WPT Prime Cambodia: Main Event Day 1A breaks previous turnout; Mike Takayama clinches $10K SHR

 

On Thursday, August 17, WPT Prime Cambodia welcomed players in for the highly anticipated Main Event $500K guaranteed. The WPT team along with partners Connaissance and NagaWorld held a brief presentation. Actor / WPT commentator Vince Van Patten officially launched the big event with the customary poker kickoff address ” Shuffle up and Deal!”

Within the first few levels, there was no doubt, the event was headed for a record breaker. By the end of registration, it easily surpassed its previous Day 1A entries with 264 as the final tally. Among the 33 players that advanced to the next round was India’s Kunal Patni who has been running red hot at the series. He is currently ranked 2nd in the WPT Player of the Festival race. He has reached three final tables with a victory in one. At the main, Patni bagged the chip lead, trailing closely was Korea’s Minjung Kim, and to round out the top 3 was South Africa’s Rayhaan Adam. You can check out the Live Updates posted in the WPT website.

Action continues with Day 1B followed by Day 1C. These are the two remaining starters to be part of poker history and possibly secure a big score.

WPT Prime Cambodia schedule
WPT Prime Cambodia structures
A Quick Guide to WPT Prime Cambodia

Mike Takayama clinches SHR Single Day Challenge for US$ 94,100

Once again Filipino players dominated the Super High Roller event. At the inaugural WPT Prime in Vietnam, Florencio Campomanes took down the Super Stars Challenge of a similar buy in. Here at the WPT Prime Cambodia, Christopher Mateo finished runner up at the $5.3K SHR event. Now fellow compatriot Mike Takayama closed out the $10K SHR Single Day Challenge for US$ 94,100. This was his second ever WPT High Roller title with the first one won in the Philippines back in February 2020. Takayama defeated Campomanes at heads up.

Those who have heard of Takayama will know that he is the lone WSOP bracelet winner from the Philippines. Takayama’s poker career is littered with incredible achievements. Prior to this event, he conquered the Asia Poker Championship on home soil for a six figure payout. To date, his total live tournament winnings is closing in on the $2M mark.

Event recap

The $10K SHR Single Day Challenge came in with the highest price tag of the entire lineup. It attracted a tight mix of 16 players that included pros and the heavy pocketed.  Adding more to the pot were 4 re-entries for a prize pool of US$ 188,180 Among the attendees were Phachara Wongwichit, Abhinav Iyer, Gackt, and Punnat Punsri who reached the money. Punsri fell in 3rd place with pocket Twos losing the flip against Takayama‘s Queen-Jack suited.

The title came down between Filipino top guns Takayama and Campomanes.  The latter Campomanes was seen crushing the competition in the early rounds, knocking out multiple players that included John Tech and David Erquiaga. However, this time the glory would not be his. Takayama kept a tight grip on the lead. It concluded with all the chips in the middle on a flop . Takayama had top pair, Campomanes with second pair, the board completed turn and river for Takayama to clinch the title.

Buy in: US$ 10,000
Entries: 20
Prize pool: US$ 188,180
ITM: 3 places

Payouts

1st	Mike Takayama	Philippines	$94,100
2nd	Florencio Campomanes	Philippines	$56,450
3rd	Punnat Punsri	Thailand	$37,630

Stay tuned to Somuchpoker as we bring you updates on the ongoing WPT Prime Cambodia at NagaWorld Phnom Penh. For pics, head to the Somuchpoker FB page.

WPT Prime Cambodia schedule
WPT Prime Cambodia structures
A Quick Guide to WPT Prime Cambodia
Road to WPT Prime Cambodia
Experience WPT Prime Cambodia
WPT Prime Cambodia – Shuffle up and Deal`
WPT Prime Cambodia – Day 1 recap
WPT Prime Cambodia – Ashish Munot wins the SuperStack
WPT Prime Cambodia – Opener Day 1B and Deepstack Freezeout 
WPT Prime Cambodia – Younghoon Joo and JK Sorn triumph
WPT Prime Cambodia – Semen Kapitonov wins the Opener for $35K
WPT Prime Cambodia – Anand Kumar and Kunal Patni win trophies
WPT Prime Cambodia – Trong Hieu Ngo, Akshay Kapoor, Zarvan Tumboli win trophies
WPT Prime Cambodia – Shardul Parthasarathi, Richard Mari, and Ms. Asmiati win trophies