phillips has been a regular poker player since college. in may 2009, phillips placed 31st of 403 entrants in the 2009 california state poker championship limit texas hold 'em. he won $10,000 during the july 2009 world series of poker world championship no limit main event. he was eliminated as the original field of 6,494 was trimmed from 407 to 185. he entered the day in 114th place among the 407 and was eliminated on the final hand of the day finishing in 186th place and earning $36,626.