The comeback of Catalin

The lead passed from hand to hand, 11 times over — it was anyone's guess.

Claudiu closes out the table, with 106 points. "Last one buys the coffee" — as they say at the table. Claudiu had the table at their feet after the five-card hand on the way down. Whist was there to remind them nothing lasts forever. In the six-card hand on the way up, Claudiu bid 3 and took 6 — and PaulP went down with it. In the fifth of the opening eights, Claudiu was showered with 2 kisses in a matter of seconds 💋.

PaulP finished 5th with 109 points. PaulP was ahead of Roua right up to the last hand. After the three-card hand on the way up, PaulP was leading the table — but the last hands had other plans.

Ana finished 4th with 114 points. Ana was ahead of CCC right up to the last hand. 2 hands in a row: the table said and did, Ana said and... hoped. It didn't hold.

Roua completed the podium with 116 points. The last hand decided it: Roua went past Ana right on the line. 2 hands in a row: only Roua slipped, while the rest said it and did it. The cards were kind to everyone but Roua. Roua cried laughing 8 times 😂 — a fun evening, at least on one side of the table.

CCC finished second, just 1 point short of the win. The last hand decided it: CCC went past Ana right on the line. The place above was a single point away. In the third of the middle eights the table couldn't make up its mind about CCC: 1 chair and 3 kisses flew in within seconds 🪑💋.

Catalin won by a whisker, with just 1 point — at whist even one point is as good as a mile. It didn't start well — only 6th after the opening eights — but it clearly didn't end there.

Well played everyone — and especially Catalin!