Trying to qualify for the WSOP thru PokerStars. Just finished a $33+R direct entry qualifier, 416 entries, only the top 2 win a WSOP seat. After 5 hours of playing, I made it to the final table with just about about 328k in chips and the next closest person with about 230k. Had to keep playing strong though because plenty of players were bunched together at around 200k. With blinds at 10k-20k, I get QQ in the cutoff and open for 80k, pretty much wanting to win it there if I could, but not minding if I got a caller. The big blind reraises all in, about 180k. Figuring him for AK, AQ, or trying to steal with a middle pair, I decide to call. He shows AJ and I think I’m looking good…until the flop comes with an A and a J. No Q’s on the turn and river, and just like that I’ve lost more than half my chips. With the blinds so high, I don’t last more than another ten minutes or so and bust out in 5th place. So close it’s painful. At least it paid $650 so I can keep entering these satellites, but man it’s draining to get so far and fall just short. Time for bed…