Emanuel Failla

Emanuel Failla was born in 1967 in Smithtown, New York, where he grew up in a competitive environment that fostered his love for card games. He earned the nickname "Will the Thrill" from a former girlfriend who observed his high-energy reactions after winning big hands, a persona that stuck as he transitioned into professional poker. Failla began playing poker in the early 2000s, quickly establishing himself in the East Coast poker scene.

Failla's signature victory came in August 2011 when he won the World Poker Tour (WPT) Legends of Poker Main Event at the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles. He outlasted a field of 459 entrants to claim first place and $758,085, marking his largest live cash to date. This win propelled him into the spotlight and cemented his reputation as a formidable tournament player.

Beyond the WPT title, Failla has accumulated over $1.5 million in WPT earnings across 30 cashes and three final tables. Notable WPT performances include a 9th-place finish in the 2014 WPT Five Diamond World Poker Classic ($85,263), a 16th-place in the 2017 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Poker Finale ($41,421), and a 13th-place in the 2026 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Showdown ($46,000). He also cashed in the 2025 WPT Prime Championship at Wynn Las Vegas (218th, $4,940) and the 2026 WPT Showdown Championship (13th, $46,000).

In WSOP events, Failla has recorded over 75 cashes with total earnings exceeding $1 million. According to WSOP.com, he has three final tables and 36 lifetime WSOP cashes, including both live and Circuit events. His best WSOP finishes include:

• 2022 WSOP Event #5: $500 The Housewarming – 21st place ($28,100) out of 20,080 entrants
• 2022 WSOP Circuit Harrah's Pompano Beach Main Event: 3rd place ($93,528)
• 2021 WSOP Event #33: 8-Handed Deepstack – 15th place ($13,006)
• 2021 WSOP Main Event: 523rd place ($23,900)
• 2019 WSOP $888 Crazy Eights: 784th place ($2,015)
• 2025 WSOP Event #89: $3,000 Mid-Stakes Championship – 73rd place ($16,168)
• 2025 WSOP Event #75: $1,000 Mini Main Event – 269th place ($5,390)
• 2025 WSOP Event #69: $1,500 Seven Card Stud Hi-Lo – 90th place ($3,021)
• 2025 WSOP Event #80: $800 Summer Celebration – 864th place ($1,648)

Failla also cashed in the 2026 WSOP Circuit Championship ($1,700 Main Event) for $4,150 and has multiple deep runs in WSOP Circuit events in Atlantic City and Turning Stone.

Beyond the WPT and WSOP, Failla has a string of notable victories across different buy-in levels:

• 2011 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure: Event #13 No Limit Hold'em – 1st place ($241,950) from a field of 476
• 2007 Foxwoods Poker Classic: Event 10 $2,500 NLH – 1st place ($207,968)
• 2007 August $300,000 Guaranteed – 1st place ($218,805)
• 2025 Wynn Summer Classic: $2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha – 2nd place ($105,483)
• 2025 Parx Big Stax XXXIV: $1,500 NLH – 1st place ($96,000)

These wins demonstrate his versatility across formats and buy-in levels. Failla has maintained a strong pace through 2025 and 2026, with additional cashes in:

• 2026 Spring Poker Open: $500 Almighty Stack – 60th ($2,025)
• 2025 WPT Choctaw Championship: 62nd ($8,100)
• 2025 WPT Seminole Hard Rock Championship: 91st ($11,500)
• 2023 PokerGO Tour Wynn 6-Max: 16th ($7,767)
• 2022 PokerGO Tour Bellagio Five Diamond: 64th ($20,500)

Failla is known for a disciplined tight-aggressive (TAG) style, emphasizing hand selection and positional awareness. He avoids marginal spots in multi-table tournaments, leveraging post-flop skills to accumulate chips methodically. His approach focuses on exploiting opponents' mistakes rather than engaging in high-variance plays, reflecting a strong grasp of fundamentals and bankroll management. Off the table, Failla's high-energy personality and "trash talk" have made him a colorful figure on the East Coast circuit, earning him the enduring moniker "Will the Thrill."

With total live tournament earnings surpassing $7 million (according to The Hendon Mob), Emanuel Failla is a titan of New York poker. Combining his live scores with online and other poker-related income, his estimated poker net worth exceeds $8 million. He has survived the "poker boom" era to remain a consistent force in the modern tournament landscape, continuing to cash in major events through 2026. Failla's career serves as a testament to longevity and adaptability in the ever-evolving world of poker.