Mihai, from start to finish

The cards went out, and so did the egos. Here is what came of it.

Mihai finishes on 155 points, 46 above the next — the rest were playing a different game, it seems. In front from the first of the opening eights to the end, and nobody got close enough to worry about. 16 good hands in a row — at one point, Mihai was playing as if they could see everyone else's cards.

Matei took second with 109 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. 2 hands in a row: only Matei slipped, while the rest said it and did it. The cards were kind to everyone but Matei.

Ana rounds out the podium with 104 points. Bronze still counts as a medal. The fourth of the middle eights: Ana bid 6, made fewer, and counted the regrets.

Sebi finished 4th with 95 points. After the five-card hand on the way up, Sebi was 3rd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Mara finishes right in the middle — neither hot nor cold — 5th, with 89 points. Mara got past unf0rgettable at the very last hand. In the second of the closing eights: Mara said 1, scooped 4, and Mihai was left counting the pieces.

Last, but with style: unf0rgettable, with 86 points. At least there were cards worth talking about. In the four-card hand on the way up: unf0rgettable said 0, made 3, and the evening was ruined for Ana. unf0rgettable was ahead of Mara right up to the last hand.

Congratulations to all — see you at the next table!