WSOP 2018: Mike Takayama Wins Event #59 – $1,000 No-Limit Hold ‘em Super Turbo Bounty For $198,568, Madhav Gupta Scores

A single day event, the 2018 World Series of Poker (WSOP) Event #59: $1,000 No-Limit Hold ‘em Super Turbo Bounty saw participation from 2,065 runners and culminated with Filipino poker pro Mike Takayama (cover image) triumphing over the field to bag the top prize of $198,568 as well as the gold bracelet.

From the Indian contingent, Madhav Gupta entered the tournament and finished in 191^st place for $1,214 (~ ₹83,093). While Gupta has been more active in the domestic circuit, his first trip to Vegas for WSOP was in 2017 when he finished 834^th in the $365 NLHE The Giant for $1,115 (~ ₹76,316).

The event kicked off with players receiving 5,000 starting chips and the blind were 25/0, with each level being of 20 minutes. Such was the structure of the tournament that players who braved it through the levels ended up with favorable stacks. Takayama as expected was quite frequent with his all-in announcements.

“I’m very happy with how I played and it is everyone’s dream to win a bracelet,” Takayama said. There were two crucial hands where he was all in with very few outs. He still managed to hit the cards he needed to win!

“Two suck out hands then I kept building and building. I am now the first Filipino to ever win a bracelet,” he added.

Many prominent players were seen in the field, including Phil Laak, Phil Hellmuth and Scott Davies, Mohsin Charania, but all of them hit the rail short of the money.

There were many familiar and seasoned faces who took home a piece of the prize money but missed the final table and this included Michael Moore (24^th for $6,275), Pablo Mariz (32^nd for $5,103), Jake Bazeley (33^rd for $5,103), Jaspal Brar (48^th for $3,490), Jacob Snider (50^th for $ 3,490), Jordan Polk (71^st for $2,497), Greg Raymer (120^th for $1,471), Taylor Wilson (122^nd for $1,471), Shaun Deeb (172^nd for $1,214) Mike Watson (190^th for $1,214),and Kevin Eyster (273^rd for $1,054).

Jens Thomsen (10^th for $12,453) was the official final table bubble and here on, the action swung on to the final table.

Final Table Recap

Oliver Rusingwas the first runner to leave the final table after his pocket queens had to face Takayama’s ace-queen who then rivered a straight. Rusing got bounced out in ninth place.

Soon enough Takayama sent Jack Duong packing from the tournament. Duong got it in as a big favorite holding pocket nines against Takayama’s ace-seven. However the board favored Takayama and Duong was eliminated in eighth place.

Elizabeth Montizanti was the next one to be axed by Takayama. After Takayama opened for 250,000 from under the gun, Baker called from the button, and Montizanti moved all in from the big blind for 263,000. The other two players called to see the flop open . Takayama bet 300,000, Baker folded and both remaining players turned over their cards. Takayama held a top pair with and Montizanti tabled a straight draw with . The turn brought and Montizanti who desperately needed a seven to survive missed his outs on the river to exit in seventh place.

After a couple of hands the action folded to the blinds and Kavish Shabbir shoved from the small blind while Takayama called from the big blind. Shabbir tabled , while Takayama turned over . Though Shabbir was leading preflop, everything changed on the rundown and Takayama scooped the pot with his pair of threes, ending Shabbir’s run in sixth place.

Spencer Baker was railed out next in a hand against Smith holding while Smith tabled . The flop opened . Baker needed a queen but the on the turn and the on the river eliminating Baker in fifth place.

Three hands later, Steve Jelinek opened for 300,000 from the button, and Takayama moved all in. Jelinek made the call putting his tournament life at risk. Takayama showed , Jelinek was holding . The board ran and Takayama won the pot with a rivered set while Jelinek exited in fourth place.

The three-handed play saw Puka doubling up through Smith over the next few hands. Matthew Smith then shoved from the button and Takayama called from the big blind. Smith showed and Takayama held . Takayama had made an ace high straight and won the pot while Smith was eliminated in third place.

The heads-up play didn’t last long and soon the final hand was dealt where Takayama moved all in from the button and Lorenc Puka called. Both turned over their hands and Puka was at risk. Takayama showed while Puka tabled . The dealer opened the flop and Takayama paired his king while Puka made pair of fours. The turn and the were decisively in favor of Takayama who won the pot and also the tournament while Puka was relegated to the rail as the runner-up!

Final Table Results (USD)

1. Mike Takayama – $198,568

2. Lorenc Puka – $122,627

3. Matthew Smith – $88,938

4. Steve Jelinek – $65,145

5. Spencer Baker – $48,196

6. Kavish Shabbir – $36,019

7. Elizabeth Montizanti – $27,193

8. Jack Duong – $20,743

9. Oliver Rusing – $15,988

Content & image courtesy WSOP.com

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