Will Failla Wins Event No. 12 at the Caesars Palace Classic

The $1,000 no-limit hold’em heads-up tournament featured two days and seven rounds of action as 128 players played down to one champion. That champion was Will Failla, and he took home $30,730 in prize money after defeating Cody Slaubaugh 2-0 in their best of three heads-up showdown. Slaubaugh took home $18,394 for second place. The second day saw the elite eight return at 2 p.m. after they had won their matches in the round of 128, round of 64, round of 32, and sweet 16 during day 1 on Friday, Oct. 24. The elite eight also included Thomas Love, Alex Keating, Brett Brucaleri, and James Scott (who lost in the elite eight and won $3,725), and Steve Wong and Kevin Albers (who fell in the final four and won $7,450).

Full payout list for the top 32 players

NOTE: Erik Fast and Eric Tipton contributed to this report.

Here are all of the highlights from the final day as featured in CardPlayer.com’s live updates:

Elite Eight Begins

Play has gotten underway in the round of eight of the 12th event at the Caesars Palace Classic, the $1,000 heads-up no-limit hold'em. The players begin this round with 10,000 in chips and the winner of one match advancs. Here are the matchups:

Will Failla vs. Thomas Love

Winners will return to play each other in the final four

Steve Wong vs. Alex Keating

Brett Brucaleri vs. Cody Slaubaugh

Winners will return to play each other in the final four

Kevin Albers vs. James Scott

Kevin Albers Defeats James Scott

Kevin Albers had whittled James Scott down to roughly 2,500 in chips, about 25 big blinds at the current 50-100 blind levels. The two players got the money all-in preflop with Albers' A-3 offsuit ahead of Scott's K 4. The flop gave Albers a sweat, bringing the A 10 6, but the turn and river brought blanks and Alber's pair of aces were enough to send Scott to the rail. Scott took home $3,725 for his efforts.

Cody Slaubaugh Defeats Brett Brucaleri

Cody Slaubaugh bet enough to put Brett Brucaleri all-in on a flop of J J 6, sliding a stack of orange 1,000 chips toward the center of the table. Bucaleri thought it over with a pained look on his face before making the call with pocket tens. Slaubaugh quickly revealed the A K for two overs and the nut flush draw. Bucaleri was ahead, but with his tournament life on the line he had to dodge Slaubaugh's plethora of outs. The turn brought the 8, giving Slaubaugh the nut flush and leaving Bucaleri drawing dead. The meaningless 6 hit the river and Brucaleri was sent to the rail. He took home $3,725 for his deep run in this heads-up event.

Will Failla Defeats Thomas Love

Will "The Thrill" Failla limped from the button. Thomas Love raised to 800 and Failla called. The flop brought the 10 7 4. Love bet 1,100 and Failla called. The turn brought the 2 and Love quickly moved all-in for 3,000. Failla called instantly and revealed A 10 for top pair, top kicker. Love revealed the 8 7 for second pair. The river brought the 9 and Love's second pair failed to improve. Love will take home $3,725 for his deep run.

Steve Wong Defeats Alex Keating

Moments after winning a pot by calling a sizable river bet from Alex Keating with bottom pair,  K 2 on a A 3 2 83 board, Steve Wong limped on the button. 

Keating then moved in for around 5,200 and Wong called. Keating tabled 4 4 while Wong showed A 9. 

The board came A 2 3 Q 2 to give Wong a pair of aces and the match.

Keating will take home $3,725 for his finish.

Final Four Begins

Play has begun in the final four matches. Players start with 10,000 starting stacks and they will play a best-of-three series to determine who will advance to the final.

Will Failla vs. Steve Wong

Winners will return to play each other in the finals

Cody Slaubaugh vs. Kevin Albers

Will Failla Takes 1-0 Lead

Will Failla and Steve Wong have completed their first match: Failla made two pair on the river with K-9 while the short-stacked Wong made top pair (kings). Wong's kicker was lower than a 9, however, so the 9 on the river didn't make much of a difference in the hand.

Failla is now up 1-0 on Wong.

Cody Slaubaugh Takes a 1-0 Lead

On a flop of 10 7 2, Cody Slaubaugh bet 500, and Kevin Albers made the call. The turn was the Q. Both players checked. The river was the Q. Slaubaugh bet 1,375 and Albers raised to 3,000. Slaubaugh thought for a bit and eventually moved Albers all-in. Albers quickly called. Slaubaugh showed Q 9 for trip queens, which was ahead of Albers' A-10 (two pair).

Slaubaugh is now leading the match 1-0.

Cody Slaubaugh Advances to the Finals

After a pre-flop raise to 1,000 and a call, Kevin Albers and Cody Slaubaugh see a flop of 10 8 2. Albers moved in quickly, and Slaubaugh called. Albers showed J J, and is in a good spot to double up against Slaubaugh's 10 9.  The turn and river are the 7 and the J, however, and Slaubaugh makes a jack-high straight to advance to the finals. Albers received $7,450 for his finish.

Will Failla Advances to the Finals

Steve Wong was left shortstacked after calling a 2,000 river bet from Will Failla on a board of Q 7 6 8 4. Failla revealed the 6 5 for the straight and Wong frustratedly mucked. The very next hand, action picked up after a board of A Q 7 A rolled out. Failla checked and Wong bet 600. Failla quickly min-raised to 1,200, which prompted an instant all-in from Wong. Failla almost beat him into the pot, and both players revealed their hole cards. Wong flipped up 8 4 for a flush, but Failla rolled over K 5 for the nut flush. Wong was drawing dead, and neither player watched for the meaningless river card. Wong took home $7,450 for his deep run. Failla is moving on to the finals to play Cody Slaubaugh in the best-of-three final match, which will get underway in an hour.

Finals Begin

The Finals have begun. The players start with 10,000 starting stacks and they will play a best-of-three match to determine the champion that will walk away with $30,730 in prize money.

Will Failla vs. Cody Slaubaugh

Will Failla Wins Match One of the Finals

Will "The Thrill" Failla limped in from the button, and Cody Slaubaugh raised to 350. "Keep it low, dirty and nasty," said Failla as the dealer rolled out the 10 10 9. Both plyers checked and the turn broght the K. Slaugbaugh bet 500 and Failla called. The river brought the A and Slaubaugh quickly pushed in for 2,350. "Thats sick! That is a disaster!" After a moment Failla asked for a count, however, and eventually he made the call. Slaubaugh revealed the 7 6 for a complete bluff, and Failla's K J is enough to collect the pot and take down the first match, putting him up 1-0 in the final round.

Will Failla Take a Dominating Lead in the Second Finals Match

Cody Slaubaugh raised to 275 and Will Failla called. The flop came A 9 6. Failla check-called 425. The turn was the 3. Failla checked, Slaubaugh bet around 1,200, and Failla called. The river was the 5. Failla checked, Slaubaugh bet 2,800, leaving himself with not very many chips behind. Failla tanked and eventually called. Slaubaugh showed K 5 for a busted second-nut flush draw. Failla showed A J and took down a crucial pot.

Will Failla Wins Event No. 12 ($30,730)

After Will Failla limped in from the buttton, the shorstacked Cody Slaubaugh moved all-in preflop only to get snap called by Failla's A Q. Slaubaugh was behind with 10 9. The board ran out 8 5 3 10 4, giving Slaubaugh top pair and doubling him up to roughly 2,700.  

Shortly after that Failla raised to 300 preflop and Slaubaugh called from the blind. The flop brought the 7 5 4 and both players checked. The turn brought the K and Slaubaugh once again checked. Failla bet 400 and Slaubaugh called.  The river brought the 10 and Slaubaugh pushed all-in, only to once again get snap-called by Failla who quickly turned up the K K for top set. Slaubaugh slowly turned up the 10 7 for two pair. Failla won $30,730 and a commemorative watch. Slaubaugh took home $18,934 for his second-place finish.

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