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.

Read More
8 years ago93,124BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

WPT - S02E01 - Legends of Poker - Part 1 of 6

The World Poker Tour presents the Legends of Poker live from Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, California. This $5k buy-in event feat...

8 years ago54,886BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Poker Night in America S02 Ep17

Brand new Poker Night in America! Episode 17 of season 2. Minimum buy-in is $5000, Maximum buy-in is $20,000. Cash game blinds of ...

8 years ago11,956BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Esfandiari berates Phil Laak on poker night

Antonio berates his old-school poker buddy Phil Laak during a cash game episode of poker night in America.

8 years ago14,466BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Phil Laak, Maria Ho and Dan O'Brien - Big Cash Hand

Big cash pot played during an episode of Poker Night in America between Phil Laak, Maria Ho and Dan O'Brien.

8 years ago7,764BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Phil Laak Makes Strong Move vs Mercier

Jason Mercier put to a test by Phil Laak on the river, but it doesn't take Jason long to put the pieces together

8 years ago3,561BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Jen Tilly not Happy After Losing a Hand

Jennifer Tilly gets moved off the best hand by Tobias Reinkemeier and proceeds to berate Phil Laak

8 years ago26,817BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Underground Poker Show (High Quality)

Underground Poker show by Discover Channel, featuring Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari

8 years ago35,143BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Underground Poker Show

Underground Poker show by Discover Channel, featuring Phil Laak and Antonio Esfandiari

8 years ago7,851BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Phil Laak vs Tom Dwan - Bluffing Games

Tom 'durrrr' Dwan pulling a sick river move against Phil Laak

8 years ago8,334BestPokerVids,

Published 8 years ago

Phil Laak vs Johnny Chan - Cooler Time

Phil Laak and Johnny Chan playing a cooler hand

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.