EVENT WRAP-UP

Borgata was home to another great series of poker tournaments. Players showed up from all over the globe to compete in premier events headlined by the WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship. The player-friendly staff and tournament structures at Borgata are simply unmatched, another successful September in Atlantic City's best casino.

A special thanks to all those who followed the Borgata Poker Blog. Stay tuned for more LIVE poker coverage in upcoming events from Borgata.

Borgata Poker Staff with the 2009 Champion

CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT INTERVIEW

WPT BORGATA POKER OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Olivier Busquet - $925,514

OLIVIER BUSQUET IS THE 2009 BORGATA POKER OPEN WPT CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT WINNER!

Everything happened so fast we had a hard time keeping up. In three hands we back and forth from Busquet being the chip lead, to Brown holding a 3 to 1 lead again, all the way back to Busquet holding a slight edge.

The last movement was when Busquet got to a flop with heavy raises pre and decided to come over the top of Brown. Brown folded bringing them just about even. With a pre flop raise from the button, Brown folded on the next hand and Busquet had just about a million chip lead.

On the next hand, Brown raised and Busquet called pre. the flop came [4c 4s 3c]. Brown insta shoved and Busquet almost snap called. They opened up and Brown showed 2s 5s for an open ended straight draw, and Busquet showed Ac 4d for trips with an Ace kicker.

The crowd was on it's feet and awaiting a turn card. When it came the room went silent. The card was a [7s], giving Brown more outs than made Busquet and his fans a little less comfortable.

The river brought a [5c] which sent most of the room in limbo not really being able to calculate whether or not the card was good or bad. But Tab told the tale and Busquet and his crew went crazy with celebration.

I spoke to Olivier after he received his award and he told me that this wasn't even supposed to happen. "I wanted to play in the Heads up tournament, but I realized that it was sold out. I was bummed and hadn't planned on coming at all but a friend of mine suggested I play. So I camed down and this was the only event I played in.

I asked him about his experience at the Borgata. "You know, it's a really good thing they do lowering the buy-ins. I don't know if it's popular among the top professionals but I will tell you that most people love it. We had 1,018 players enter and this was made available to a lot more people than just a smattering of pros. Any other tournament you find at this price point is most likely shoved out the door in two days. The Borgata offers the best structures which gives the most value. I mean, I just won $925k for a $3500 investment. And got to play a whole lot. If the structure wasn't the way it was, the final table might have been a whole different story with a whole different bunch of people.", said Olivier. "The field is a little softer as well because, well, it's a lot of players. But the line between pro and amateur has thinned a whole bunch as well. So it's unlikely you find real giant soft spots in any field. This tournament was like that."

We close out the night with the ending of the Championship Event. Other posts are coming with a video interview of Olivier, some pictures of the celebrations, and some other pics of the final table. We will also have a recap up of the entire series soon as well.

Congratulations to Olivier Busquet, Jeremy Brown, and the rest of the final table finishers in this years Borgata Poker Open WPT Championship Event.

THE BATTLE CONTINUES

Jeremy Brown has won the last 3 pots to gain some momentum in this heads-up battle. The pace of play has picked up as both players have deep enough stacks to make moves post-flop. Who will be the next Borgata Poker Open Champion?

Chip Counts:
Jeremy Brown - $23,050,000
Olivier Busquet - $7,570,000

BACK AND FORTH

Just like that Brown grabs the chip lead when on a board of Q K T 9 Q Busquet leads out for 1.2 million.

Brown re-raises to 4.5 more and Busquet calls after quite a while of deliberating with himself. Brown shows KQ for the boat and Busquet folds telling his friends on the rail that he had a K.

In the next hand, Busquet loses another 2 million when it gets to the river and he gain calls off another 1.2 million bet from Brown who shows a 9 high flush made on the river.

Brown has 20 million to Busquets 9 million. More action on the way.

NEW CHIPLEADER

Busquet raises to 600,000, and Brown calls. The flop comes A/K/6, Brown checks, Busquet bets 800,000, Brown raises to 2.4 million, and Busquet reraises to 4 million. Brown reraises to 7 million, and Busquet moves all in. Brown pauses for a moment and folds Q2 - a total bluff with just air. Busquet takes another huge pot without showdown.

Chip Counts:
Jeremy Brown - 12,185,000
Olivier Busquet - 18,420,000

DOUBLE DOUBLE!

Olivier doubles again when they get to a flop after some pre flop calling and checking.

The flop comes [6 7 8] and Olivier leads out about 400k.

Brown moves all in and Olivier made the fastest call I have ever seen in my life.

Olivier shows the nuts with 9 T and Brown shows J 8 for top pair.

The turn is one of the most interesting turn cards ever in the history of Borgata poker, when a J peels off giving brown two pair and outs to a winning hand.

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your perspective, the river brings a 7 and Olivier doubles up.

Chip counts are now 18 mil to 12 mil with Brown holding the edge.

HEADS-UP GRIND

Jeremy Brown and Olivier Busquet are still fighting for the WPT bracelet, Borgata Poker Open trophy and $900,000 first place cash prize. The heads-up battle continues as we reach the 110th hand of final table play.

GETTING LONG IN THE DAY

The dynamics of this heads up match are getting a little weird. Olivier is an online heads up tournament player, having profited over a million dollars playing 1k sng's.

Jeremy is a young kid who's largest foray into gambling is black jack. His poker accomplishments are few and far between. Add to that him having fun with his buddies on the rail via way of a few beers and some shots of Patrone, it would make sense for Olivier making a huge comeback, not that hard to understand or believe.

But as loose as Brown is playing, he seems to be holding his own, pressuring when it's right, and folding when it at least seems right.

It's getting long with periods of excitment when Brown orders "cocktails", to periods of long boredom when he forgets he's playing for $900k +.

Brown still holds a three to one chip lead as we move forward.

FINAL HAND?

Olivier raised pre flop from the button and Brown made the call. The flop came [3s 6c 5d]
Brown checks and Olivier bets out to 400k.

Olivier made the comment, "Really? Just 400k??" and makes the call.

The turn comes a [3d] and Olivier shoves. Brown thinks for a bit and claims he has a big hand. Olivier tells him he's not dead, and Brown continues the tank. He then says that he has like 14 outs and Olivier asks almost flabbergasted, "How could you fold anything like that?".

Brown makes the call and shows 9d 7d for a double gutterball, and a flush draw. Olivier shows QQ andthe dealer deals the river.

An Ace of clubs hits the river and Olivier doubles up to 5.6 million. They are on a short break and play will resume after that break.

DOUBLE-UP

WPT BORGATA POKER OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

Olivier doubles up when he calls off his last 2 million with Jc7c. Bosquet turned a Jack to take the lead, but Jeremy's Qc9d improved. Brown bricked on the end and our lone Canadian is back in the game.

Chip Counts:
Jeremy Brown - 26,995,000
Olivier Busquet - 3,610,000

DOWN TO 2...

Internet poker phenom, Olivier Busquet, replays hand histories and player tendencies with his proteges on the rail while everyone awaits heads-up play...

CHIP COUNTS:
Jeremy Brown - $22,640,000
Olivier Busquet - $ 7,965,000

3RD PLACE PHOTO

A great showing for the tournament newcomer...



Ivan Mamuzic

ONLY 2 LEFT...

Jeremy Brown stands up and gives the crowd a fistpump when he tables pocket 6's versus the pocket 3's of Ivan Mamuzic.
A six flops to give Jeremy the pot and a dominant chip-lead going into heads-up play.

Ivan Mamuzic
3rd place - $251,955

4TH PLACE PHOTO

Yanick Brodeur and friends on the rail...

YANICK BRODEUR ELIMINATED IN 4TH ($216,681)

2009 WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship

Jeremy Brown has been steam rolling the table since 4-handed action and claimed another victim in Yanick Brodeur. Brown raised 400,000 UTG and it folded around to Brodeur in the big blind. Brodeur thought for awhile before announcing a raise. No sooner had he pushed those chips forward when Brown immediately said "all in" and Brodeur said "call" even quicker.

Brodeur was looking great to double up with AK versus the AQ of Brown. There was very little swat on the 9 8 6 two heart flop but Brown's cheering section went nuts with the Queen of diamonds on the turn. No help on the river and Yanick Brodeur is knocked out in 4th place.

Current chip counts:

Jeremy Brown - 17,330,000
Olivier Busquet - 9,965,000
Ivan Mamuzic - 3,320,000

SWEATING THE CHIPLEADER

The New York city kid who loves to gamble (he admits to spending too much time and money on the blackjack tables) is looking for his first big poker score with only 4 players left. With his boys on the rail, Jeremy Brown has given them something to cheer about.

"The Boys" of Jeremy Brown

CHIP COUNTS

WPT BORGATA POKER OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

4 players remaining...

Chip Counts:
Jeremy Brown: $13,500,000
Olivier Busquet: $6,590,000
Ivan Mamuzic: $6,420,000
Yanick Brodeur: $4,590,000

BROWN STEAMROLLS

Jeremy Brown has won 5 of the last 7 pots to become the tournament chipleader. The beers are flowing in the crowd as his boys cheer on every pot, the New York city kid has over 13 million with only 4 players remaining.

As the WPT staff takes a quick production break, we'll have official chip counts coming soon.

EXIT PHOTO

Keith Crowder posing with his boys after his 5th place finish. Today's local favorite will take home $188, 126 for his efforts.

KEITH CROWDER ELMINATED IN 5TH

2009 WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship

"I will felt you if you go all-in" said Jeremy Brown to Keith Crowder in the small blind. Crowder did end up shipping in his last 1,190,000 and Brown made the call in the big blind. Brown called with 88 and was ahead of the T4s of Crowder. The 2h 4d 2s flop made things interesting, the 5 of clubs on the turn provided no help. Needing a ten or a four on the river, the dealer peeled off a Jack of diamonds and Crowder's run is complete.

KEITH CROWDER TAKES A HIT

2009 WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship

Just before the players went on a short ten-minute technical break, Keith Crowder took a hit to his chipstack.

In a three-way limped pot, Crowder bet 200,000 have Yanick Brodeur and Mamuzic checked on the K 3 2 flop. Brodeur was the only caller and they both checked the Queen. A Jack on the turn saw Brodeur fire out 350,000. Crowder took his time making a decision before making the call. Brodeur tabled KJ for two pair and Crowder mucked.

When I ran into him during the break I asked whether he had Brodeur beat before the river and he said no. "I didn't put him on a king at all. He's been raising a lot of pots." He wouldn't disclose his hand but is now the short stack at the table.

SUPERTUAN GONE, 5 LEFT

Supertuan was eliminated when he said, "I'm all-in again guys" and shoved pocket 8's into the pocket Kings of our chipleader, Olivier "livb112" Busquet . The poker personality from Chicago provided good entertainment and five days of great poker play. Kenny "Supertuan" Nguyen will take home $156,212 for his 6th place finish.

FINAL TABLE - CARDS IN THE AIR

2009 WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship

Borgata Tournament Director Tab Duchateau has announced the players to the crowd and cards are now in the air. As expected, Kenny "SuperTuan1" Nguyen started pushing his super short stack in the middle almost immediately taking down the second hand of the day showing 97c.

WE'RE OFF AND RUNNING

WPT BORGATA POKER OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP EVENT

The cards are in the air, play is officially underway...

GETTING READY TO START FINAL TABLE

We are just about one hour away from kicking off the final table of the 2009 WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship. The crew is making the final adjustments to the televised table and the surrounding set. The final 6 players are down in the Gypsy Bar doing their interviews. The fans have begun gathering in lobby getting ready to take their seats.

We'll be back with updates once play begins.

Seat 1: Yanick Brodeur - 5,780,000
Seat 2: Keith Crowder - 2,750,000
Seat 3: Jeremy Brown - 5,480,000
Seat 4: Olivier Busquet - 10,350,000
Seat 5: Kenny "SuperTuan1" Nguyen - 600,000
Seat 6: Ivan Mamuzic - 5,655,000

WEDNESDAY NIGHT UPDATES

Event #21 - No Limit Hold Em'
Buy-In: $350 + $50

Number of Entrants: 403

FINAL RESULTS
1. Perry Kaplan - $34,601
2. Eric Peres - $18, 739
3. Thomas Jackel - $9,672
4. Dimitrios Haskaris - $8, 463
5. Brian Green - $7, 254
6. James Arvesen - $6,045
7. Vincenzo Papandrea - $4,836
8. Alli Schultz - $3,627
9. Young Jung - $2,418

CHAMPION - KAPLAN (EVENT #21)

Perry Kaplan - $34,601

2ND PLACE - PERES (EVENT #21)

Eric Peres - $18,379

3RD PLACE - JOCKEL (EVENT #21)

Tom Jockel - $9,672

4TH PLACE - HASKARIS (EVENT #21)

Dimitri Haskaris - $8,463

5TH PLACE - GREEN (EVENT #21)

Brian Green - $7,254

6TH PLACE - ARVESEN (EVENT #21)

James Arvesen - $6,045

7TH PLACE - PAPANDREA (EVENT #21)

Vincenzo Papandrea - $4,836

8TH PLACE - SCHULTZ (EVENT #21)

Alli Schultz - $3,627

9TH PLACE - JUNG (EVENT #21)

Young Jung - $2,418

10TH PLACE - MATUSOW (EVENT #21)

Don Matusow - $1,572

EVENT #21 FINAL TABLE

Final Table

SEAT - NAME

1. Tom "August West" Jockel
2. Alli Schultz
3. Don Matusow
4. Eric Peres
5. Brian "BMG" Green
6. Dimitri "JimDawgs" Haskaris
7. Vincenzo Papandrea
8. Perry Kaplan
9. James Arvesen
10. Young Jung

Final results will be posted later in the AM.

LATE NIGHT SHOUT-OUTS

Late-Night Shout-Outs from Event # 21, the Second Chance cash tourney and those still wandering around the beautiful Borgata poker room at 2am, enjoy.

Dimitri Haskaris
Jon, Puffy, Mookie, Toni - I love you guys

Harry Witko
"Not enough folks come here cowboy'd up"

Lee Henry
"I read the blog, it's great"

"Barb" Kaplan
"Good Luck to my husband Perry...I'm tired"

Adam Gerber
Alex - I miss and love my new baby boy

Vinny Runfolo (aka "Capt Wunk") (aka "Chimichanga")
"I'm trying to ship this for my girl's birthday"

Rafael Comas
Ashley - Hi, I love you

Joseph Morales
"representin' Valley Stream and all the guys at NY's finest barber shop...takin' it down"

Michael Ciotola
what's up? - the Doctor, the Junkie and CWC

Alli Schultz
"10/6 is my new favorite hand"

EVENT #21 UPDATE

Event #21 - No Limit Hold Em
Buy-In: $300 + $50

Number of Entrants: 403
Players remaining: 23

Meet the Chip-Leader...

Adam Gerber, 2007 USPC champ, leads the field in the last event of the 2009 Borgata Poker Open. With $546,000 chips and tons of experience, Gerber becomes the favorite with only 3 tables left. The local pro stays busy juggling a family business, raising 3 young boys and playing tournament poker.

FINAL TABLE PREVIEW

2009 WPT Borgata Poker Open Championship

Final Table

It was a long battle but the final 6 have been set. Olivier Busquet comes to the table with a huge chip lead over the second place stack Ivan Mamuzic. Crowd favorite Kenny "SuperTuan1" Nguyen will start the day on the short stack.

Play resumes Thursday, September 24 at 4pm
1 hour remaining in Level 32
Blinds at $60,000/$120,000/$10,000a

Player bios and chip counts below:




Olivier Busquet - 10,350,000

The New York, NY resident has over $200,000 in career tournament earnings with several big finishes. He has a 3rd place finish in Event #2 of the Bellagio Cup IV, a 10th place finish in the EPT Deuville event and 3 cashes during this year's World Series of Poker including the Main Event.






Ivan Mamuzic - 5,780,000

This is Mamuzic first cash in a major poker tournament. He is now guaranteed at least $156,212.






Yanick Brodeur - 6,655,000

The Quebec native has not cashed in a major poker tournament since 2006. The french-speaking college student has $9,000 in career earnings and travels the East Coast playing cash games.






Jeremy Brown - 5,480,000

The Atlantic City regular has several tournament cashes including a 28th place in this year's Borgata Poker Open Event #2. This will also be his largest tournament cash to date.






Keith Crowder - 2,750,000

The Elkins Park, PA resident has nearly $45,000 in major tournament cashes including a 2009 Foxwoods Event #8 final table, 2007 United States Poker Championship Event #14 final table, and 2007 Borgata Poker Open Event #15 final table.






Kenny "SuperTuan1" Nguyen - 600,000

A fan favorite as he entertains the players and rail, Nguyen comes to the final table with the most in tournament careers earnings over $400,000. His biggest cash was a 4th place finish in the 2009 World Series of Poker Event #2 for $105,000.