This $0.25 Mystery Battle Royale started promisingly but ended with a costly mistake. Early play was solid - folded junk hands and waited for spots. Made a nice double-up with [AcQd] vs [As8d] when I paired my queen on the river, taking me to around 2,300 chips.
Mid-tournament grind was disciplined. Folded weak holdings like [5c3c], [7h5h], and [Ks2c] in marginal spots. Picked up some small pots with position and aggression, including a nice bluff with [TsKc] on a straight-heavy board that got folds.
The turning point came in a crucial [9c9h] hand where I called a raise then folded to massive all-in action. Probably the right play, but left me short-stacked as we approached the final table.
The fatal error: with [Qd9s] and about 11 big blinds, I flopped middle pair on [4cTc9d]. Called a decent-sized bet, then called again when the turn brought [2s]. The river [7h] changed nothing, but when villain shoved for 2,417 (my remaining 1,836), I called with just a pair of nines. Villain showed [4sTd] for two pair, and I was eliminated.
Key takeaway: that river call was a clear mistake. Facing such a large bet with only one pair in a tournament situation, folding preserves the few big blinds I had left to find a better spot. The aggression throughout the hand screamed strength, and calling off my tournament life with a marginal holding cost me the session.