As far as I know the results of the 45 Person SnG Challenge are in and I ended up third.
I cashed in 6 of the 15 (40% ITM), but only managed to peak in 2nd place in any event. I did end up playing mostly the $1+.20 events (13 of 15). Even still, I ended up cash-positive with $26.60 invested and winnings of $35.00. As it turns out I would have liked the bankroll boost if I stuck to the $5+.50 events even though I got pretty well smoked in the two I did play.
I found the key to being in the money, and making a deep run is not necessarily to have a huge monster stack when there are 10 or 11 people left, but to make sure you have 4K to 5K in chips. Yes, a monster 10K+ stack would also work- but is not needed. The blinds are quicker in these events than the private multi-table events I normally play in (the Mookie, WWdN, or WWdNot for example). There is a lot less time to wait for true premium hands, especially when the M gets low. But yet, the best way to build that roughly-average final table stack is to nut-peddle, try and get in cheap with AXs or pocket pairs and really punish people with flushes and sets. I stay away from A-mid off, mid-connectors (suited or not), and even dump low pairs when facing a 2 or 3 times raise. Yes, you probably will get paid if they hit, but getting bled away to a short stack with rapid progressing blinds is nearly a sure way to get bumped in the teens pushing with AJo because you are forced to make a move.
Just one man’s opinion of course.
Here is a screenshot of my Google Spreadsheet tracking my own results.
