$10 BI $2k GTD WPN, 1,500/3,000 blinds, 300 ante No Limit Hold’em Tournament, 8 Players

SB: 64,930 (21.6 bb)
Hero (BB): 90,486 (30.2 bb)
UTG+2: 34,426 (11.5 bb)
MP1: 77,102 (25.7 bb)
MP2: 152,196 (50.7 bb)
MP3: 135,599 (45.2 bb)
CO: 88,792 (29.6 bb)
BTN: 38,920 (13 bb)

Preflop: Hero is BB with 6h 7c
UTG+2 folds, MP1 calls 3,000, MP2 calls 3,000, 4 folds, Hero checks

Flop: (12,900) 5c 8d 4h (3 players)
Hero checks, MP1 checks, MP2 bets 6,450, Hero calls 6,450, MP1 calls 6,450

Turn: (32,250) 9c (3 players)
Hero checks, MP1 checks, MP2 checks

River: (32,250) 7h (3 players)
Hero bets 16,125, MP1 raises to 45,000, MP2 calls 45,000, Hero calls 28,875

Interesting hand here. I had gone back and forth with MP1 quite a bit in the past 75 hands. He was pretty aggressive and stubborn. MP2 was a solid TAG. These two limp on my BB and I expect them to have hands like small pocket pairs and suited connectors. I didn’t think they would both go away with a raise, they might even reraise so I just elected to see a flop and BAM I flop the extremely hidden nuts. I find oftentimes when flopping a straight or flush that by the river it isn’t the best hand anymore so I feel I need to work on getting value and preventing free cards that can beat me. I check/call here hoping that one of them has a piece of the flop to bet, perhaps even a set. I didn’t raise because I hoped MP1 would come along and he did as he often does. 

A 9 comes on the turn and I am still best. This is where it seems I made a mistake by checking but maybe that is just being results oriented. This is a pretty standard check hoping for another bet out of MP2 right? 

Unfortunately they both check behind and the 7 comes on the river. I make a small value bet and get raised by MP1 and a call by MP2. I don’t think JT called on the flop so I think I’m still good here but probably chopping. I don’t think there’s any value in raising and repping JT myself so I call.

I think I played this hand fine and it was just an unlucky river card but am interested to see how people may have played it differently. Would taking the lead on the turn have killed my action? If so, is that an ok result anyway? I think this line gives me more value in the long run. Thoughts?