 Phil
Laak,
also
known
as
the
Unabomber is
one
of
the
more
recognizable
players
in
televised
poker.
His
nick
was
given
to
him
for
his
signature
trait
mark
of
wearing
a
hoody
with
drawstrings
closed
and
sunglasses.
Laak
has
had
an
incredible
career
in
both
cash
games
and
tournaments,
with
his
first
big
win
in
the
2004
World
Poker
Tour
in
addition
to
3
other
final
table
finishes
in
the
WPT
and
a
second
place
finish
in
the
$2,500
Pot
Limit
Holdem
event
during
the
2005
WSOP,
where
he
was
overcome
by
Johnny
Chan.
He
originally
learned
how
to
play
poker
as
a
child
in
Dublin,
and
during
college
he met Antonio Esfandiari aka (The Magician). Both players made the move to
LA after graduation, where they began playing in tournaments together.
Laak
is
currently
in
a
relationship
with
Jennifer
Tilly,
whom
he
mentored
to
help her take down the women’s title in 2006. During the 2008 WSOP, Laak
showed up at his table dressed as a woman, with a wig, dress, and latex mask.
The only two players who knew who he was were Esfandiari and Tilly. He managed
to fool even the players seated at his table.
Other
accomplishments
for
Laak
include
1st
in the
William
Hill
Poker
Grand
Prix,
NBC’s
Poker
After
Dark,
and
9th
in the
2008
WSOP
$10,000
Pot
Limit
Holdem
Event.
He has
made
several
appearances
on High
Stakes
Poker
and
is rated
as one
of the
top
high
limit
cash
players,
seen
often
at the
Commerce
Casino,
Bellagio
and
The
Venetian
Total
winnings
exceed
$1.3
million |
