Takayama Loses Loads to Lavenburg

A big pot was brewing between Mike Takayama and Michael Lavenburg, and the other players, including Ema Zajmovic, were waiting with their chips already racked up, as the table was the next to break. According to Zajmovic, Takayama had raised first to act and picked up one caller in the cutoff, Lavenburg raised on the button, and Takayama was the only caller.

On the flop, Takayama check-called a bet to head to the turn, and there, the first bracelet winner from the Philippines checked once more. Lavenburg now made it 175,000 to go and Takayama called. On the river, the board paired and Takayama checked the third street in a row.

Lavenburg bet 450,000 and hid his face behind sunglasses and a cap, staring at the middle of the table while trying not to give away any emotion. Takayama stared over for more than two minutes before announcing the call and Lavenburg turned over for aces and sevens. That was good enough to win the pot, as Takayama tapped the table in defeat before heading to his new table.