FIRST PLACE WORTH $207,968 TO
WILL 'THE THRILL' FAILLA!
The $5000 No-Limit Hold'em Championship of the 2007 Foxwoods Poker Classic
attracted 110 players who posted a total prize pool of $519,920. Ten players returned for the final table at noon on
Thursday and, after 6 hours of play (1 1/2 hours heads-up!), Will 'The Thrill' Failla of Commack, NY, was declared the
winner in a spirited match over Kathy Liebert. At his third final table of the 2007 FPC, 'The Thrill' claimed the
Championship trophy, commemorative jacket and $207,968!!
The table began slowly and it was over an hour before Chuck Kelley of Staunton, VA, was all-in and called by
Johnny Kincaid. Chuck had pocket 7's but Johnny turned over pocket A's; no aid from the board gave Chuck $12,998 for
10th place. Bill Burdick took a giant step from the short stack to eliminate two players in one hand. Allen Kessler of Las
Vegas, NV, was all-in with QJ after a 675 flop. Ray Lin, a resident of New York City, NY, said 'Let's gamble' and
called all-in with A9. Bill, with 48 in the big blind, had flopped a straight. Allen collected $14,297 for 9th place. Ray,
who had finished 10th in the $2000 No-Limit, took home 8th place money of $15,598.
Tom Dobrilovic was the first of 3 players eliminated by Will in quick succession. Tom was all-in with AQ but
Will had pocket Q's and Tom would return to West Nyack, NY, in 7th position with $17,197. Omaha, NE, resident,
Johnny Kincaid bet his last 100K on A10 but Will had pocket 8's and an 8 on the flop gave him a set. Will filled on the
turn and Johnny was in 6th place good for $23,397. Finally, Jim Shortall pushed in with KQ after a raise by Will. Will
immediately called with his pocket A's; an A on the flop sealed Jim's fate as he would return home to Pelham, NH, with
5th place money of $28,595. Kathy Liebert broke Will's string when she called Amnon Filippi's all-in with AK. Amnon,
a resident of New York City, NY, had pocket J's but a K on the flop would leave him in 4th place with $37,694.
With three players remaining, Will had a slight chip advantage over Kathy with Bill Burdick bringing up the
rear. Bill had been the short stack of the final table and did well to elevate himself to 3rd place. Bill had lost a good
portion of his stack to Kathy when his A6 lost to her AJ. He rebuilt his position somewhat when his pocket A's covered
Will's A8. Will again had A8 when Bill pushed all-in with KJ; Bill had the edge after a J72 flop but an A on the river sent
Bill home to St Petersburg, FL, with $57,192.
Heads up play began with Will 'The Thrill' holding a 2 1/2 times chip advantage over Kathy Liebert, a resident
of Las Vegas, NV. Kathy cut into Will's stack when she doubled up from 300K with A8 to A4. She was finally all-in
with K2 after a 932 flop; Will called with AcQc and, with two clubs on the flop and the Kc on the turn, Kathy was the 2nd
place winner of $103,984!
After a 9th place in the $600 Shoot-out and a 4th in the $2000 No-Limit, Will 'The Thrill' Failla was the
Champion of the 2007 FPC $5000 No-Limit and the winner of $207,968!!
- Jeffrey A Toth |
