Will Failla “"The Thrill"“

Total Winnings
$1,053,836

If you hear a loud voice with a thick New York accent anywhere near a major poker event, it is probably safe to assume it belongs to Will “The Thrill” Failla. The quintessential East Coast grinder, Failla has been making his presence known in poker rooms all over the world since 2005. A consistent performer, Failla racked up numerous cashes, including ten on the WPT. His reputation encompasses more than just poker though. He is a skilled trash talker and an even more accomplished athlete. His racquetball skills are especially noteworthy, just ask WPT host and tennis stud Vince Van Patten, who couldn’t best Failla in multiple games despite being spotted nine and ten points.

The Thrill’s off the felt talents often garner a lot of attention, but it was his work on the felt in Season X that took center stage. After some close calls, including a 15^th place finish at the Season IX WPT World Championship, Failla made his first WPT final table at the Legends of Poker Main Event at the Bicycle Casino. Failla came in with the chip lead and came out with the title thanks to a dominating final table performance. The victory gave Failla a career-high score of $758,085 and a thrill that he ranks second only to the birth of his son as the greatest moment of his life.

Failla is a long way off from retiring though, so he could very well notch another WPT win to rival his impressive Legends victory. Failla was one of the hottest players on the circuit in 2011,winning over $250,000 at one of the biggest side events of the PokerStars Caribbean Adventure, cashing five times at the WSOP, including one final table appearance, making a deep run in the Partouche Poker Tour Cannes event, and coming up just short of a second WPT final table appearance at the Borgata Poker Open. In other words, expect Failla to keep thrilling for years to come.