Olivier Busquet Wins European Poker Tour Barcelona €50,000 Super High Roller

The 2014 European Poker Tour Barcelona €50,000 super high roller set the record for the largest turnout in such an event on the EPT with 77 entries, building a total prize pool of nearly €3.7 million. After three days of play the record field was narrowed down to just two players, with a final heads-up battle between two experts of the format.

Few names command more respect in the high-stakes heads-up sit-n-go world than Olivier “livb112” Busquet and his former protege Daniel “mrgr33n13” Colman.

Busquet was the first player ever to profit $1 million dollars in that format, and he reached $2 million in profits before anyone else had even matched his first million-dollar benchmark. While playing he noticed someone on the online rail correctly calling out his hands and looked into the player’s results. That player turned out to be Colman, and Busquet took him under his wing, offering coaching and staking before eventually becoming friends with the young rising star. Colman went on to become a legend himself, setting his own record as the first player to win seven figures in one year at heads-up sit-and-go’s without counting rakeback.

Both players have done well for themselves in recent years in live events as well, with Colman being in the middle of an incredible run at the moment. Before this event began he had already made four final tables, winning two massive titles along the way: the $1 million buy-in Big One For One Drop and the EPT Grand Final €100,000 super high roller. Those two wins alone netted him over $17.4 million.

The two agreed to a deal heads-up that assured Busquet €866,434 and Colman €843,066 and left them playing for the title and a five figure swing. Busquet entered the heads-up battle with a slight chip advantage, which he was able to extend before the key hand of the battle arose.

Colman raised to 325,000 from the button with the 83 and Busquet called with the Q8. The flop brought the {885 and Busquet checked. Colman bet 350,000 and Busquet called. The A hit the turn and Busquet again checked. Colman cut out a million-chip bet and Busquet made the call. The Q on the river gave Busquet a full house, and he went for his third straight check from out of position. Colman bet 2.4 million, roughly half of his stack, only to have Busquet move all-in over the top. Colman gave it some thought before eventually folding his flopped trips, leaving himself at a nearly 7-to-1 chip disadvantage.

Six hands later the money got in preflop with Busquet holding the QJ against Colman’s AK. Busquet paired his queen on the turn and faded Colman’s over cards to secure the pot and his first title on the EPT. For the win the 32-year-old pro earned €896,434 and 714 Card Player Player of the Year points.

“Honestly, it just feels so good to win," said Busquet after the win. "I have had a bunch of second places on the EPT so to win one feels amazing. Dan is probably the best heads-up player in the world but obviously anything could happen. Yes, we’re friends but when it got to heads-up, I was rooting for myself totally.”

Colman scored €843,066 and 595 points, which were enough to catapult him into ninth place in the overall POY leader board. The young american pro now has $19,534,058 in year-to-date live tournament earnings.

Fourth-place finisher Scott Seiver earned €364,200 and 357 POY points at this fifth final table of the year and climbed into 21st place in the POY standings.

Here is a look at the payouts and POY points awarded at this final table:

Winner photo courtesy of PokerStars / Neil Stoddart.

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