If you had asked poker pro Phil Laak last week, where he’d most likely be today, he probably would have said either still celebrating his English Poker Open Main Event win- the event he was deep in at the time- or celebrating his partner in crime Jennifer Tilly’s birthday- also on the 16th- but even the often overly optimistic young Laak probably wouldn’t have expected the answer to be still sitting at the table of Event #1 of the World Series of Poker Europe, behind all the chips, a new WSOP bracelet, and a first prize worth ₤170,802- about $267,000 USD.

Despite an encouraging chip stack, Laak wasn’t able to win that earlier English Poker Open event- min-cashing instead for about $10,500- nor was he able to close the deal on the Partouche Poker Tour main event a week and a half earlier- cashing in that one for about $66,000- but apparently his third September deep run was the charm, fighting his way through a star-studded field of 244 entrants, including a tough final table that held both David Peters and local favorite Chris Bjorin, to earn his first ever career WSOP bracelet. 

Interestingly enough, this was also Laak’s third try at a WSOP final table, coming in ninth in the $10,000 Pot-Limit Hold ‘em World Championship event in 2008, and 2nd- to Johnny Chan- in another Pot-Limit Hold ‘em event in 2005, before winning today’s final table.

The final table finish positions for the 2010 WSOP Europe, ₤2,650 buy-in, Six-Handed No-Limit Hold ‘em, were as follows:

1st.  Phil Laak- ₤170,802

2nd.  Andrew Pantling- ₤105,506

3rd.  Chris Bjorin- ₤70,473

4th.  David Peters- ₤48,202

5th.  Ilan Rouah- ₤33,617

6th.  Willie Tann- ₤23,900

For more details on Event #1 of the 2010 WSOP Europe, or to follow highlights from Event #2, already underway and featuring- an arguably degenerate- Phil Laak going for seconds, visit www.wsop.com- powered by PokerNews.