Elena, from start to finish

Another evening at the green baize, and it had a bit of everything.

Elena wins by 31 clear. That's not whist any more, it's a parade with a brass band. In front from the last of the opening eights to the end, and nobody got close enough to worry about. At one stretch, 10 good hands in a row.

Ana took second with 91 points — a fine evening, but the gods of whist were busy elsewhere. The last hand decided it: Ana went past edge right on the line. 2 hands in a row: Ana broke the contract each time while everyone else made theirs.

Third, and on the podium: edge, with 86 points. edge was ahead of Ana right up to the last hand. 2 hands in a row: the table said and did, edge said and... hoped. It didn't hold.

Mihai took last place without any nerves at all, on 59 points. 3 hands in a row: only Mihai slipped, while the rest said it and did it. The cards were kind to everyone but Mihai.

Well played everyone — and especially Elena!