Scarlett's Speech (Pahkitew Island)

Scarlett: Wow. I have been playing CYOR since the very beginning. In my first run with Gwen, I made It all the way to the final 3 and was named as the best player to not win. Throughout my time playing I gained a lot of confidence but season after season playing a more dominant game meant getting a late pre-merge or early merge boot. Coming in to Pahkitew Island with such a huge target along with Gmo. I had to shake my game up. The fact that I am in the finale, is proof that shaking things up payed off, regardless of who takes home the crown.

As I mentioned before, having a huge target forced me to pre-game with the other veterans, and I quickly formed an alliance with Max, who I thought of as incredibly skilled and potentially as a meat shield, and rebuilt my former bond with Spirit/Amy, who I had previously taken out in Revenge Of The Island. I also formed strong bonds with Sugar and Topher, the latter allowing me to also build inroads with fellow teammates Sky and Beardo. In most cases, you’d say I was fairly well set up to dominate the pre-merge with so many allies, and I initially was, when I became responsible for the very first vote of the season in taking out Jasmine to save Sugar.

But then things turned from relaxing in the sun, to escaping a cyclone when Topher attempted to target me after I suggested that we take out Beardo over Leonard. It was at that point in the game that I remembered all of my previous seasons and how I failed to stay in, so I agreed to the Leonard vote, knowing that while it might stab me in the chest now, rebuilding trust with Topher was imperative for the long run. At the very least, by the end of it, with Leonard leaving in place of myself in a potential minority, I went from potentially walking out the door to having a very loyal final 2 partner in Topher. After all, making it to the tribe swap on a team with my allies as the majority, it was certainly the right call.

As I mentioned, Beardo was someone that I had tried to target in the past but doing so almost got me eliminated. When we were granted the power to vote off someone from their team, although it wasn’t my most active vote, I will say the subtle and explicit hints I had dropped to them had ironically helped to convince my entire team, who I all had alliances with, that they should make MY optimal move without even lifting a finger until casting the final vote.

Topher, I am so sorry that you were eliminated here. As you know, Shawn and Samey created a plan that nobody else knew about. However, I will use this opportunity to truly exemplify how well integrated I was. For all intents and purposes, Shawn and Samey were the two people on our team with who my bonds were the weakest. Yet both of them contacted me throughout the vote imploring who I voted for. Not only that, but despite having the power to eliminate ANYONE, Samey convinced Shawn to go after Topher instead of myself which was his original plan. While I certainly respect his determination, was admittedly one of the biggest mistakes in the game, for Max and I were bigger names to put on his resume. Proving that even my weak bonds were still strong.

Shawn, while I do feel terrible with how you were eliminated, I can’t say that I wasn’t happy that you were the one to go. Because this is where I prove to ya’ll without a shadow of a doubt that I played a stronger game than Amy. Remember, Shawn went home in a 3-3 rock draw. Amy has already stated that there was a four-person alliance between herself, Sky, Samey, and Shawn. Let’s look at all 3. In most scenarios, I would argue that Amy would’ve had a much easier time gathering votes against Shawn or Sky, and even if she did lose to Samey, at least the money would stay in the family. Staying with the majority and sending Max out the door was clearly Amy’s optimal move. Instead she sided with the minority, a minority many would’ve argued coming into this final tribal were two scenarios that would be very difficult for Amy to win in. Furthermore, she should’ve realized that siding with us would force us to draw rocks. That could have gotten Shawn out which happened or potentially could backfire and send her packing because none of us knew what would happen if a tie was to happen. It was the messier move all around and she didn’t have to make it unlike myself.

If you need even more proof, look at the final 5. Amy voted out her own sister. When it could have been an easy 3-2 vote sending Max or I home. And after all Amy flat out said Samey was willing to put aside the elimination of her accomplice in the elimination of Topher.

And then again instead of forcing a tie at final four and potentially eliminating myself in a fire-making challenge or just straight up convincing Max to vote for me. Amy once again stuck with me, voting out Sky, who was easily her best chance at winning.

The only time in the merge that Amy made her optimal move was in the final 3 when she voted to evict Max. And my read might be wrong, but despite already being to the final 3 once before, I’m confident both players were willing to take me over the other. No matter what, but Sky’s elimination, I had earned my spot.

Overall, throughout the season I was constantly finding myself in dangerous positions, but I knew when to fold, play my hand, and sometimes, even go all in. Was Amy my first choice in sitting next to? Not exactly, but I didn’t have a choice. I got here on my own strengths doing what I do best, making it far deeper than anyone but a select few All-Stars of the game could’ve pulled off. Amy said it herself. She positioned well enough to have a choice. And yet she made some of the worst ones. Shawn, Sky, Samey, Max, Topher. I hope when you go into that voting booth you remember that Amy didn’t just vote for you. She actively betrayed you. Betrayed you in favor of two legends, one of whom is an option for you to crown the winner.

**Winning Speech? Yes (1st)**