Awards and winnings. 

Mike Takayama has won multiple Poker tournaments over the years. but he is also the first Filipino in two other big things.

The first Filipino to ever become the Asia Player of the Year (APOY). He won it back in 2018.

He is also the first homegrown Filipino poker player to win a WSOP bracelet.

He is recognized as one of the top players of the Philippines and has topped the GPI many times. This year he is once again the number 1 for 2021.

but let us look deeper into his story. 

Coffee cups and Q’s

There have been many rumors on how he started playing and getting better at poker. but what better way to find out than ask the man himself?

We visited Mike Takayama lately and we ask him directly some questions.

One thing about Mike Takayama. He is a very modest man. We have seen him win multiple events and all. But he is one champion that still dresses as simple as possible.

We often see him in a hoodie, simple shorts, and caps. We have not seen him in any flashy outfit.

And yet when he enters a room. He is there to play the room’s biggest game anytime.

As we sat down, We started asking the questions.

There have been many rumors about how you started poker. There was one that you started out as a billiard player when billiard was hot and discovered poker. is this all true and can you tell us more?

Yes, actually sa bilyaran may napanood ako naglalaro ng poker tapos parang tiningnan ko, parang okay to ah parang may pera dito kako. ginawa ko parang nagdeal muna ako pinapanood ko may nagdedeal na bilyarista din. Naisip ko aba parang mas maganda kitaan dito kesa sa bilyar ah. trinry ko magdeal ang nakakatuwa pad deal na ako shempre yung tip iniipon ko tapos yung naging tip. ginawa ko parang naging player na ako. ako naman naglaro. sabi ko try ko nga to kahit di ako masyadong maruning. pero try ko. Natalo. yung isang kaibigan ko sabi ko ako na naman ulit magdedeal para makaipon ulit ako at maglaro ulit ako.

• Yes, actually I was in a billiard hall until I saw people playing poker. I said to myself. this is where the money is. at first, I tried dealing because there was a dealer that was also a billiard player. I thought about it and believed that playing poker has more income. I tried first dealing. It was fun as I save the tips and day I tried being a player. I tried it myself even if I really did not know the game. I still tried it, I lost. the dealer was my friend so I ask him if I could deal. and then start saving again and then play again.

Which poker room did you ever first play in?

May kaibigan ako si Jojo Bai. sinama ako sa Metro. una takot pa ako. sabi nya sige ako bahala.kabigan ko yung may-ari ng Metrowalk. SI Neil Arce, parang kadikit nya sabi nyang ganun. yun sinama ako dun

• I have a friend Jojo Bai, He brought me along to go to Metro Card Club. at first, I was hesitant. but my friend reassured me that he is friends with the owner of Metrowalk. Neil Arce. So I was convinced to join him. 

We also featured the Metro Card club for leading in safety measures. Click the photo to read more. 

• I tried to play, at first, I was getting dizzy because it was so hard to win. I told myself, I’m giving up. it is so hard to win. But I realized it was really hard to win at the small blinds. it was really difficult playing in the low blinds. 

What blinds were you playing?

10-20 lang nilalaro ko. nung pag angat ko sa 25-50 blinds dun na ako nagsimulang manalo. una nanginginig pa ako kasi parang malakihan na. (laughing)

• 10-20 PHP at first, when I went up to 25-50 then I started winning. At first, i was trembling because for me the blinds were big. 

Why do you love poker?

uhmmm. shempre unang una. mas malaki kita. kesa sa bilyar. kasi 8 years ako nagbibilyar di nga ako nakahawak ng 100k nung nagpopoker ako talagang. di naman sa pag aano. kumukita na din ng magaganda. nung nagpoker na ako nagchange career na ako. 

• First, because poker has more money compared to billiard. I spent 8 years playing billiards and I never won 100k. When I started playing poker. not bragging but I started earning. When i seriously started playing poker i shifted career. 

About the Metro

Metro Card Club is a poker room located in Ortigas Manila. It is inside the Metrowalk complex.  They have been home to a lot of the local pros. They have some of the biggest names in the local poker industry.

What would be your advice to new players based on your own experience?

Oo, dapat subukan nila. ako naman di naman ako madamot magpayo kung kailangan nila. sa akin lang naman kasi Sa Metrowalk talaga ako nagsimula. kaya ang masasabi ko lang sa mga bagong gusto matuto at gumaling. sa Metro Card Club sila talaga. Sa Metro sila talaga magpractice, dun sila mahahasa. kasi everyday, actually nung walang lockdown talagang everyday my tournament duon, duon sila magpractice kung gusto talaga nila mahasa. 

• Yes, players, should try it. I’m not greedy about giving advice and helping players out. but for me. I really started in the Metro Card Club. So what I can advise new players to play at Metro Card Club. They should practice at the Metro. That is where they can sharpen their skills. actually before the pandemic. Every day there is a tournament at the Metro. that where they should practice and it is there where their skills can be sharpen.

Part 2

Part 2 will be released soon, Mike Takayama talked about his win in the WSOP. current life and the pandemic.

Stay tuned poker playas!