Elena never gave up the lead

A game of broken contracts — 65 of them around the table, and scores from 130 all the way down to 78.

Last, but with style: Mihai, with 78 points. At least there were cards worth talking about. Mihai said they'd take nothing in the fourth of the middle eights... and took some. Whist listens, then does the opposite.

Ana finishes right in the middle — neither hot nor cold — 5th, with 85 points. In the fourth of the closing eights: Ana said 0, made 3, and the evening was ruined for Cristi. The place above was a single point away.

Neither at the front nor at the back: Vlad in 4th, with 86 points. The comfort zone. Vlad was ahead of Sebi right up to the last hand. After the second of the closing eights, Vlad was 3rd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans. In the four-card hand on the way down, 5 chairs flew at Vlad within seconds 🪑 — the table had opinions.

Sebi rounds out the podium with 87 points. Bronze still counts as a medal. The last hand decided it: Sebi went past Vlad right on the line. In the third of the closing eights, 5 chairs flew at Sebi within seconds 🪑 — the table had opinions.

Cristi took second with 103 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. In the last of the middle eights: Cristi said 0, scooped 3, and Ana and Vlad were left counting the pieces. 2 hands in a row: the table said and did, Cristi said and... hoped. It didn't hold. The five-card hand on the way down: 3 chairs thrown at Cristi in seconds 🪑 — the table spoke its mind, furnished and all.

Elena took the game with 130 points and a 27-point cushion — never really in doubt. In front from the second of the opening eights to the end, and nobody got close enough to worry about. 8 good hands in a row — at one point, Elena was playing as if they could see everyone else's cards.

Well played everyone — and especially Elena!