Cretu never gave up the lead

A game of broken contracts — 35 of them around the table, and scores from 109 all the way down to 70.

Vyce closes out the table, with 70 points. "Last one buys the coffee" — as they say at the table. Vyce was ahead of Mihai right up to the last hand. After the three-card hand on the way up, Vyce was 2nd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Third, and on the podium: Mihai, with 72 points. Mihai got past Vyce at the very last hand. In the seven-card hand on the way down: Mihai said 2, scooped 5, and edge was left counting the pieces.

edge took second with 85 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. In the second of the closing eights, edge bid 0 and took 4 — and Vyce went down with it.

Cretu finishes on 109 points, 24 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. And that despite a slip in the very last hand.

Congratulations to all — see you at the next table!