The comeback of Ana

The lead passed from hand to hand, 6 times over — it was anyone's guess.

Nico closed the table from the back, on 86 points — there is always a next game. In the fourth of the closing eights, Nico bid 1 and took 5 — and Ana and Mihai went down with them.

Ioana finished 4th with 100 points. Level on points with Elena, and behind only on the tie-break. 2 hands in a row: the table said and did, Ioana said and... hoped. It didn't hold.

Neither at the front nor at the back: Elena in 4th, with 100 points. The comfort zone. Elena left the robot at the wheel most of the evening and still came out respectable. Teamwork with the server.

Third, on the podium: Mihai, up there with eyes on the top step. In the first of the opening eights: Mihai said 1, made 4, and the evening was ruined for Elena. Mihai was ahead of Radu right up to the last hand.

Second place for Radu, with 111 points. So close to the top they can still taste it — bittersweet. Radu got past Mihai at the very last hand. 2 hands in a row: the whole table kept its word, only Radu didn't — but insisted, with dignity.

First place: Ana, with 122 points. The rest, see you in the replay. It didn't start well — only 3rd after the opening eights — but it clearly didn't end there. At one stretch, 9 good hands in a row.

Congratulations to all — see you at the next table!