Mihai never gave up the lead

A game of broken contracts — 37 of them around the table, and scores from 99 all the way down to 74.

Elena closes out the table, with 74 points. "Last one buys the coffee" — as they say at the table. After the three-card hand on the way up, Elena was 2nd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Third, on the podium: Daniela, up there with eyes on the top step. In the last of the closing eights: Daniela said 0, made 3, and the evening was ruined for Mihai. Daniela was ahead of Ana right up to the last hand.

Second place for Ana, with 80 points. So close to the top they can still taste it — bittersweet. Ana got past Daniela at the very last hand. In the second of the opening eights: Ana said 2, made 5, and the evening was ruined for Daniela.

Mihai crossed the finish line first, on 99 points. In front from the second of the opening eights to the end, and nobody got close enough to worry about. Going into the last hand the lead was already 27 — that one was a lap of honour.

Well played everyone — and especially Mihai!