Hi Jury - I'd like to first apologize for being so tubby.
Coming into this season, many of us were really disgruntled by the blackout twist. I think being able to play with a little bit of secrecy is something that you can work to your advantage, so I tried my best to be optimistic.
During the half of the game, I tried to give myself what would be a good foundation for the back half where the cuts are usually a lot deeper. I found myself making bonds with what ended up being the two warring factions later on: Ashley and Joey vs. Harry and Nathan. In doing this, it was an openly two-sided game but with votes not being revealed, there was a strong opportunity to lay low and play the middle ground. Once Nathan nominated Ashley and Joey, I knew that there would be clearer warring factions. The following round was the double evictions, where despite me and Jimmy having beef from a previous game, my friendship with Joey proved to come in handy. Jimmy was publically asking me to give reasons why I shouldn't go on the block and how dare I not come to him begging for safety. I maintained composure and ultimately, Jimmy gave Joey the decision on who to save. Had I demonstrated potential earlier on to Jimmy that I would be a threat to him, the decision may have been much clearer to him. In laying low in the first half and having the right relationships, I was able to dodge my first bullet of the game.
Entering the jury phase, we had the public eviction. Everyone who asked me I told who I was voting. Joey played that smartly and voted in the minority to have minimal competition in the following HOH. That week Melinda went which gave me a higher percentage of people left in the game that I was working with.
With Joey as HOH the following week, I didn't want to make waves and reveal my full hand. While I did start speaking to Rose strategically before this, Nathan did show that he was more able to win competitions so I leaned into saving Nathan and was able to gain much more of an ally in him.
The following week I finally won HOH. It was all about keeping the people I knew and trusted more in the inner circle. I nominated Jimmy who was openly against me and almost nominated me weeks prior, and Raul who won competitions early in the game but was not on my side yet. Joey vetoed Jimmy; which showed me that despite me being HOH, Joey and Jimmy's relationship was closer than ours. I never showed remorse from not nominating Joey because that was another potential ally I had, but it was a great opportunity to put those two on more of a pedestal than they already were. My replacement nominee was Billy, who was active but didn't yet strategize with me. I knew it was possible that he was in with Harry and Nathan. Getting rid of Billy lessened some numbers on what I saw as the majority, but didn't make any earth shattering waves in my game.
During my HOH, I also took the opportunity to make some deals. Ivy came to me to chat after winning but in promising her safety, I was able to confirm a lot of what I knew to be true. Me, her, Matt, and Raul were in the middle of two groups - both of which contained allies of mine. Even though if people asked, I openly said I wasn't going to nominate Joey - I was still able to hide that a little by being openly against Jimmy. The Middle Man alliance of me, Ivy, and Matt was born after I nominated Raul. It gave me many potential directions to go, but the following week I definitely had to make some choices.
Joey's next HOH - I was asked to vote for Harry. Not something I could do for my game especially over Raul but I knew the votes would be there with the Middle Man alliance to save him. Ivy and Matt both confirmed that Joey was asking them the same thing I was being asked. When the plan didn't go Joey's way, I rightfully was accused of flipping but I was one of few to be forthcoming about it after the fact despite the Blackout twist.
With Jimmy winning the next HOH, I knew I was going on the block but luckily the work I'd been doing to end up in an unassuming position paid off. The Middle Man alliance not only was there to help over Harry, but in building trust with Nathan, he also chose to save me over one of his closest allies. This vote proved that I could save myself from a hopeless situation without having to win a competition.
Nathan won the following HOH - nominated Jimmy and Joey. Even with Joey winning the veto, I trusted Nathan. Not only did one of my biggest adversaries go home, but I was also given a peek into where the rest of the Middlemen stood. In Ivy not being Nathan's replacement nominee, I knew that she was more likely to have similar allies to me than Matt was.
Joey's 3rd HOH. Ivy had evicted Jimmy previously so she sat on the block despite me crossing Joey in a previous eviction. I can't speak for Joey's reasoning or intentions, but in owning up to my votes earlier, earning back some trust there helped me seem worth keeping despite no one else but me and Nathan having won a competition. At the final 5, I had to make a tough cut and evict Nathan - I knew that he was a strong competitor besides Joey and had a few friends on the jury. Even though he showed me loyalty, I had to make a decision for myself and evict him. Nathan was being told by others he was safe - this proved not to be true. While I did vote out an ally of mine, I stayed honest about my intentions with Nathan before the eviction. He had ample time to campaign but was still being wrongfully told that he was safe.
To sit before you tonight, I won the last two HOHs and Veto competition. At the final 4, I was friendly with everyone left but set the stage for the biggest competitor to go home. Joey openly targeted Ivy before so I knew Ivy getting to make the decision would be the most surefire result. Tonight in the Final 3, I chose to sit next to Matt over Ivy. I indicated a few times where she proved to be socially savvy. In her escaping being nominated so many times, I knew she would have a strong case at the end of the game.
In summary, thanks all for a great game. I gave you as many specifics and I could but let me know with your questions if you need any clarification. I played hard and know that I deserve your vote to win.
Thanks x tubby out