WSOP Bubble Boy
$2k nl tourney, we are hand for hand with 101 players left. 100th pays 2100 and change.
Jim Worth ("Krazy Kanuck") opens the pot for 3500 (600-1200 blinds, 200 ante). I look down at JJ and push for my last 8k and he calls w/ his Ac4c getting a great price. It was kind of a kick in the pants to lose the hand because the flop came out Jx 6c 2x. Turn is a club, river is a club and I'm out.
The strange thing was the people beside me claiming they would have folded KK. I guess that $100 profit is too good to pass up? If only I had a stack near the bubble. I'm positive I could have run my chips up without any risk.
I also played the $1500 nl, with over 2000 entries and 200 spots getting paid. I busted out somewhere around 250-270th when my QQ ran into AA. A highlight of this tournament included me giving a "badbeat" to world champion Greg Raymer (Fossilman). I use "badbeat" because 1600 chips went in when he was ahead, and 4k+ went in on the turn when I was ahead. Four hours later, and he was still complaining about the hand to anyone that would listen.
Full details: 100-200 blinds w/ 25 ante, he opens for 600 from MP, I call in the BB w/ J6s. Flop J 7 2r, he bets 1000, I call. turn 6, I get it all-in for about 4400 more, he has me covered. He has KK and my hand holds up. He wouldn't stop complaining about it, but I think my play in this hand is fine. The preflop call is marginal, but the antes dictate playing more out of the blinds, and Raymer has been opening enough hands that his range includes a lot of non premium hands.
I don't have much experience in live tournaments, but I felt like I could definitely play with these guys. I didn't feel outclassed at any point. So hopefully next year I will be back, playing a much bigger schedule of events, and making some final tables.