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Phil Laak, famously known as the “Unabomber,” is an Irish-American professional poker player and a cornerstone of the 2000s poker boom. A World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet winner and World Poker Tour (WPT) title holder, he is celebrated for his eccentric table antics and a Guinness World Record-setting endurance session.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
Phil Laak has amassed $4,461,034 in total live tournament earnings (according to The Hendon Mob), placing him in the top 300 of the United States All Time Money List. His career-best score of $380,245 came from a victory in the 2024 Bicycle Casino $560 NLH event, surpassing a 14-year title drought. Other landmark results include his first WSOP bracelet win at the 2010 WSOP Europe £2,650 Six-Handed NLH for $263,494 and winning the 2004 WPT Celebrity Invitational for $100,000. His consistent presence on televised high-stakes shows and cash games has fueled an estimated net worth of approximately $20 million.
Biography & Poker Background
Born in Dublin, Ireland, and raised on the U.S. East Coast, Laak earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst before working various jobs, including as a repo man and day trader. He entered the poker world via the underground clubs of New York City in 1999, eventually moving to California where he became lifelong friends and roommates with Antonio Esfandiari. Laak’s relationship with actress and poker player Jennifer Tilly has also made him a staple of both poker and mainstream celebrity circles.
Play Style & Strategy
Laak is characterized by an “unconventional and imaginative” play style that emphasizes psychological warfare and technical creativity. His strategy often involves disarming opponents with “mad scientist” antics – such as performing push-ups at the table or wearing elaborate disguises to mask tells – which originally earned him the “Unabomber” moniker for his trademark hoodie-and-sunglasses look. Beyond the showmanship, he possesses elite endurance, evidenced by his 2010 world record for the longest continuous poker session (115 hours). He is also credited with coining popular poker terms like “felted” and “upstuck”.
Social Media & Online Presence
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