The comeback of Ioana

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

Leize closes out the table, with 88 points. "Last one buys the coffee" — as they say at the table. Level on points with Radu, and behind only on the tie-break. In the third of the closing eights: Leize called 0, took 4, and Ana and Ioana were left out in the cold.

Radu finished 5th with 88 points. Radu got past Leize at the very last hand. Radu was even in front after the last of the opening eights.

Ana finished 4th with 89 points. Ana got past Radu at the very last hand. In the second of the closing eights: Ana said 0, scooped 3, and Leize was left counting the pieces.

Third, on the podium: Mihai, up there with eyes on the top step. One card, a single card, and Mihai still got it wrong on the one-card hand. It happens even in the best houses.

Second place for Elena, with 113 points. So close to the top they can still taste it — bittersweet. One card, a single card, and Elena still got it wrong on the one-card hand. It happens even in the best houses.

Ioana crossed the finish line first, on 120 points. It didn't start well — only 3rd after the opening eights — but it clearly didn't end there. At one stretch, 10 good hands in a row.

Well played everyone — and especially Ioana!