The lead kept changing — Ilinca came out on top

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

Vlad closes out the table, with 80 points. "Last one buys the coffee" — as they say at the table. In the third of the opening eights, Vlad bid 1 and took 4 — and Alice went down with it. Vlad was ahead of Coca right up to the last hand. Vlad sat thinking 4 times 🤔 — and still bid on a guess.

Coca finished 5th with 88 points. Coca got past Vlad at the very last hand. In the last of the opening eights: Coca said 0, made 4, and the evening was ruined for Vlad.

Matei finishes right in the middle — neither hot nor cold — 4th, with 102 points. After the two-card hand on the way up, Matei was 3rd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Mara rounds out the podium with 108 points. Bronze still counts as a medal. Mara swore 0 in the seven-card hand on the way down and took a trick — whist has a sense of humour.

Second place for Alice, with 116 points. So close to the top they can still taste it — bittersweet. At one stretch, 9 good hands in a row.

Ilinca gathered 134 points and the hearts of the crowd. Bravo!

Well played everyone. Same table next time?