been playing these tournaments for around 4 months now.. and don't seem to be placing enough..

18,000 starting stack
20min clock

I do fine for the first few levels playing in position, then I start to find it difficult deeper..

Last night..

level 9

average stack 45K

My stack around 49K

Blinds 1600/800

Raise UTG 8,200 (from a 37K stack)

I was UTG +1 w/ AQ (with poor position I decided to call)

2 players folded button calls..SB & BB fold.

3 players to the flop 8 8 A

POT around 27/28K

original raiser all-in for 29K
Now I knew this player could be doing this with AJ/A10/A9 and maybe AK
I thought for a while and decided to call.. 29K button jammed putting me all in for the remaining of my stack 10/12K - with a tell that I got off him earlier in the night I put him on AK straight away a reluctantly folded! showing the table everyone seemed very surprised by my fold..

Only to have my reads right..

UTG J A

Button K A

Turn K

River 2

with only 3 players to the bubble I decided to call/shove with any suited connectors which I hadn't done all night..

cut long story short I shoved twice with diamonds hit a flush both times
got back up to 26K QJo someone shoved I called to see 88 they held up he was short stacked so I still had 12K left - manage to survive to the bubble 11th and a guy in seat 10 said I think seat 1 (me) deservers a saver so they took £50 off top prize... then I got A J went all-in called

K A Flop came A and I went out!

So I came 11th out 88 players £50 +£6 for this game!

Did I make any mistakes or did I just run out of luck?
What is the best optimal strategy for a deepstack tournament late in?
I think there was 1.2million chips in play last night.

Clearly AQ wasnt a mistake. sick read. Although that pfr is rather large for that stage in a tourney.
Not sure why you call off 60% of your stack with QJo when there is no need.
Variance in tourneys is a bitch.