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Upcoming on ClubWPT: WPT Borgata Poker Open Satellite (Sunday, July 7 @ 4:00PM ET)
| Earnings | $102,800 |
| Cashes | 1 |
| Final Tables | 1 |
| Titles | 0 |
| Tournaments Played | 1 |
Est. Current Chipcount
Est. Average Chipcount
22,710,000
Current Chipleader
-
Day 2
282,500
Day 3
1,082,000
Day 4
2,190,000
Day 5
5th
Level 37: 250,000-500,000, 50,000 ante
As Will “The Thrill” Failla’s rail of friends will tell you, you can’t stop destiny. And at this first televised final table of Season X, you certainly couldn’t stop Failla. The East Coast grinder came into the final table with the chip lead, got low on chips early, and rallied back to win his first WPT title with a performance that can be summed up in one word: thrilling.
It only took a single orbit of play at the Legends of Poker final table for Failla to lose the chip lead after dropping a pot to Joshua Pollock. He bled some more chips in a hand where he flopped trip queens to Jeff Vertes’ full house, but somehow managed to avoid the catastrophe that tends to come with flopping a monster when your opponent flops a bigger one.
Failla jumped back to the top of the counts when he eliminated Owais Ahmed in sixth place. The California poker pro moved all-in from the small blind with J
7 and Failla called out of the big blind with A
5
. Failla’s hand held and Ahmed was the first player to hit the rail. Adam Aronson would take some of Failla’s chips off his hands when he doubled thru him, but he would be the next player to head home for the night. The short stack at the table, Aronson moved all-in with 66 only to run into Jeff Vertes’ A
A. Aronson hit the 863 flop hard, but Vertes backdoored a winning flush as the turn brought the 7 and the river the 9 to eliminate Aronson in fifth.
Fourth place honors went to Pollock, who busted out when his flush draw couldn’t get there against Ken Aldridge’s top pair after they got it all-in on an AK4 flop. That hand propelled the man known as “Teach” up the counts, while Pollock made an abrupt exit.
Failla took a chunk out of Aldridge’s bounty when his 66 held up against Aldridge’s 910 after an all-in preflop confrontation, and Failla doubled again when his A5 got lucky against Vertes’ A9. When the flop paired up Failla, his rail began to cheer, “You can’t stop destiny.”
After a long stretch of three handed play, Vertes and Failla would clash again in a similar situation, this time with Vertes getting it all-in for his tournament life holding a dominating AQ to Failla’s AJ. Again, destiny seemed to be on Failla’s side as the AJ10 board gave him two pair, which held up to send Vertes home in a disappointing third place exit.
Busting Vertes gave Failla a slight chip advantage over Aldridge going into heads-up play and Aldridge willingly admitted that he was just an amateur compared to his opponent. The affable Teach assured the cameras that they had both already won. Even though there was still money and a title on the line, the smiles on both players’ faces attested to that fact.
Aldridge drew first blood heads-up, raking in a nearly 10 million-chip pot to take the chip lead, but there was a sudden reversal of fortune that swung all the momentum in Failla’s direction. After a raise from Aldridge preflop, he two saw a flop of J52. Failla checked, Aldridge bet 500,000, and Failla called. Once the turn brought the 9, Failla checked a second time. Aldridge bet 2 million and, again, Failla called. After the 7 came on the river, Failla bet out 4 million and Aldridge quickly moved all-in. Failla called in a flash, tabling 68 for a flush that bested Aldridge’s overpair, AA.
Left with just six big blinds after the hand, it took just minutes for Aldridge to call all-in for the last of his chips. Unforunately for him, his 46 was dominated by Failla’sJ6. The board ran out clean for Failla, who threw his hands skyward, elated to be the latest WPT Champion.
Failla told Mike Sexton that the win was one of the greatest moments of his life, second only to the birth of his son. In addition to the $758,085, Failla earned the recognition and respect that come with being a WPT title holder. Even though Failla has been on the grind for years, his moment in the WPT spotlight got him a little choked up. After years of hard work and perseverance, Failla finally showed the world that you can’t stop destiny and you most certainly can’t stop the man known as The Thrill.
Here are the results from the final table of the Legends of Poker Main Event:
1st: Will Failla - $758,,085
2nd: Ken Aldridge - $365,800
3rd: Jeff Vertes - $186,400
4th: Joshua Pollock - $128,500
5th: Adam Aronson - $102,800
6th: Owais Ahmed - $77,100
Level 33: 100,000-200,000, 25,000 ante
Adam Aronson moves all in from the button for 1,675,000, and Jeff Vertes vertes quickly calls from the big blind with AA. Aronson turns over 66, and he'll need to improve to stay alive.
There is a six in the window as the flop comes 863, giving Aronson the lead with a set of sixes. Someone in the Vertes section yells, "Show us an ace!" Another person calmly says, "Any heart will do."
The turn card is -- the 7. Vertes picks up a flush draw, and he'll win with any ace or any heart but the three of hearts.
The river card is -- the 9!
Vertes reclaims the victory with a runner-runner ace-high heart flush to eliminate Adam Aronson in fifth place.
Seat 1. Joshua Pollock - 6,625,000
Seat 3. Will Failla - 3,425,000
Seat 4. Adam Aronson - Out in 5th Place ($102,800)
Seat 5. Ken Aldridge - 6,750,000
Seat 6. Jeff Vertes - 6,925,000
Level 31: 60,000-120,000, 20,000 ante
Will Failla raises from the cutoff to 300,000, Adam Aronson moves all in from the button for 1,595,000, and Failla calls with KQ. Aronson turns over AK, and he's a dominant favorite to double up here.
The board comes A6572, and Aronson wins the pot with a pair of aces to double up in chips.
Adam Aronson - 3,470,000
Full chip counts may not be available until after the next break, which should be soon. We apologize for the inconvenience.
Level 30: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante
By BJ Nemeth
With everyone already in the money and a slowly increasing payout structure, the key goal for Day 4 was to make the final table. There were 21 players battling for just six seats at Tuesday's televised final table.
Here's a look at some highlights from Day 4:
During one of the breaks, Will "The Thrill" Failla (left) chats with Dwyte Pilgrim (center) and Keith Kozar -- both of whom finished in the money the day before.
James Carroll (right) faces a big bet of 500,000 from Jeff Vertes on a board of J945. Carroll would eventually fold, asking Vertes if he was bluffing. Vertes showed AA.
Christina Lindley was the last woman standing, but couldn't hold on to her short stack long enough to reach the final table. Lindley was eliminated in 15th place when she got it all in preflop with AK against the JJ of Joshua Pollock.
Shawn Buchanan was the last remaining WPT winner in the field, until he found himself all in preflop with A10 against the QQ of Joshua Pollock (far left). The board came Q84710, and Pollock won with a set of queens to eliminate Buchanan in 13th place. (Buchanan can be seen walking off to the right.)
Andy Whetstone is one of the most successful ClubWPT.com qualifiers in WPT history, reaching the televised final table at the 2011 WPT Hollywood Poker Open and earning $62,041 for his fifth-place finish. Whetstone was in Los Angeles on Monday, and couldn't resist checking out a WPT tournament in progress.
Tyler Cornell made a deep run in last year's WPT Legends of Poker, finishing 11th to barely miss the final table. This year, Cornell had deja vu -- once again, he was eliminated in 11th place. Cornell got it all in preflop with AQ, but ran into the KK of Joshua Pollock.
Joshua Pollock has already been mentioned several times for eliminating key players. As you'll soon see, he put their chips to good use.
After Tyler Cornell's elimination in 11th place, the final 10 players combined to a single table. In seat order, they are (1) David Daneshgar, (2) Joshua Pollock, (3) Owais Ahmed, (4) Will Failla, (5) Adam Aronson, (6) Matt Kay, (7) Ray Henson, (8) Ken Aldridge, (9) James Carroll, (10) Jeff Vertes.
Everyone at the table watches Matt Kay (far right) as he is all in preflop with AQ and facing elimination against the KK of Joshua Pollock. (There's that name again; Pollock is on the far left.) The board would come J105210, teasing Kay with a flush draw, but the pocket kings held up. Matt Kay was eliminated in 10th place.
David Daneshgar (standing, left) found himself as the short stack in a three-way all-in situation with 77 against the 88 of Joshua Pollock (standing, center) and the QQ of Owais Ahmed (standing, right).
This time, Pollock didn't get the kill. Ahmed's pocket queens held up on the board of J103K4 to win the entire pot and eliminate David Daneshgar in ninth place.
James Carroll (right) five-bets all in against Ray Henson (left). But Henson had the best of it, with KK to Carroll's JJ. The pocket kings would hold up, doubling Henson's chip stack.
Will Failla (left) folds to the all-in bet from Adam Aronson on a board of 6325.
Ken "Teach" Aldridge (left) faces an all-in bet from James Carroll with eight players remaining. Aldridge tanked for several minutes on his decision, talking and joking along the way, though he eventually folded.
Joshua Pollock (left) looks fearless as he stares down Adam Aronson after Pollock bet half the pot on a flop of K64. Aronson thought for a while before he folded, and Pollock showed AA.
James Carroll (center) carefully studies Jeff Vertes (right) after a big preflop reraise. Ken Aldridge (left) considered his options for a while in the big blind, but Carroll seemed primarily concerned with Vertes. When Aldridge eventually folded, Carroll forfeited his cards as well.
James Carroll was eliminated a short while later when he moved all in for 12 big blinds with A3, but ran into the AJ of Jeff Vertes.
Aces vs. kings has been a recurring theme on Days 3 and 4, and the victim this time was Ray Henson, who watched as Ken Aldridge doubled through his kings with pocket aces.
Ray Henson moved all in after a flop of J32 with J10 (pair of jacks), but was dominated by Joshua Pollock's KJ (pair of jacks, higher kicker). Henson received a reprieve when the last two cards came 22 to give them both identical full houses to chop the pot.
In Hand #190 at the final 10-handed table, shortly after 3:30 am, Ray Henson (seated, center left) moved all in with A6, but ran into the dominating AK of Jeff Vertes (seated, right). The board came A728Q, and Vertes won the final pot of the night with his king kicker.
Ray Henson was eliminated on the TV bubble, earning $64,250 for his seventh-place finish. The final six players verified their chip counts, filled out WPT bio sheets, and made their arrangements for Tuesday's televised final table.
Will Failla is a well-known player on the tournament circuit, with a larger-than-life personality. This will be Failla's first televised WPT final table, and he'll be starting play as the big chipleader.
Here are the official chip counts for the televised WPT final table:
Seat 1. Joshua Pollock - 5,315,000 (53 BBs)
Seat 2. Owais Ahmed - 1,720,000 (17 BBs)
Seat 3. Will Failla - 6,770,000 (67 BBs)
Seat 4. Adam Aronson - 2,190,000 (21 BBs)
Seat 5. Ken Aldridge - 3,640,000 (36 BBs)
Seat 6. Jeff Vertes - 4,085,000 (40 BBs)
The televised WPT final table begins Tuesday at 4:00 pm PT, and live-streaming will be available over the internet (with hole cards) on a 30-minute delay.
As always, we will be providing our complete hand-for-hand coverage, with every check, bet, call, raise, and fold, along with updated chip counts after every hand. Only at WPT.com.
Level 30: 50,000-100,000, 10,000 ante
Here are the official chip counts for tomorrow's televised WPT final table, with 28:23 left in Level 30 (50,000-100,000 with a 10,000 ante):
Seat 1. Joshua Pollock - 5,315,000 (53 BBs)
Seat 2. Owais Ahmed - 1,720,000 (17 BBs)
Seat 3. Will Failla - 6,770,000 (67 BBs)
Seat 4. Adam Aronson - 2,190,000 (21 BBs)
Seat 5. Ken Aldridge - 3,640,000 (36 BBs)
Seat 6. Jeff Vertes - 4,085,000 (40 BBs)
Return to WPT.com tomorrow morning (Tuesday) for a photo recap of today's highlights and another episode of "The Jess & BJ Show."
The televised WPT final table is scheduled to start at 4:00 pm PT, and we'll be providing complete hand-for-hand coverage with chip counts updated after every hand. For the first time in WPT history, there will also be a semi-live webcast of the final table on a 30-minute delay -- with hole cards.
Level 27: 25,000-50,000, 5,000 ante
Hand #55 - Adam Aronson raises to 90,000 from middle position, Ray Henson calls, and James Carroll raises to 280,000 from the cutoff. Aronson reraises all-in, having both Henson and Carroll covered. Henson thinks for a while and folds. Carroll calls all-in for 1,455,000 total.
Carroll shows AA and Aronson turns over KK. The board runs out 622107 and Carroll's aces hold to give him the big pot and the double up.
James Carroll - 3,200,000 (80 BBs)
Adam Aronson - 1,960,000 (49 BBs)
Level 26: 20,000-40,000, 5,000 ante
Hand #30 - Joshua Pollock raises from late position to 95,000, and Adam Aronson calls from the small blind. The flop comes 542, Aronson checks, Pollock bets 120,000, and Aronson calls.
The turn card is the Q, Aronson checks, Pollock bets 295,000, and Aronson calls.
The river card pairs the board with the 5, Aronson checks, Pollock bets 650,000, and Aronson calls. Pollock shows A2 for two pair, fives and deuces, but Adam Aronson turns over JJ to win the pot with a higher two pair, jacks and fives.
Level 25: 15,000-30,000, 5,000 ante
All of the chip counts have just been updated in the chip count tab.
With 11 players remaining, here is a look at the top five...
Jeff Vertes - 3,550,000
Joshua Pollock - 3,250,000
James Carroll - 2,850,000
Will Failla - 2,650,000
Adam Aronson - 1,900,000
Level 25: 15,000-30,000, 5,000 ante
Adam Aronson raises to 65,000 on the button and Will Failla calls out of the big blind. Both players check the A65 flop. The turn brings the J and Failla bets out 50,000. Aronson raises, making it 125,000 to play, and Failla calls.
The river is the 5 and Failla bets 250,000. Aronson thinks for a bit, before reluctantly folding A6 face-up.
Will Failla - 2,775,000 (93 BBs)
Adam Aronson - 1,700,000 (57 BBs)
Level 25: 15,000-30,000, 5,000 ante
All of the chip counts have just been updated in the chip count tab.
With 11 players remaining, here is a look at the top five...
Jeff Vertes - 3,760,000
Joshua Pollock - 3,100,000
Will Failla - 2,600,000
Ken Aldridge - 2,100,000
Adam Aronson - 2,000,000
Recent Eliminations...
12th. Richard McGee - $29,555
