Denisa, from start to finish

The cards were dealt, and so were the nerves. Here is the story.

First place and peace of mind: Denisa, with 131 points. In the fourth of the closing eights, Denisa bid 1 and took 5 — and GIBO and Victor Mihail went down with them. In front from the third of the opening eights to the end, and nobody got close enough to worry about.

Runner-up sounds good — gold sounded better. Catalin, with 124 points. 13 good hands in a row — at one point, Catalin was playing as if they could see everyone else's cards. Catalin cried laughing 3 times 😂 — a fun evening, at least on one side of the table.

Third, on the podium: Elena, up there with eyes on the top step. Elena left the robot at the wheel most of the evening and still came out respectable. Teamwork with the server.

CCC finishes right in the middle — neither hot nor cold — 4th, with 96 points. 2 hands in a row: the table said and did, CCC said and... hoped. It didn't hold. After the two-card hand on the way up, CCC was 2nd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans. The third of the closing eights: 2 chairs thrown at CCC in seconds 🪑 — the table spoke its mind, furnished and all.

GIBO finished 5th with 92 points. After the two-card hand on the way up, GIBO was 3rd and dreaming of the podium — but the last hands had other plans.

Last place: Victor Mihail, with 85 points. In the third of the opening eights: Victor said 1, scooped 5, and Catalin and GIBO were left counting the pieces. Before the last eights, only 6 points off the podium — the pace just didn't hold.

Well played everyone — and especially Denisa!