Nationality
Irish-American
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Born (date and place of birth)
September 8, 1972 in Dublin, Ireland
Residence (current location)
Los Angeles, California, USA
Education (institution, specialization)
Degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst
Year started playing poker
Early 2000s, professional career started around 2000–2001
Age when started playing
Approximately 28 years old
Year turned professional
Approximately 2000-2001
First major win (amount, tournament, year)
2004 World Poker Tour (WPT) Invitational, first place
First important tournament
Early career tournaments in California cash games and live tournament circuits, notable early WPT appearances by 2004
Main motivation for turning pro
Pursuit of freedom, enjoyment, and optimizing a balance between fun, freedom, and fulfillment
Poker education (courses, coaches)
Self-taught with extensive study and practical experience; contributed monthly poker column “Being Phil Laak” in Bluff Magazine from 2005 to 2015
Total live tournament winnings
Over $3.8 million in live tournament earnings reported as of 2024
Number of tournament wins
Multiple tournament wins including WPT Invitational 2004, 2010 WSOP Europe Six-Handed event, and 2024 Mega Millions XXVII at Bicycle Casino
Number of final tables
Numerous final table appearances including WPT and WSOP events
Largest tournament win (amount, tournament, year)
$380,245 from winning Mega Millions XXVII at the Parkwest Bicycle Casino in 2024
WSOP bracelets (number)
1 (2010 World Series of Poker Europe Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em)
WSOP cashes (number)
Over 20 cash finishes in WSOP events
WSOP final tables
Multiple WSOP final table appearances including 2010 WSOPE win
Super high roller results ($100K+)
Participated in One Drop High Roller in 2013 (19th place)
Online tournament winnings
Significant online tournament play with notable finishes including 6th place in 2010 PartyPoker Premier League IV online event
Main cash game limits
Known for playing high stakes cash games including high-limit No-Limit Hold’em
Highest stakes played
Participated in high stakes cash games and notable record for longest cash game session (115 hours)
Notable high stakes sessions
Guinness World Record for longest poker session in 2010 (115 hours continuous play)
"Big Game" participation
Frequent participant on televised Big Game sessions on Poker After Dark, High Stakes Poker
Main discipline (Hold'em, Omaha, Mixed games)
No-Limit Hold’em
Format specialization (tournaments/cash/online/live)
Live and online tournaments, cash games, and mixed games including Omaha variants
Preferred table size (6-max, full ring, heads-up)
Prefers six-handed No-Limit Hold’em format
Known formats (NLHE, PLO, HORSE, others)
No-Limit Hold’em, Pot-Limit Omaha, Mixed games including Badugi and PLO8
Specialization limits
High stakes cash game limits and tournament buy-ins ranging from mid to high buy-in levels
Online rooms where plays
PartyPoker, WSOP.com
Favorite casinos/locations
Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, Aria, Bellagio, Venetian
Style characterization (TAG, LAG, nitty, aggressive)
Unconventional, loose-aggressive, psychological with wild bluffs and emotional control
Known for bluffs/traps
Known for daring and unpredictable bluffing strategies
Mathematical or intuitive approach
Combination of mathematical and intuitive strategies adapting to opponents
Style adaptability
Highly adaptable to different game conditions and opponents
Playing strengths
Psychological gameplay, endurance, unorthodox strategies, game theory understanding
GTO strategy usage
Uses Game Theory Optimal concepts combined with unconventional plays
Poker software usage
Uses poker analysis and training software for strategic improvements
Television appearances (list of shows with specific episodes/dates)
Regular on Poker After Dark (multiple seasons), High Stakes Poker (seasons including 12), PartyPoker TV shows, cameo in Knight Rider (2008)
High Stakes Poker participation (seasons/episodes)
Yes, multiple seasons including high stakes sessions
Poker After Dark appearances (episodes/dates)
Yes, seen in many episodes across all six seasons
Major publication interviews (publication names, article titles, links)
Multiple interviews on PokerTube, PokerNews, and other poker media outlets
YouTube channel (name, subscriber count, link)
Phil Laak poker related content and interviews available on poker channels
Posting frequency in social media
Occasional poker and personal life updates on social media
Type of content in social media
Poker strategy, personal insights, poker lifestyle, prop bets and challenges
Current sponsors (company names, deal details if public)
PartyPoker (historical), other endorsements related to poker and entertainment
Sponsorship contract history (previous sponsors, dates)
PartyPoker.com sponsorship during mid-2000s to 2010s
Poker site ambassadorship (site names, contract details)
PartyPoker.com ambassador
Educational materials (book titles with ISBN, course names with platforms, video series titles with links)
Monthly Bluff Magazine column 2005-2015; other video appearances on training sites
Poker publication articles (publication names, article titles, publication dates, links)
Bluff Magazine "Being Phil Laak" monthly column (2005-2015)
Magazine columns (magazine names, column titles, frequency)
Bluff Magazine monthly column "Being Phil Laak"
Poker community criticism (specific criticisms, responses)
Some criticism regarding perceived overrating and lifestyle vs. poker skills
Response to criticism (statements, actions taken)
Defends style and approach emphasizing fun, freedom, and balance in poker life
Peer recognition (specific recognitions, award details)
Respected for endurance and unique style, known as a poker personality icon
Special achievements (achievement descriptions, recognition details)
Guinness World Record for longest poker session played (115 hours)
Records associated with name (record descriptions, verification)
Guinness World Record for longest continuous poker session
Contribution to poker development (specific contributions, recognition)
Popularized endurance poker, contributed to poker media and education
Legacy in poker world (specific legacy aspects, community impact)
Known as one of poker's most colorful and enduring personalities with a legacy of blending poker skill and entertainment
Industry influence (specific influences, changes attributed)
Helped shape poker television and online poker communities with unique persona and media presence
WSOP (World Series of Poker) - all events all years
2025 | USA | World Series of Poker | Las Vegas | $10,000 No-Limit Hold'em Main Event | 10000 | 1385 | $15,000 | ||||
EPT (European Poker Tour) - all seasons
2010 | UK | World Series of Poker Europe | London | £2,650 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | 2650 | 1 | £170,802 | ||||
WSOP Europe
2010 | UK | World Series of Poker Europe | London | £2,650 Six-Handed No-Limit Hold’em | 2650 | 1 | £170,802 | ||||
WSOP Circuit events
2025 | USA | WSOP Circuit Los Angeles | Los Angeles | $1,700 No-Limit Hold’em | 1700 | 6 | $67,514 | ||||
Aussie Millions
2009 | Australia | Aussie Millions Invitational | Melbourne | Cash Game Invitational | | | | ||||
Bicycle Casino tournaments
2024 | USA | Legends of Poker Mega Millions XXVII | Parkwest Bicycle Casino | No-Limit Hold'em | 560 | 1 | $380,245 | ||||
Poker After Dark
Multiple appearances 2005–2015
High Stakes Poker
Multiple seasons including season 12
Live cash game sessions (documented)
Numerous documented high stakes sessions including Bicycle Casino and Aria
High Stakes cash games
Documented participation in high stakes cash games on Poker After Dark and Big Game
Casino cash game sessions
Documented sessions at Bicycle Casino, Aria, Venetian
Mixed game cash sessions
Plays mixed cash games including PLO and other variants
Other platform results
nationality: Irish-American
Provided commentary for major tournaments including WSOP coverage and PartyPoker events