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Emanuel Failla
Emanuel “Will” Failla, universally known by his moniker “Will the Thrill,” is a legendary American professional poker player and a fixture of the East Coast high-stakes scene. A World Poker Tour (WPT) champion and a frequent final tablist on the WSOP circuit, Failla is celebrated as much for his high-octane personality and “trash talk” as he is for his technical execution. With a career spanning over two decades, he has outlasted the “poker boom” era to remain a consistent force in the modern tournament landscape.
Career Earnings & Biggest Results
With total live tournament earnings surpassing $7,041,000 (according to The Hendon Mob), Emanuel Failla is a titan of New York poker. His career-defining live score of $758,085 was achieved with a victory in the 2011 WPT Legends of Poker Main Event. Failla has maintained an incredible pace through 2025 and early 2026, recently securing a runner-up finish in the 2025 Wynn Summer Classic $2,200 PLO for $105,483 and winning the Parx Big Stax XXXIV for $96,000. His immense consistency across the WPT and WSOP platforms contributes to an estimated poker net worth of over $8 million.
Major Tournament Results:
| Year | Event | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | WPT Legends of Poker Main Event (1st) | $758,085 |
| 2025 | Wynn Summer Classic $2,200 Pot-Limit Omaha (2nd) | $105,483 |
| 2025 | Parx Big Stax XXXIV 1500 (1st) | $96,000 |
| 2007 | Foxwoods Poker Classic $2,500 NLH (1st) | $208,000 |
Biography & Poker Background
Born in 1967 in Smithtown, New York , Emanuel Failla grew up in a competitive environment where card games were a staple. He earned his famous nickname “The Thrill” from a former girlfriend who noted his high-energy reactions after winning big hands, a persona that stuck as he transitioned into professional play. Failla’s breakout year came in 2007 with a massive win at Foxwoods, but it was his Season X performance on the WPT that made him a global star. Known for his deep love for his family, Failla often speaks about how his son is his primary motivation for grinding the live circuit. Today, he resides in Lake Ronkonkoma, NY, and remains one of the most beloved (and feared) personalities on the East Coast poker trail.
Play Style & Strategy
Failla is renowned for a “highly exploitative, high-variance, and psychological” play style. While he understands modern technical play, his greatest weapon is his ability to read people and use verbal cues to induce mistakes-a masterclass in “Speech Play.” His strategy often involves polarizing his range to force opponents into uncomfortable decisions for their entire stacks. He is a specialist in Pot-Limit Omaha and Mixed Games, as evidenced by his recent success in PLO championships. Strategically, Failla emphasizes the importance of mental toughness and the ability to “switch gears” instantly, moving from a conversational table presence to a relentless aggressor in a single hand.
Social Media & Online Presence
Want to follow “The Thrill” as he continues to chase another WPT title in 2026? You can find his profiles and stats here:
Video Highlights:
Derick Elomina is SoMuchPoker's Lead Content Writer and Interview Specialist, reporting live from WSOP bracelet events and Asia Pacific poker festivals such as TMT, APT, RDPT and APL Jeju, alongside player features and interviews for the site's Stories section. He discovered poker at 14 playing home games with friends, and by 21 he had entered the industry as a field reporter, starting as a hand reporter before building his current role on the tournament floor.
