Each of you played an excellent game. This was not an easy decision and I've agonized over this for a while. Ultimately, whoever wins this will be well deserving. There's a reason each of you made it here.
Gustave, I think you sold yourself somewhat short in your opening and closing speeches. You were someone no one disliked, and I think you could have exploited that much more (both in the FTC and during the game) than you did. That is an indicator of your good character, I think.
Oracle, you had perhaps the best and most active social game of the three. While you had trouble balancing those extensive social ties at certain points during the game, I could see your growth throughout and those very social ties are the reason you made it this far in the first place. You've had the most self-reflective FTC by far and that is the mark of a good player.
Richie, I think your weakness was clearly your social game here. I think you had trouble managing what you wanted versus the needs and wants of your social connections at times which lead to people feeling hurt or otherwise burned by you. You had a few sketchy rounds as a result of those mistakes. I don't think any of this was malicious on your part (see: you thinking I wanted to go after Suzy that one round) but more you interpreting what you wanted to interpret.
That being said, Richie, you clearly had the best structural game of the three, which allowed you to survive the onslaught of mid merge. Your strategical game was also on point, and even when you were at your lowest it seemed you were always planning your next step or had something ready in the back pocket. Ultimately, I think you had the most well-rounded game here. Although it is very close. The three of you all had different strengths and weaknesses which made this hard to compare. I think Richie just edges out here though.
RichieSpoiler
That's 2.5 votes Richie, 2 votes Oracle, 1 vote M. Gustave.
