A tug of war, won by Radu

The lead passed from hand to hand, 4 times over — it was anyone's guess.

Radu finishes on 139 points, 30 above the next — the rest were playing a different game, it seems. 10 good hands in a row — at one point, Radu was playing as if they could see everyone else's cards.

Coca took second with 109 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. Coca swore 0 in the three-card hand on the way down and took a trick — whist has a sense of humour.

Mihai completed the podium with 99 points. In the second of the opening eights, Mihai bid 0 and took 3 — and Ana went down with it.

In 4th place, Ana, on 97 points. In the third of the opening eights: Ana called 1, took 4, and Ioana was left out in the cold. After the seven-card hand on the way up, Ana was 3rd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Elena finishes right in the middle — neither hot nor cold — 5th, with 96 points. The place above was a single point away.

The tail of the table: Ioana, with 95 points. Somebody has to hold the candle. The table was Ioana's after the six-card hand on the way down; the second half had other ideas. The place above was a single point away.

Well played everyone — and especially Radu!