The WSOP Win

Mike Takayama is the first home-grown Filipino to ever win a WSOP bracelet. but it was not an easy road. 

Here is what he had to say on the matter. 

First time ko sa WSOP nuon, di ko nga ineexpect yung panalo na yun.unang una gusto ko na magive up nun, pumunta kami ng wife ko. first time ng wife ko sa WSOP,  binasag ko na nga cellphone ko nun eh. sabi ko tara uwi na tayo. eh pinuntahan ko ni Marc Rivera at Boyet Drilon. o saan ka pupunta.  prang ganun. sabi ko uuwi na ako gusto ko na umuwi. sabi nila anong nangyayari sa yo. kung kailangan mo ng pera. kaya nga kami nandidito eh. para magtulung tulungan tayo eh. sabing ganun ni Marc River at ni boyet. sabi ko gusto ko ng umuwi. e chineck ng asawa ko magkano pamasahe. 3,000 (USD) isa. eh pera na lang namin nasa 2,000 plus nagdecide ako sige di na ako uuwi. pumunta ako ng Aria nung araw na yun. nagchampion ako. parang 172 players. nag champion ako parang 10,000 USD. sa pera natin tapos kinabukasan nung nagchampion nga ako yung bracelet event, napanalunan ko yung bounty.

• it was my first time at the WSOP. I really did not expect to win. at first, I wanted to give up. It was also her first time at the WSOP. I even broke my phone already due to the bad run. I told her. let go home. Marc Rivera and Boyet Drilon visited me. where I was going. I told them I wanted to go home. They asked me directly what was I thinking. If i need help with money. that is why we are here with you. so all of us can help each other. I told them I wanted to go home. My wife checked how much did it cost to fly back home. it cost around 3,000 USD but I only had 2000 USD. So I made up my mind not to go home and instead I went to Aria and bag the tournament that day. I was the champion against 172 players. I think I made like 10,000 USD. and then the next day I won the bracelet event. 

How did it feel?

Shempre ang sarap talaga ng pakiramdam ko. unang una ang hirap talaga makakuha ng ganun. kahit sino talagang mahirap. kasi libo libo players sa America, 

• of course, it was really great deep inside. First, because it is really hard to win it. Anyone will find a hard time because there are thousands of players in America to join that event. 

The journey now

Although, Mike has won a bracelet. it is not a fun and easy road. We ask him about his recent adventure in the USA. 

Sa totoo lang di sya naging madali. nung una may baon ako 4,000 something. pumunta ako ulit nung September 17, may baon ako nun mga 4,000 eh. mga 2 days lang ako sa LA tapos parang. may dinaan ako sa San Diego na parang poker club din. nagdecide na ako pumunta ng Las Vegas, may pera pa ako mga 2,500 something. dun ako nakipagsapalaran. may kaibigan naman ako dun. tapos yun nga nalagay ako sa talo. natitira na lang, may kasama akong Filipino duon din. tapos pinagbutihan ko talaga. galing nga eh. mabuti nga nagsurvive kami maski papaano. mga 3 months kami duon. meron nga inabot kami mga 4 days 3 days ang pera na lang namin 30 dollars.

• The truth is it was not that easy. at first, I had only 4,000 USD. I just went back last September. I had pocket money of only 4,000 USD. I spent 2 days in Las Vegas. With only 2,500 left. I decided that I would take my chances in Las Vegas. I also had a Filipino companion. this time I really put in my best effort. Even I was amazed, it was good that we survived. We were there for 3 months. there were days I only had 30 USD.

Where did you guys sleep?

Yung sa Rio kasi parang libre yung hotel ko dun. sa sobrang dami kong kaibigan. yung libreng hotel binibigay nila sa akin parang ganun. tapos pag expired na yung room lilipat kami sa kaibigan namin makikutlog kami. yun lang para masurvive lang.

• I was able to get free rooms at the Rio, I had many friends there. The free hotels stay was given to us. If it expires. We would stay at a friend’s house. Just to survive. 

You still found it hard even if you are the biggest champion in the Philippines and had to take more risk in the USA?

oo ganun talaga eh, nalulon nga kasi sa online sabong. duon nga ako nabroke kaya. sabi ko wala. sabi ko wala walang mapapala dito. buti nga mababait yung mga napagkautangan ko kasi. kasi di ba kahit papaano respeto din. yun nga di ako pinopost pinakiusapan ko din naman para ano lang. alam naman nilang kaya kong magrecover kahit papaano. dumating na nga sa point nagiisip ako magpakamtay na ako. kasi wala ng kaibigan. sabi ko bakit ganun. sobrang hirap pala. ang hirap hanapin sarili mo sa ibang tao. yung ginagawa mong kabutihan. ganun. yung pala pag walang wala ka na. wala ka ng aasahin din. 

• It can be helped, I was hooked on online cockfighting and lost a lot of money. I understood the opportunities here were getting scarce. (The Philippines were still in some form of quarantine measures and poker rooms could not operate regularly). It was good that the people that I owe money to are kind. At least they still gave me respect and did not turn it into a post-scandal. of course, I did ask them and they knew I would recover somehow. There were times I did think of committing suicide. I lost a lot of friends. I ask myself, why is it? it is difficult to find yourself with other people. The goodness I shared with others. When you have nothing. You also have nothing to expect as well. 

As a poker player. there are swings. what would you say about that? 

Aba dapat shempre, lakasan dapat ng loob. lakasan lang dapat nila loob nila. wag isipin nila yung bagay na makakapagstress. para sa akin laban lang. kung ano man pagsubok na nangyayari. dapat. laging positive ang isip. 

• of course, you have to have a strong will. You have to be braver inside. Do not think of things that would stress you. for me just fight. No matter what trials that come in your life. Always think positive. 

Any last word for our readers. anybody you want to say thank you?

unanang una. magpapsalamat ko sa wife ko.sa family ko, kasi maski anong pagsubok na dumating sa buhay. ayun na nga nabaon ako sa sugal dahil sa sabong. pero andyan pa din sila para sa akin. kasi nga yung mga inaasahang kong kaibigan nagtatago. eh wala eh, kaya nga sinabi ko di ko pwede mahanap sarili ko sa iba kasi di mo masasabi. tsaka nagpapasalamat din ako sa Metro Card Club. kila boss Ronald, boss Neil kasi dyan ako kasi nagsimula eh 

• First of all. I would like to say thank you to my family. Because no matter what hardship and trials came to my life, Yeah, I fell into debt due to online cockfighting. They are still there to support me. That is because the friends I was hoping to be there for me were not around. That is why I said that it is hard to find myself through other people. And definitely, I would like to say thank you to Metro Card Club, Especially to Boss Ronald and Boss Neil, Because they are the one who gave me the break. 

Author note

Pokercast Asia has been covering events for so many years. We sat on the sideline watching players winning events only to never see them again.

But Mike Takayama is different, as he has won multiple events and is the first homegrown Filipino to win a bracelet.

But watching and seeing Mike Takayama now, he is different from the past, he has matured.

• He has no bitterness towards friends who left him behind. He understands that it is part of life and is his road to take. 
• The way he plays now is more focused than he has ever been. The experiences he gained on the felt have definitely honed his skills to a higher level.
• He has a goal and is determined to achieve it. You could see now that taking care of his family is also a priority.

Mike Takayama now is not yet the best version of what he can be. He is a better version of himself but he is still growing. 

We would not be surprised that one day we would hear that a homegrown Filipino has finally succeeded in winning the main event of the WSOP.

And it could possibly be the Man we have the pleasure of interviewing.

We patiently wait for that day.

Stay safe poker playas