Home / Poker News September 2010 / 2010 WSOPE - Phil Laak wins Event #1
2010 WSOPE - Phil Laak wins Event #1
Posted by: James Carter. - Fri, 2010-09-17 15:14
The first event of the 2010 WSOPE is in the books, and Phil Laak is a
WSOP bracelet and £170k richer. So far, 2010 has indeed shaped up as Laak’s year. He’s successfully set the new world record for the longest ever poker session (he clocked in at 115 hours), after which he pretty much broke himself into pieces in an ATV accident he had on an Oregon trip. Winning the WSOPE bracelet was probably just what the doctor had ordered for the Unabomber. He credited his 115-hour long poker session for his success, stating that the stunt had proved to be a truly cathartic experience for him, which not only made him a better poker player, but a better overall person too.
Laak had been doing well through the first two days of the
poker tournament, and he came into the final table third in chips. He had people like David Peters, Chris Bjorin and Willie Tann to steamroll on his way to the coveted bracelet, not to mention the massive chip lead that Andrew Pantling had over everyone.
Pantling’s day started put well too. He began by taking some chips off Laak, and then by drawing first blood: he was the one responsible for Willie Tann’s elimination in 6th place.
Pantling continued to dominate and to amass chips, but the next victim hit the rail courtesy of Phil Laak. Ilan Rouah was the one eliminated. Peters followed the Frenchman to the payout booth, setting up three-handed play. It took Laak and Pantling more than an hour to eject Chris Bjorin in 3rd. Pantling began the heads-up battle with a nice chip lead, but the toughened-up version of Phil Laak soon evened the odds. After some back and forth, Laak turned the tide with a timely double-up. It was all downhill for Pantling from there, and before long, Laak’s K,5o brought an end to the hostilities.
