Greatest WPT Comeback Ever?

Level 38: 250,000-500,000, 40,000 ante

Online specialist Olivier Busquet comes back to win after a 20-to-1 chip deficit

By BJ Nemeth

There have been some great comebacks in WPT history, but it'd be tough to find any as dramatic as Olivier Busquet's victory in the 2009 WPT Borgata Poker Open.

Entering with a big chip lead and the most distinguished poker resume at the final table, Busquet almost fell victim to a collapse. When he eliminated short-stacked Kenny "Super Tuan" Nguyen in 6th place, he had nearly twice as many chips as anyone else. But he eventually fell victim to the relentless aggression of Jeremy Brown, who was either getting a miracle run of cards or bluffing like crazy.

Busquet and Brown were nearly even in chips when they clashed in Hand #36. With a good-size pot brewing over a board of AK52, Busquet bet 2 million and Brown moved all in. Busquet folded, and with that hand, Brown took over the chip lead.

Brown eliminated the next three players (Keith Crowder in 5th, Yanick Brodeur in 4th, and Ivan Mamuzic in 3rd), and heads-up play began with a nearly 3-to-1 chip lead for Brown over Busquet. Brown was acting very arrogant, as if victory was imminent, and downing a lot of drinks along with his friends on the rail. Brown was laughing and joking, and everything he said was based on the fact that his victory was assured.

The early stages of the heads-up match gave Brown plenty of reasons to feel that way. He continued his aggressive play, and Busquet took his time, trying to play relatively small pots. (Busquet began heads-up play with 40 big blinds.) Momentum continued in Brown's favor until the 18th hand of heads-up play, when Brown had built up a 20-to-1 chip lead (29,075,000 to 1,530,000).

Busquet doubled up (his J7 beat Brown's Q9), and picked his spots carefully to continue to build a stack until Brown's lead was down to 4-to-1 by Hand #121. That's when they got it all in after a flop of 876, and Busquet had flopped the nuts with a ten-high straight. Busquet flopped top pair and turned two pair, but missed the river to lose the hand. Brown still had the chip lead, but it was now 3-to-2 -- anyone's match.

Hand #128 is the hand that will be talked about by everyone when it finally airs on TV. After a flop of AK6, Brown check-raised, only to see Busquet raise back at him again -- 43% of Busquet's chips were in the pot at that point. Rather than backing down, Brown put in the fourth bet, and Busquet moved all in. Brown then folded Q2 face up after bluffing away 7.6 million in chips. (Read the entire hand by clicking here.)

Suddenly, Busquet had a 3-to-2 chip lead.

Brown would regain the lead in Hand #137, when the pot built up to 12 million over a board of Q109KQ. Brown showed down KQ to win the pot with a full house, and reverse the chip stacks (3-to-2 in Brown's favor).

But Busquet had come back once already, and this time it was much easier -- he had the lead back in eight hands, leading up to the finale in Hand #153.

The board showed 443, and they were both all in so quickly we couldn't even hear who shoved and who called. Brown had 52 for an open-ended straight draw, while Busquet had A4 for trip fours. The turn card was the 7, giving Brown additional outs with a spade flush draw. The river card was the 5 -- close enough to Brown's outs that the entire audience was stunned for more than five seconds before realizing the tournament was over.

Olivier Busquet, the favorite at the start of the final table, became one of the biggest underdogs in WPT history before coming back to win the WPT Borgata Poker Open. Busquet is a legend among online players for his results playing heads-up online, and he has now solidified that reputation with a spectacular heads-up performance in a high-stakes live tournament.

Here's a look at the winnings for the six final tablists:

1st  -  Olivier Busquet  -  $925,514
2nd  -  Jeremy Brown  -  $453,519
3rd  -  Ivan Mamuzic  -  $251,955
4th  -  Yanick Brodeur  -  $216,681
5th  -  Keith Crowder  -  $188,126
6th  -  Kenny Nguyen  -  $156,212

Unfortunately, this episode of the WPT won't be broadcast on FoxSportsNet until the spring of 2010, but you'll definitely want to watch this one when it airs. There was plenty of action, plenty of drinking, and plenty of table talk -- followed by a skillful heads-up match and one of the greatest comebacks in WPT history. You won't want to miss it.

The next stop for the World Poker Tour is the WPT Festa al Lago at Bellagio in Las Vegas, which starts October 21. Return to WorldPokerTour.com for complete live coverage of that event from start to finish.

Until then check out ClubWPT.com for your chance to win your way to a $10k buy-in WPT Main Event. 

Olivier Busquet Wins Borgata Poker Open in Epic Fashion

Level 38: 250,000-500,000, 40,000 ante

Hand #153: Olivier Busquet Wins the WPT Borgata Poker Open! ($925,514)

Level 38: 250,000-500,000, 40,000 ante

Brown raises to 1.2 million, and Busquet calls. The flop comes 443, and someone moves all in and is immediately called.

Brown shows 52 for an open-ended straight draw, while Busquet shows A4 for trip fours.

The turn card is the 7, and Brown picks up a flush draw to go with his straight draw and a ton of outs. Brown needs a six or any spade to stay alive and double up. (An ace would give him a straight, but give Busquet a full house.)

The river card is the 5, and there is silence in the arena as Olivier Busquet and Jeremy Brown stand up to shake hands. They immediately realize what it takes the crowd about 10 seconds to connect -- Olivier Busquet has just won the hand (and the tournament) with trip fours.

Jeremy Brown finishes in second place, earning $453,519.

Olivier Busquet wins the WPT Borgata Poker Open, earning $925,514, a WPT bracelet, and that includes his entry into the season-ending WPT World Championship. This is going to be one hell of an episode -- possibly one of the best ever -- and you won't want to miss one of the greatest WPT comebacks of all time when it airs on FoxSportsNet this spring.

Hand #152: Jeremy Brown

Level 38: 250,000-500,000, 40,000 ante

Busquet limps for 500,000, Brown raises to 1.5 million, and Busquet calls. The flop comes 972, Brown bets 2 million, and Busquet folds. Jeremy Brown takes the pot.

Jeremy Brown  -  11,195,000
Olivier Busquet  -  19,410,000

Hand #151: Olivier Busquet Wins a Big Pot

Level 38: 250,000-500,000, 40,000 ante

Brown min-raises to 1,000,000, and Busquet calls. They check to the turn on a board of J959, Busquet bets 1.5 million, and Brown calls.

The river card is the 4, Busquet bets 3.5 million, and Brown immediately calls with J10 for two pair, jacks and nines. Brown mucks, and Olivier Busquet wins the pot.

Jeremy Brown  -  9,655,000
Olivier Busquet  -  20,950,000

Hand #150: Jeremy Brown

Level 38: 250,000-500,000, 40,000 ante

Busquet min-raises to 1,000,000, and Brown calls. The flop comes J93, Brown bets 900,000, and Busquet folds.

Jeremy Brown  -  15,695,000
Olivier Busquet  -  14,910,000

Hand #149: Olivier Busquet

Level 38: 250,000-500,000, 40,000 ante

Brown folds, and Busquet receives a walk.

Jeremy Brown  -  14,655,000
Olivier Busquet  -  15,950,000

Hand #148: Olivier Busquet

Level 38: 250,000-500,000, 40,000 ante

Busquet min-raises to 1,000,000, and Brown folds.

Jeremy Brown  -  14,945,000
Olivier Busquet  -  15,660,000

Hand #147: Jeremy Brown

Level 38: 250,000-500,000, 40,000 ante

Brown limps for 500,000, and Busquet checks. They check to the turn on a board of J83A, Busquet checks, Brown bets 500,000, and Busquet folds. Jeremy Brown takes the pot.

Jeremy Brown  -  15,485,000
Olivier Busquet  -  15,120,000

Hand #146: Jeremy Brown

Level 38: 250,000-500,000, 40,000 ante

Busquet min-raises to 1,000,000, Brown reraises to 2.3 million, and Busquet folds.

Jeremy Brown  -  14,945,000
Olivier Busquet  -  15,660,000