 WSOP.
Poker masters, best friends, millionaires and mad men
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
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