Gambler Phil Laak Breaks Record for the Longest Consecutive Amount of Time Playing Poker

In the end, it may not have been the yoga or the low-fat diet or the frequent visits from his movie-star girlfriend that helped Phil Laak barrel past every known record for the longest consecutive amount of time playing poker.

After more than 100 hours at the table at Bellagio, Laak says his saving grace was, uh, talcum powder.

"About every four or five hours, when I take a bathroom break, I do a quick submarine shower, change my T-shirt and powder my butt and the underside of my legs," Laak said to AOL News. "Any place where my body mass is pressing against the chair, I put powder on. Otherwise, it adds up."These are the sorts of things that maybe you don't consider before you set out to play No-Limit Texas Hold 'Em nonstop for three or four days, but it made a difference to Laak as he tried to make it into the Guinness World Records.

The authorities for Guinness won't certify Laak's effort for months, but the poker world clearly embraced this attempt as a legitimate effort to eclipse both the Guinness record of 72 hours, 2 minutes set in 2004 by Larry Olmsted as well as an unofficial one of 78 hour, 45 minute set last year by London pro Paul Zimbler. Laak's staff video-recorded the entire effort, which was live-streamed online for fans around the world. Laak also was writing on Twitter and on his blog about the endeavor.

After passing Zimbler's mark around 7 p.m. Pacific on Saturday, Laak said he planned to try to set the new record at 90 hours. By midday Sunday, he had blown past that mark and kept at it --- with no end in sight except that he has said he hopes to play to a prime number. "100 in reach -- pacing things -- I am having stellar time," he tweeted at Hour No. 94. ...

via Gambler Phil Laak Breaks Record for the Longest Consecutive Amount of Time Playing Poker - AOL News.