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
Phil Laak Poker StylePhil Laak certainly has a very distinct fashion sense
Published 9 years ago
Esfandiari and Laak Pro Analysis 3Good analysis of an interesting WSOP hand between Velador and Keranen
Published 9 years ago
Poker Night in America - Laak Running a BluffPhil Laak going after a pot really strong
Published 9 years ago
Bad Beat - Laak vs Seed (drama on the river)Bad Beat - Laak vs Seed (drama on the river)
Published 9 years ago
Phil Laak Makes a Non-Standard Shove vs MercierPhil Laak tries to take Jason Mercier to the value town
Published 9 years ago
Tom Dwan Makes Big Overbet Bluff vs LaakTom Dwan with an unorthodox river line vs Phil Laak
Published 9 years ago
Being Durrrr - Phil Laak Pays Off Huge VauebetPhil Laak facing a huge river overbet by Tom Dwan
Published 9 years ago
Phil Laak Reveals His Hand on the TurnPhil Laak tries an optimistic bluff against four people, then reveals his hand
Published 9 years ago
Phil Laak in a Talkative MoodPhil Laak talking away in a hand vs Vanessa Selbst
Published 9 years ago
The Best of Phil LaakThe best and funniest moments of Phil Laak
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