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10.16.09 - Facing a talented final table, poker pro Phil 'Unabomber' Laak triumphed in the fifth edition of the Party Poker World Open in London Thursday night. But Laak's last opponent was not one of the big names - Austrian online qualifier Jan Veit was the man he had to beat to win the trophy and the $250 000 main prize. 
Veit, an experienced tournament player with eight cashes to his credit, took out three of the final table players and put up a good fight in the heads up, but Laak's massive chip advantage and talented play ultimately saw him off.
The $10 000 buy-in event generated a prizepool of $480 000. Opposing Laak and Veit on the final table were Ambassador of Poker and most recent addition to the Poker Hall of Fame, Mike Sexton and newly signed Party Poker.com pro Bodo Sbrzesny, along with Irish pro Andy Black, actress and poker ace Jennifer Tilly and Luke Schwartz.
Laak was a slow starter, losing almost half his 300 000 chips starting stack, but a big pot against Schwartz put him back on track.
Laak was responsible for the first elimination from the table, sending Andy Black to the rail, soon to be followed by Mike Sexton, Jennifer Tilly, Bodo Sbreszny (all taken down by Veit) and Luke Schwartz, leaving Veit and Laak to settle the matter.
“This was a wild roller coaster ride and I am proud to have shared it with this amazing cast of characters. They were a tough bunch. Wow – what an honour,” said Laak.
Veit was happy with his runner-up finish and went home with $100 000. “With this line-up I would have been happy to get third,” said Veit, “I’m delighted.”
Among those who failed to make the final table were Tom ‘Durrrr’ Dwan, Yevgeniy Timoshenko, JP Kelly, Teddy Sheringham, Andrew Feldman, Roland De Wolfe Sammy George, Bruno Fitoussi, Antoine Saout, James Akenhead, Praz Bansi, Scott Fischman, Neil Channing, Roberto Romanello, defending World Open champion Marty Smyth and Liam Flood.
The 48 player field also included PartyPoker.com’s newly sponsored grassroots players Remy Biechel from France, Felipe ‘Mojave’ Ramos from Brazil and the UK’s Ian Frazer.
Danish journalist Johannes Nord Jorgensen, who secured his package by winning the recent PartyPoker.com in the Sky event in Copenhagen (see previous InfoPowa report) was also playing.
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