Borgata sees return of Olivier Busquet with substantial victory

In a thrilling conclusion to the Borgata Summer Poker Open Championship, Olivier Busquet emerged victorious, taking home a substantial first-place prize of $255,135.

The event, which attracted 685 hopefuls and generated a prize pool of $1,644,000, saw a series of dramatic eliminations. Among the early exits were Gerard Brady and Jeremy Flieder, who bowed out during the first frame of play.

Farid Jattin, Sridhar Sangannagari, and Ryan Dodd also fell by the wayside, with Jattin losing a few crucial flips before his elimination. Dodd, too, met his end after losing a flip to Busquet.

Meanwhile, Matthew Beinner, who qualified for the tournament through a $250 satellite on BetMGM Poker, managed to secure a deep run, cashing for over $90,000. However, it was not enough to dethrone Busquet.

A significant moment in the tournament came when Busquet eliminated Matthew Beinner, a feat accomplished with two pair. This was a notable turn of events, as between his last live tournament in 2016 and his victory at the Borgata event, Busquet had achieved significant online poker success but had not recorded major live tournament wins.

The final showdown was between Busquet and Abe Gordon. Despite agreeing to a deal before the final round with Busquet holding 60% of the chips in play, the tension was palpable. In the end, Busquet proved to be the superior player, securing the win and the heads-up deal with Gordon.

Busquet's love for the game never waned, even during his five-year absence from live poker. He returned to the live tournament scene with renewed vigour, driven by his enjoyment of the social aspect of poker tournaments. This passion for the game was evident in his 2009 WPT victory at the same site, where he won nearly $1 million.

Busquet, who has been playing poker tournaments for almost 20 years, has also found a balance in his personal life. He met his wife during his break from live poker and now has a family. His last live cash was a 12th-place finish in a $3,000 No-Limit Hold'em event at the WSOP this year.

With his latest win, Olivier Busquet continues to cement his place as a formidable force in the world of poker. His impressive career live poker earnings, now exceeding $10 million according to The Hendon Mob, are a testament to his skill and dedication to the game.