Failla Becomes First U.S. Player to Win
Tiffany & Co.® Champions Award
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Bell Gardens, CA (August 31, 2011) – Will “The Thrill” Failla bested a field of 757 to capture World Poker Tour®’s Legends of Poker from The Bicycle Casino, the first domestic Tour stop of Season X. Poker fans from around the world watched on WPT Live Streaming as Failla won $758,085, earned a place in history, a Tiffany & Co.® Champions Award and will have his name engraved on the new Champions Cup.
Tournament Announcer Ali Nejad called the final table from the new interactive set as VIPs, former WPT champions and selected audience members mingled with the Royal Flush Girls™ and watched the action from the new Royal Flush Girls Social Bar.
Will “The Thrill” Failla had a breakthrough tournament, making his first TV final table. The New York poker pro has been playing for more than 20 years including 45 WPT events and entered the final day as chip leader. After falling low on chips early, Failla rallied back to capture the coveted WPT title with a thrilling performance.
Ken Aldridge, a retired teacher from North Carolina, came into the final table fourth in chips. By the time action was down to three players, he had built a sizeable chip lead, more than doubling his next closest competitor. However in the end, Aldridge fell short to Failla and finished second for $365,800.
For the first time, poker fans were able to see every hand of the final table live, as WPT Live Streaming debuted shortly after championship action kicked off. Hosted by Tony Dunst, alongside a team of guest analysts, WPT Live Streaming offers play-by-play commentary, analysis and instant chip counts. Every U.S. and European Tour stop in Season X can be seen at www.worldpokertour.com.*
The Tiffany & Co.® Champions award is a sterling silver, WPT-engraved card protector and one of the new innovations added for Season X as part of a WPT initiative to honor player achievements. With his victory, Failla gets his name on the Champions Cup, a towering, perpetual trophy engraved with the name of every WPT champion and event they won, and will take home a smaller replica version of the trophy. Failla also earns membership in the new WPT Champions Club, offering exclusive benefits, a WPT personal concierge and VIP treatment at WPT events.
Next up, World Poker Tour travels to Paris for Grand Prix de Paris from the Aviation Club de France, beginning September 5.
Final Standings
1. Will Failla $758,085
2. Ken Aldridge $365,800
3. Jeff Vertes $186,400
4. Joshua Pollock $128,500
5. Adam Aronson $102,800
6. Owais Ahmed $77,100
*Pending approval from relevant regulatory bodies in each casino property’s jurisdiction.
Media contact: press@worldpokertour.com
About World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour (WPT) is one of the most recognized names in internationally televised gaming and entertainment with brand presence in land-based tournaments, television, online and mobile. Leading innovation in the sport of poker since 2002, WPT ignited the global poker boom with the creation of a unique television show based on a series of high stakes poker tournaments. WPT has broadcast globally in over 150 countries and territories and is currently airing the ninth season on FSN in the United States. Season X of WPT is sponsored by ClubWPT.com, a unique online membership site that offers inside access to WPT as well as a sweepstakes-based poker club and is available in 35 states across the U.S. WPT participates in strategic brand license, partnership and sponsorship opportunities. WPT is a subsidiary of bwin.party digital entertainment plc.
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