Hello jury, I think some of you are happy to see me here, but I think more are not. I am not going to stand up here tonight and tell you I played the perfect game, there were parts of my game that were flawed, and parts that were reckless. I take ownership for everything I did and everything I said.
To start with everything chronologically, I knew from day 0, my aim in this game was to sit beside Jake and Joey in the end. I think it’s to all our credits, we were able to play three different sides of the game so no matter what we could always find a benefit from each decision. We did, however, have to make bonds on each of our three tribes and navigate to that.
To start off on my tribe, Lasserre, I quickly went to work on making bonds with each member of our tribe (Bar Leon, who was inactive), putting myself in the ideal spot. I figured from the start that Pietro and Meggie were a close two, personally I saw this to be a meat shield for me, as a duo would shield me if things went crazy at merge and they both seemed like lovely people who would make logical decisions. I also bonded with Erik, I found Erik to be someone I could keep to the side and felt that many would underestimate so someone I would have aimed to keep longer. I wanted to target Timberlie, as I felt he was the sort of person, who if he got momentum could make a run for power so wanted to trip him up before he got the shot, so together with the people I bonded with, we cut him before he got a chance to run, the vote was unified because in my mind, I got in with the duo and then let Erik in the loop. Because of me, we were a unified group going into the merge.
When merge hit, I was united with my final three alliance of Jake and Joey, we knew we had to play three different sides of the game so that we wouldn’t be seen as a trio, we knew this would mean that could mean we would lose our allies in this. I was the first to lose Erik, I was saddened by this as I did want to see Erik go further, but it was a loss I knew I would have to take. I used this boot to appear mad and create divisions that could benefit me, I mentioned the fact Jimmy had thrown Joey under the bus, this would mean Joey and Ray would be more likely to vote Jimmy in the future, which they did.
The next round, I went out to try and be open to people and make new bonds. But everyone, honestly treated me like shit, particularly the instances when people would approach me to make a fake alliance and then leak it, it was unnecessary, of course I knew about all this, thanks to the fact I had convinced Jake to leak me everything that was going on. I knew I was a potential vote and thanks to the fact I had my mole in the alliance, I was able to use Jake to keep my name off it (And thanks to Bender being AFK), using my social bonds to infiltrate an alliance. The vote tied, and I knew that regardless, it didn’t really hurt me to lose Pietro, but I couldn’t risk Jake going as Jake had advantages that would help me in the future, and I couldn’t have myself going. I, as a result, conceded this and told Ray to flip if he so wished, which gave him the blessing to do so, with zero backlash.
We then went to the next tribal council, Jimmy’s boot. The idol I played was never identified correctly, I convinced Jake to not only tell me that his tribe was voting for me, but also, I convinced Jake to GIVE ME THE IDOL. Jimmy was never trusting of me, and was vocal about this to his tribe, I heard. Jimmy also, was very much one of the heads, so he had to go. I knew Jimmy would be harder to play with me. So, I called the shot. Sometimes, I do not value an idol being played in survivor, or an idol being found. But the fact, I got my own ally to give it up and then cover their tracks, so that it was a secret, was a credit to me in my opinion.
Akshay, was someone else who also never got along with me, we very clearly never connected and had a poor relationship. I attempted to work through things with him, but he never trusted me. I had heard rumours of him pushing for me, but he certainly wasn’t pushing against me. With the foursome of Ray, Joey and Meggie that I had forced together, they listened to my idea that I sold to them and Akshay bit the dust.
Bender for me, was then the wildcard in the game, he threw everything at the wall openly, like how I did, but he did it with lies that I was able to fact check. I considered rallying for Bender to stay, but he came for Meggie then, Meggie was someone who I felt would not turn against me soon, so I was extremely hesitant. I cannot take the credit for saving Meggie, for that was Meggie’s game herself and the fact that it did not overly benefit anyone.
At final 6, Jake told me that Oliver had me as his person to vote off, so I knew that I had to be super careful and push really hard for immunity and thank the Lord, but I did the best and luck rewarded me with it. It meant I could be comfortable knowing that an idol could not take me out. I knew Meggie played a similar game to me, but was more social. I knew we would split votes if we sat next to each other, so I went with the split vote plan. And, in the hardest vote off for me I saw Meggie go to the jury, I felt sad, but it was a necessary move of the game.
In final 5, I knew that Ray, probably wanted me gone for voting him and I knew Oliver was REALLY gunning for me. One problem was, that I knew Oliver wasn’t going to shift, but I had to keep him as in order to get to the final 3, I knew that whoever was with me/Jake/Joey had to lose final immunity and for that reason, I had to keep the one person who’s mission is was to get me out in the game at final four. It was a risk, but it had to be done. Jake and I both had to convince Joey to do this too, and thanks to being able to do that, I was able to sit in a final four, I felt confident at making it to the end with.
When we got to final 4, it was us and Oliver, Oliver was someone I could see the jury respecting maybe, as he didn’t make a lot of enemies and didn’t wrong the jury. He was openly against me, so I ensured he went, while also just being loyal to my final three.
I think a lot of people in this game underestimated me, I think a lot of you thought you were outplaying me, or that I believed you. Examples being Oliver saying, he put me near the bottom of his list or that Bender wanted the side alliance. I think I used that to my advantage and that’s one of the reasons I’m sitting here today.
I acknowledge, sometimes I sucked socially, I was a loudmouth, but I fought in this game as hard as I could, I mapped my own destiny. I made the moves and even when things didn’t go exactly to plan, I flipped them my way. I never had the luxury of not being targeted, which perhaps is a fault of mine, but it meant I had to fight so hard every time to get here.
I flipped the script, played up from the bottom, ran a side in my opinion, and received God knows how many votes, I was a target but I kept fighting, if it meant getting someone to give up their idol for me or relying on the bonds I have made.
I think you should acknowledge the fact, that I came in here, played hard, played big and that for that reason, I am most deserving of the rewards.
I’m super open to any questions, I’m sure I ruffled enough feathers this game and I’m sure a lot of you don’t respect me, so I have a lot to say haha.
