Phil Laak is also known as 'The Unabomber'. He was born on September 8^th, 1972, in Dublin, Ireland. He is a professional poker player, and now lives in San Francisco, California. The correct pronunciation of his surname is 'lock'.

Laak spent most of his childhood in Wellesley Massachusetts, he went to the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he obtained a degree in mechanical engineering. Before taking up professional poker he had several jobs, including work as an engineer, a repo man, and a real estate investor. 

Laak has enjoyed a lot of success in World Poker Tour tournaments – having six money finishes, and several final table appearances. He won the World Poker Tour Celebrity Invitational in 2004.

He has been less successful with the World Series of Poker – he has managed six money finishes, but his best event score was in the 2005 World Series of Poker, where he came second to Johnny Chan in the $2,500 pot limit hold 'em event. He has yet to win a WSOP bracelet.

Laak has made several television appearances – having appeared on series two, three and four of the GSN show High Stakes Poker. He also served as the dealer on the E! Television series Hollywood Hold'em.

He won the weekly prize on NBC's Poker After Dark in the tournament 'Phil Phil', where he played against Phill Hellmuth, Doyle Brunson, Antonio Esfandiara, Erik Seidel, and Jennifer Harman.

He currently stars in 'I Bet on You' – a Mojo HD TV star where he and Antonio Esfandiara make challenges and bets on a variety of subjects.

Laak is always aiming to improve his game – he says that he tries to learn from '...anyone and everyone – from the POWS (Pay off Wizards) to the GWIDS (Genius Wizards in Disguises) there is something to learn all the time. Sometimes it may come in the form of what NOT to do, but I am always trying to develop my skills.'.

Laak loves the competition aspect of tournament poker, and believes that playing well is more important than winning or losing – he believes it is more important to be constantly improving your game than it is to be caught up in the outcome of one particular hand.

He is known as 'The Unabomber' because of his preference for wearing a hooded sweatshirt and pair of sunglasses at the poker table, making him look similar to the forensic sketch of the Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski. The sweatshirt he most often wears was given to him by fellow player Gus Hansen.

Away from the poker table, Laak writes a monthly column for the poker magazine 'Bluff'. He also works with the webcomic 'Life's A Bluff' as a creative consultant. He will be appearing in a spinoff comic entitle 'Laak and Loaded'.

Laak's total tournament winnings up to the end of 2007 were more than $1,200,000.