So I didn't quite make the final table in Monte-Carlo. I busted 12th a few hours ago. So close... I mean 12th is good out of 800+ players, but the prize money goes up so much when you make the top 5 or top 3. Cool 1.7 million euros for the winner, I only got 80k euros. Better than nothing huh. I'm not too disappointed, I'm happy with the way I played and my time will come some other day.

I didn't have more than 45k after the first day, didn't have much more at any point actually, the first day was just one big grind to even make it thru. The second day was something else. I ran amazing the whole day, reached 200k very fast and ended the day with 552k and was fifth in chips at that point. Yesterday I had a rough start, I was at 240k at lowest after I 3-bet McCorkell with AJ suited and folded to his push. I hate to valuebet for value and then fold (my reraise was 96k leaving 288k behind)but I made the right decision, today he told me he had AK suited. I managed to double up JJ v. ATs and grinded the stack up to 1,094,000 by the end of the day.

I had a good start today, grinded myself to over 2 million without being even close to an all-in once. I made some pretty thin value bets and they paid off.  One interesting hand was when I opened to 70k with T8 suited, got one caller with a huge stack and one guy moved in for 400k+, I didn't think he had much of a hand, he was moving in earlier with like A3 suited and stuff so I reraised to 800k to get heads up with him because there was so much money in the pot so it was a good spot to gamble. The caller folded (AJ open) and the all-in guy had pocket 5's. I flopped a flush draw, but I missed the 15 outer. I would've had almost 3.5 million if I had won that one.

After this I was moved to the feature table. I had some sick hands against Nicolas Chouity who was on my left. First I opened with AK and he reraised, I had 2million and he had some more. I felt like it was too deep to put it in so I just called. Flop was T44, he bet half pot and I called. Turn was another T and we both checked. River blank and check-check again. He won with his pocket 6's. I think I played it right, it is tough to play AK out of position but I don't think he is going to barrel the turn unless he has a hand, and I think he was playing pretty solid (at least against me) so I never get the money in good preflop (I don't think a coinflip is good at this point).

A similar hand came up later on when I open with AQ suited and he 3-bets again in position. I just called again because I think it's the only right thing to do with big stacks against this player. The flop was 752 rainbow and he c-bet about half the pot again. I guess I could consider folding here but I just feel it's too weak because in a way I'm slowplaying a big hand and I can't call and then fold to every missed flop. I made the call and the turn was a 9. I'm ready to give it up but he checks behind and the river is a queen. I value bet a little less than half the pot, he snap calls but I think I'm still at least splitting the pot because he ain't supposed to have anything better there but he shows pocket aces. Pretty sick... I don't think he was checking the turn to trap, it felt like he was scared of a better hand, but I had only like the pot left so he should just go for it if I have TT or jacks or something.

This left me with a million, and I pushed it in when McCorkell opened the button to 110k. He called with A7 suited, my hand was A5 suited and he made a flush to knock me out.