Monica, from start to finish

An evening with a bit of everything, except contracts kept: 45 slips at the table and scores from 75 down to 53.

First place: Monica, with 75 points. In the first of the closing eights: Monica said 1, scooped 4, and Mihai was left counting the pieces. In front from the second of the opening eights to the end, and nobody got close enough to worry about.

Cretu took the runner-up spot with 68 points. Cretu got past Mihai at the very last hand. In the last of the opening eights: Cretu said 2, made 5, and the evening was ruined for Elena.

Mihai rounds out the podium with 65 points. Bronze still counts as a medal. Mihai was ahead of Cretu right up to the last hand.

Last place: Elena, with 53 points. After the two-card hand on the way up, Elena was 3rd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Well played everyone — and especially Monica!