Vlad comes back from behind

6 changes of leader: this one was a tug of war.

Vlad won with 121 points, by a whisker: just 2 points ahead. Vlad only went in front at the very last hand. At one stretch, 11 good hands in a row. Vlad couldn't bear to look 9 times 🙈 — some hands are better not watched.

Mara led for 13 hands but finished second, 2 points behind. In the fourth of the middle eights: Mara said 0, scooped 5, and Mihai and Vlad were left counting the pieces. Mara was ahead of Vlad right up to the last hand.

Ilinca rounds out the podium with 112 points. Bronze still counts as a medal. The last hand decided it: Ilinca went past Matei right on the line.

Neither at the front nor at the back: Matei in 4th, with 110 points. The comfort zone. Matei was ahead of Ilinca right up to the last hand. After the five-card hand on the way up, Matei was 3rd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Neither at the front nor at the back: Mihai in 5th, with 106 points. The comfort zone. 2 hands in a row: only Mihai slipped, while the rest said it and did it. The cards were kind to everyone but Mihai. After the second of the closing eights, Mihai was leading the table — but the last hands had other plans.

Ana took last place without any nerves at all, on 84 points. 13 broken contracts, collected like stamps.

Congratulations to all — see you at the next table!