Cozo never gave up the lead

One evening, 6 players, a single crown. The rest — stories to tell over coffee.

Last place, with dignity: Ana, with 81 points. Somebody had to do it. 14 broken contracts, collected like stamps.

Mihai finished 5th with 87 points. In the second of the closing eights: Mihai said 1, scooped 4, and Kiki and Radu were left counting the pieces. Before the last eights, only 9 points off the podium — the pace just didn't hold.

Radu finishes right in the middle — neither hot nor cold — 4th, with 92 points. After the two-card hand on the way up, Radu was 3rd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Cristian Imparat rounds out the podium with 102 points. Bronze still counts as a medal. In the fourth of the opening eights, Cristian bid 2 and took 5 — and Radu went down with it.

Kiki took second with 110 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. Kiki said they'd take nothing in the fourth of the middle eights... and took some. Whist listens, then does the opposite.

Cozo took the game with 144 points and a 34-point cushion — never really in doubt. In front from the fifth of the opening eights to the end, and nobody got close enough to worry about.

Congratulations to all — see you at the next table!