Opening Statement DRAFT

[Abi-Maria Gomes]

Hola amigos! Gracias to these hot hosts for making these games happen, it was the funness.

Now in all seriousness, everyone knows I speak fine English so I'll quit with the act for now. I have no delusions I am probably going into this Tribal Council drawing dead with almost no shot at actually winning the game. I do hope that you guys at least hear out what I am going to say and give me a chance to explain myself.

I entered the game always with the intention of winning, and my characterization of Abi actually had a purpose other than just being amusing. I tried very hard from the very start of the game to come across as a non-threat goofball troll type player, exactly the kind of player the strategic players would want to bring along as easy manipulatable, and someone who would not get the respect of the jury at the end. Players like Greg and Fairplay and PG who were so direct and upfront with their strategy quickly got on everyone's radar, I usually play that way as well but I decided to make a different approach. In a game where the biggest threats are the first to go, particularly at the merge, I made my mission to never ever be the biggest threat.

But how did I manipulate the game myself, did I simply fly under the radar and float to the end as the token jury goat? The answer here is that more so than anyone else in the game, I played BOTH SIDES really hard, and BOTH SIDES really trusted me implicitly up until the point I screwed one side or the other. 

For example, on Gengi, I was more active in challenges than I was at any other point in the game, where I didn't try or outright threw, because at the start of the game challenge performance is one of the most important indicators of whether or not you leave or not.

Both sides on Gengi:

The main alliance on Gengi was Rob-Corinne-Rupert-Fairplay and myself. Even so, I had separate alliance with everyone else and kept in close contact with them, most notably Coach. My relationship with Coach (DragonSlayer and the Pantalones Pirate) became of utmost importance later at the merge, whereas the other players in the alliance didnt associate much with him, I kept in close contact and shared info with him, always keeping my options open.

Both Sides at the Swap

Likewise, after the swap I was very fortunate to end up teamed with the 4 most active players of my alliance, and 3 players of the opposing team. During this time I always kept very close to Eliza and PG, even knowing they were likely going to be voted off. I really pushed Reed to go because I had lost my trust in him when I heard what he said about me, and had PG or Eliza gone then they would not have returned to the game but gone to jury. The entire time I was conspiring both with Rob-Corinne and with Eliza-PG to make a move on Fairplay, and although it never happened I never lied to Eliza and PG about voting them out. I was even blunt that I had tried to get the target onto Fairplay but couldnt get Corinne to pull the trigger to keep them around. This like my close ties with Coach was tremendous come merge, cause Eliza and PG made the merge via twists in the game.

Both sides at the Merge

The merge and particularly Rupert's vote was arguably the most important one in the game and set the stage for the rest of the season. Fairplay at this point had no idea I was conspiring against him, and I knew that Coach was solidly against him as well. Eliza and PG who had made the merge miraculously were as well, and Fairplay was a sinking ship to stick with. I was in both group chats at the same, I believe I was the only one who was, and was getting all the information from almost everyone because of the alliances I made and the trusts I built. Ultimately I chose the side I did for because Fairplay was all over the place and changing the vote several times, and Amber/Jason were too sketchy at that point to depend on. Rupert going before Fairplay and Amber was actually ideal, as it left 2 HUGE targets in the game everyone had wanted out, and gave my newly formed alliance something to focus on, while keeping Rob and Corinne around.

The toughest part for me about doing this was ditching Rob and Corinne, we were close in the game and I had wanted to tell them, but the new alliance of Alex-Coach-PG-Eliza and Baylor strongly felt they would tell Fairplay (even though I knew they wouldn't) and said in so many words if I told them, I would lose the trust of this new alliance.

Now even within the new 6 person alliance, I had multiple side deals. Coach was threatened by PG, and let PG know that all the time. PG and Eliza never fully trusted Coach and Alex, which I informed them of as well. Later on, I made a Final pact with Baylor to go the end and take out the biggest jury threats in PG and Coach. I made sure PG and Coach were both pinned against each other so I had always had the option of choosing whichever side felt right at the time when our alliance inevitably crumpled.  Alex and Coach both kept me around expecting me to go with them to the end, I had the power to save them but ultimately chose to go with the women because I knew I couldn't beat them

I'm not going to say I played the best game or dictated all of the key votes, cause we all know I didn't. I broke many alliances, was very unloyal and wasn't the best at challenges. But I always did my best to stay social and gained the trust of many people, allowing me to play both sides all games and never be the target. I always over-emphasized my being a goat/troll, how much the jury despised me, and made a point of everytime Corinne or Fairplay disliked my TC comments, which actually benefitted my game oddly enough.


I think I said enough and will save the rest for your jury questions, good luck guys and thanks for listening even if you already made up your minds!