(Mods: If this doesn't seem worthy of discussion, feel free to lock it. Definitely don't want to clutter up the forum.)

$1,600 buy-in Wynn Main Event over the weekend. 3 day 1s. We're at the start of day 2. ~1,100 entrants, and ~120 pay. ~130 left.

Min-cash: $3,300
Top prize: $250k

Blinds: 2.5k/5k/5k. Level are 60 mins, and we're about 30 mins in. Next level is 3k/6k/6k.

Hero - UTG - 125k is dealt 99.
(note: SB is a pro w/ 70k, and BB is a loose rec player).

Any merit to something other than a 2 - 2.2x raise?

Options:
- Pushing: only getting called by better and AK. Doesn't give me a chance to get away from the hand.
- Raising 4x: not GTO/def. exploitable, but probably accomplishes the same thing as pushing but without risking my stack.
- Folding: seems super nitty, and these tournies are very top-heavy (thus disincentivizing conservative play)
- Limping: I've seen some professionals I respect limp AQo and other hands right below premiums in this situation. I'm actually most curious about the merits (if any) of this strategy.

seems fine as a discussion point, 25BB is an awkward size esp UTG with marginal hands 88+ AJ+ etc

2BB (ish) is standard
i'd add limp / jam and limp / call as possible alt lines
99 isn't a profitable open shove at 20BB let alone 25BB let alone with icm approaching bubble

I think the standard way for me to play this spot is as you said 2 - 2.2x open. Folding this is out of the question, IMO.

I think a limp is possible, and then you can call a 3x raise and see a flop. Although we are close to the bubble, we are playing to win the tournament and not trying to min cash.

Curious that , do they limp/jam or limp/call facing a raise?