Out of Bellagio 2500 in 7th...basebaldy wins outright!

Sigh. Wasn't my day. I finished 7th for an insignificant 8335 dollars. It was basebaldy's day though, so I am excited for him. On the very first hand the one unknown at the table opened UTG for the minimum raise to 6000. UTG+2 I found AcQs. I settled on just calling, and David Levi called 3000 more in the BB. The flop came KJ7 with two clubs. They checked to me and I decided to stab at it for 10000. David tank folded and then unknown autoshoved 65000. I folded obv. basebaldy and Peter Neff told me the guy actually showed the table top set of Ks, but apparently I was tilt looking down at my chips. A few hands later I was in a bvb pot vs. Francois. I completed 1500 more with K3o and Francois checked. The flop came K86 with two hearts. I bet 5000 and FS called. The turn was an Ace. I checked and he checked. The river was an offsuit J, and I made a value bet that is a tiny bit thin to 14500. He snapped, and I wasn't sure he didn't fall into Jacks up or something. I showed though and he mucked. I was back up to like 95000. I opened a couple times at 2/4000 and lost chips and was eventually at like 65000 again. Then, a really sick one came up. I completed 2000 more into Kalmar's big blind with K6ss and he checked. The flop came 954r. Check-Check. The turn was a Kc for two clubs now. I checked and Kalmar quickly bet 5000. I checkraised almost full pot to 21000 to set up for a probable 40000 shove on the river because I was rather certain I had the best hand. Kalmar almost autosplashed 16000 more. The river was the worst card in the deck, the 8c. I very much hated it. I checked and Kalmar instantly announced all-in and then gave me the easiest tells ever to let me know he had it. There is really no hand at all that bluffs this river anyway. I had an easy fold, but it's sick he splashes full pot on the turn with one to come with a draw :( I can't confirm he had a draw but I'm like 99% certain. The only other feasible hand would be something like 44 that a guy like him might not even shove on the end, and I'm sure he would just 3bet shove that on the turn when I show that kinda strength. On the final hand I shoved 10BB with A9o and Thay3r overshoved 18BB or so. Basebaldy overcalled in the SB, and I knew I was about as alive as Kurt Cobain. Thay3r showed TT and basebaldy showed AK, so I was in a world of hurt. The board came A5436, so I actually was drawing live to rip a 9 or a 2 on the end to triple up (lawl). basebaldy went on to beat the unknown HU while we railed. Was sick to sweat. It hurts to come this close again, but I will be just fine, and I'll continue to stay positive and try to rip off a win in the upcoming events. These tournaments are shallow and there is a ton of variance. My results haven't been too top heavy over the first two years of my career, but that doesn't mean they won't be for the next 5 or ten years if I continue to play some poker tournaments. I've just been unable to get the job done late the last year and a half. We're gonna get sloshed tonight to celebrate, so there's no guarantee I make it for the noon start of the 5000 tomorrow.

SS