Phil Laak (Unabomber)

Phil Laak now lives in the United States (Los Angeles in California), but was born in Ireland, Dublin to be precise. He plays both poker tournaments and cash games. He is best known for having won a WSOP bracelet (European version) in No-Limit Texas Hold'em on the shorthanded tables (during the 2010 edition). On a personal level, he is also known for having dated actress (and poker player) Jennifer Tilly. In 2007, at a conference on advances in artificial intelligence, Laak beat the Polaris computer (developed by the University of Alberta) at Texas Hold'em.

Hence his nickname The Unabomber?

On a poker table, Phil Laak has his usual 'costume' of a black hoodie, bonnet on his head and sunglasses. In the opinion of many, this outfit makes him look like the famous, long-circulated sketch of Theodore Kaczynski, known as The Unabomber.

World record for longest session

Another interesting detail about Phil Laak's career is his world record set from 2 June 2010 to 7 June 2010, days during which he played the longest poker session ever recorded. During those days, Phil played a total of 115 hours of No-Limit Texas Hold'em with $10/$20 blinds. Although fatigue must have bothered him a little, he still managed to come out on top in this $6,766 session. Even in his sleep-deprived state, Phil Laak is still a formidable poker player! Part of this sum was donated to charity (Camp Sunshine, which helps sick children attend day camps).