Phil Laak Wins WSOPE Opening Event

Irishman, Phil Laak has continued his excellent form this year by taking the opening event of the World Series of Poker Europe event at the Empire Casino in Leicester Square, London. 

Laak ousted 242 fellow poker players to lift his first WSOPE bracelet and take home £170,802 in the 2,500 buy-in, six-handed no limit Hold’em match. The final face off came against Canadian Andrew Pantling and proved to be a hard fought contest between the two players. 

Laak aka “The Unabomber” has had an excellent year so far coming 15th in the Partouche Poker Main Event and 18th in the English Poker Open. He won a World Poker Tour (WPT) bracelet in 2004 and now only needs to capture a European Poker Tour (EPT) title to become only the third, Triple Crown holder. This victory takes his poker career earnings so far to £1.6 million for live tournaments. 

Commenting a couple of days ago about the possibility of winning a WSOP event Laak said it held two special meanings to him. Firstly that he would have won more money than anyone else at the event and secondly it would stop Antonio Esfandiari teasing him. 

Apparently Esfandiari regularly asks Laak what it’s like to be with a girl who has a bracelet when he does not. This is in reference to his girlfriend, Oscar nominated actress, Jennifer Tilly having already a WSOP bracelet to her name.