Hoping to Phil His Boots
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Despite his fame and fortune, we sometimes forget that Phil Laak has yet to get his mitts on a bracelet, and judging from his response throughout this tournament, its evident that he's perhaps more determined than anyone to wear bracelet gold.
His closest call came in 2005, when he famously finished second to Johnny Chan who was marking his tenth bracelet win. It was a day of mixed feelings for the Unabomber as partner Jennifer Tilly triumphed in the Ladies' event on the very same day.
Laak is sometimes regarded as a personality before a player, but his antics merely disguise a sharp poker mind. I doubt he feels any need to prove himself, but to those who know him for his press-ups and table-chatter, victory here would certainly make its mark.