Well here we are! It has been 3 crazy freaking weeks, and I am gonna start by honestly thanking Ian and Ethan for creating and running such a great season! I am sorry for always bothering you haha.
So it comes down to this - 2 people, 9 jurors, 1 winner - and I am sure a lot of you came in here ready to vote already, but I ask you read my game and hear about what was unseen.
I came in here with 3 main strategies
1. Keep strong in the tribal phase, and get to know as many people.
2. Build bonds with the larger players, and learn to play them to benefit your game unknowingly.
3. Do NOT win the first couple individual immunities, and then win them when you feel you need.
Looking back on my game I really feel I have done those all, and very well. This will be long, but there is still so much more. I played a very subtle game, but I hope reading this and looking back you will be able to see how my approach played perfectly from the start.
I came in here with a key ally, and one that NO ONE knew until the very end. The person I was working with from day 1 was BRIAN! Coming in Brian was a good friend and I KNEW we had to not become tied but that he was my partner. BUT Brian is a strong personality, and I knew being linked as his number 2 would cost me the game (shout out to Chillums survivor for teaching me that).
COMING IN - I quickly started to differentiate my game from Brians tho, knowing he was flashy and often the centre of things, I was going to get in with as many people as a loner. I quickly started working with Brady, and after the first tribe swap Natasha and Mal.
THE FIRST MOVE - The first time I started to use the sway I was building was when in or first tribal, I knew INSTANTLY I couldn’t trust Cadden and Chance. Chance was trying to play me as a newbie from the start. So I pushed the votes on Chance, making a very quiet but important first move in my game. This was quickly followed by his partner, the only person who was onto me and Brian, Cadden.
FINAL 11 - But then very quickly we reached the merge! This is when it started, and quickly an old friend came back (Chris <3), I wanted to work with him but I also knew that with 11 people left me pushing to keep someone who was already out would make the waves I didn’t want. So while the merge tribe lines drew, Chris had to go as the last easy all together vote.
FINAL 10 - Now is when my game became very effective. Nathan, who I was ALSO with as of tribe 3, started talking about going after Brian. I knew that it was because he hasn’t spoken to Nathan so I got Brian to talk to Nathan and that was the start of our 3 person alliance. An alliance where on both sides I had their loyalty.
From their Brian proposed brining in Kyle and Paul, building a voting block made sense and would allow me and Brian to not be seen longer. Our final 5 didn’t start off too smooth tho because I quickly decided I wanted Grace gone as I was not close with her. However the others aimed for Natasha, someone who I liked and didn’t want going home. I got Nathan on board and then pushed Grace as a vote flipper slowly through the day. After the dust settled Grace went home.
FINAL 9 - With lines drawn, I knew I was in a great spot, knowing Brady and the Nat’s trust me. But in the last round Natalie proved to me she couldn’t be trusted by lying, so I knew easy in that Nat needed to go. I had to work a lot keeping brady and I still tight even tho we were on opposite sides of the game. This was a GREAT source of info as to where they land, and I was able to keep the target off Brady in our 5.
FINAL 8 - Natasha, I know you feel me voting you out was “SHEEP” like, but everything I did was about timing and a final 8 the way it was, knowing Kyle had an idol, was not the time. But I worked on getting Brian on board to get Kyle out the next round. Kyle had taken too much power.
FINAL 7 - This was the vote that changed the game, I had been using Brian as a way to hear Kyle and Pauls more private strategy for a while. I knew Paul and Kyle brought up my name, so I started to look at how to get them out. I went to Brady, who in a move that wasn’t planned went to Kyle.
Kyle then came to our 5 chat after me and Nathan, but we worked hard and got X to calm the situation so we could finalize. Then Kyle started throwing out Mal and Bradys names and I knew if I told them Kyle leaked their stuff they would go against him. With those in lock I organized the vote of Kyle, yes this was an alliance move but the approach and day of strategy was my move and I truly believe it wouldn’t have happened without me and Kyle would be here,
FINAL 6 - This was the craziest round, and I will admit my biggest hiccup in the game. It was becoming clear Paul Brady and Mal got locked on Nathan. The options were to tie and go to rocks where me or Brian would go home 66%, or vote Nathan out and bring my closest ally into the final 5, but sadly at the cost of Nathan who I was close with.
Now CLEARLY that didn’t work out, yes this was not a move I saw coming, and in retrospect we should have kept votes. BUT I also realize that while I was bamboozled, it still saved me. Sadly it lost me my absolute rock, and I had betrayed my number 2.
Going into the finale tonight I had made my choice in how I would play it, I was going to win immunities and take out Paul, Brady and Mal if possible. I knew that since they lied about the Nathan vote I needed to play nice but go for them all.
I won 2 immunities tonight, when I pushed myself to try hard since it was do or die.
Now before it gets asked I will answer “WILL WHY DID YOU BRING NATHAN? YOURE GOING TO LOSE”
Brining Nathan was the harder choice, and as much as many people would want me to ditch him at the end. I wrote his name down once, for the wrong reasons, and I wouldn’t do it again. BUT I also do not think coming in the jury had seen that behind every move and shift, the one steering the target between the others was NOT Nathan but it was me.
I went to 12 tribals, was in on and steering the vote 11 times.
I received only ONE vote in the season, and despite being tied to everyone and every vote I avoided the target.
I won 2/9 immunities alone, and 5/8 with my tribe.
My game was imperfect as everyones is. But please look at the numbers of my game, look back at the votes and the shifts and who was there at EVERY turn, and look at how despite not holding any idols or advantages I was able to sway each vote to where I wanted.
I TRULY love and respect Nathan and he played a great game. I am not here to say otherwise. I am here however to show you what I was doing since day 1, and how over the last 3 weeks I have been the stronger force on votes, and kept strong personal bonds to keep my game relevant and informed.
Thank you to all nine of you on an amazing season - I legit loved the top 11 and I am so excited to see you all in all stars ;)
Now I will answer ANY question - Skype me too if you’d like - and goodluck in your choice <3
- Will
