The enigmatic Phil Laak rose to prominence during the post-2003 Moneymaker frenzy, when televised poker flooded the networks, and bigger-than-life personalities often mattered as much as bracelets and seven-figure scores.
In recent years, Laak orchestrated a self-imposed ‘Howard Hughes’ disappearing act and has been largely absent from the poker world, leaving the game noticeably less entertaining.
But... He’s baaaaaaack! Watch our exclusive interview above, or read on for more.
Don’t call it a comeback
If you blinked while doom-scrolling on Poker X, you may have missed Laak’s seemingly Rip Van Winkle-like awakening after five years off social media.
The timing couldn’t have been better to cap off one of the most compelling years in poker, as Phenom Poker posted a major announcement this week, setting social media abuzz and formally cementing Laak’s return to the poker land of the living.
Phil Laak has officially become a Phenom Poker Pro and ambassador, joining their team of legendary superstars, which includes Brian Rast, Huck Seed, Viktor Blom, Dan Cates, and other acclaimed professionals.
For newbies to the pokerverse, Laak was the shrewd class clown gleefully distracting players and entertaining fans, whether it be doing pushups during a WSOP heads-up battle with the intimidating Johnny Chan or joyfully dragging pots away from good friend and partner in prop-bet crime, 2012 'Big One for One Drop' champion, Antonio Esfandiari.
Laak would go on to win his first bracelet at the 2010 WSOP Europe, the same year he set the Guinness World Record for the longest poker session, for an insane total of 115 hours at the Bellagio Casino, Las Vegas.
So, why the disappearing act?
Almost as quickly as Laak appeared on the poker scene twenty years ago, he all but disappeared from televised poker and social media during the spring of 2019.
“There was about a five-year period of time where I played very little poker,” says Laak. “Then, at the end of the COVID closures, I felt very satisfied that I had attacked my whiteboard. I was very organized. And then I thought to myself, ‘That’s so not you.’
“What did I want to do now? All the casinos were open again. I couldn't shake the idea that I needed to play more poker. I just love it too much.”
Last year, Laak took down the Legends of Poker $560 Mega Millions XXVII for $380,050; the rush of tournament poker pulled him back into the game.
The tournament win at the Bike was a new career high.After years away from the spotlight, Laak’s appearances were blips on the radar, a stark contrast to the long run when he was a quirky, beloved character in poker’s cultural lexicon.
“I'm bad with time, even though I'm a time scientist. Maybe it's been so much time in ‘The Time Machine’ that when I come back to my own timeline, I kind of lose track.
“If you really love poker, you realize a tiny part of you might be masochistic. There's something about losing; it doesn't hurt you in the traditional sense. But you use it as if the suffering will help you grow.
“You can also get philosophical about poker if you are winning. But it's best not to get too heady about a win, or you might clip yourself in the next session.
“Perhaps we are all a little bit sadistic because of those two things we weave into poker. My thoughts are that you have to try to keep an equanimity. Because poker is the perfect place to build and work on your Buddha self.”
And along came Jennifer
During Laak’s rise in the early 2000s, he believed deeply in the power of visualization.
Twenty-one years ago, it paid off when Academy Award–nominated actress Jennifer Tilly walked into his life at the Commerce Casino in Los Angeles. Life hasn’t looked the same for Laak since.
“I remember reading one of those books like The Secret and realizing you have to visualize what you want in life: ‘Okay, what I want is a girl who understands gambling, and is cool with me gambling whenever I want. She also has her own stuff going on and is successful in what she's doing’.
“I envisioned the impossible picture of this hypothetical person. Then, of course, I did nothing to try and manifest it. Then one day, Jennifer Tilly walked into the Commerce Casino during the World Poker Tour Invitational.
“I was like, ‘Wait! Who? Wow’. And then one thing led to another, and we started dating.”
Jennifer Tilly and Phil Laak are one of poker's best-known couples.Laak is the relaxed yin to Tilly’s outgoing yang.
“Jennifer keeps going and going and obviously has interminable stamina. She's in a relationship. There's her work in film and television. Then her work with charity, poker, and her social media stuff.
“Where there’s plenty of time when I'm literally reading a book in the garden, going for a walk, taking a long swim, then sitting in the hot tub. I'll burn through three hours of relaxation time, no problem. Jennifer doesn't have that button in her.
“I've gotten lucky by having Jennifer in my life because being loved and being in love is the greatest feeling. That's like a drug. She loves me. That feeling of being loved crushes all other metrics. Jennifer is magic. She is not just sweet with me, but a magical angel with everybody all the time.”
Since his relationship with Tilly began, Laak has sharply cut back on late-night gambling.
“Because of her I go to bed at a normal time every night because I look forward to our cuddle time before I fall asleep. I don't want to miss that because I'm gambling or playing a video game.”
What next?
Will we see more of Laak’s trademark mischief and entertainment next year?
The answer appears to be a resounding yes.
“I look forward to playing on the Phenom Poker site. I’m not going to be a regular super-degen online logging 400 hours a week but I’m definitely planning on playing one or two days a week.
“I also want to do the festivals that are nearby Los Angeles and occasionally the nice ones that are further away.”
Poker fans can watch Laak on the Bally Poker Live cash game stream, where he’s now a regular each week at the Commerce Casino.
“I have become slowly addicted to the livestream thing where you can see the very next day what everyone had. To me, that's amazing. I love playing on streams due to that aspect.”
Laak couldn’t contain the excitement about working with Phenom Poker and wanted to drop a ‘truth bomb’ for his fans.
“This is not for me to say, so I won’t. But here’s the tease. Phenom Poker has a very, very, very cool announcement coming. Super fly stuff indeed. They will be sharing it soon.
"What else? There’s always something. But you know, time science and all, we gotta keep it moving.”
You can follow Laak on X, and join him at the tables at Phenom Poker. Sign up with Phil's code - 'LUCK' - to get a 200% matched deposit up to $4,000 USDT (regular sign-ups get 150% up to $3,000 USDT).
