The Mole was won by Will Richardson (Kesi Neblett was the saboteur), but many people thought that Avori Henderson would be the victor. Avori quickly became a fan favorite when the show launched on October 7. The Netflix competition series is a reboot of the ABC show, which aired from 2001 to 2008. The series dropped a dozen players into a high-stakes game, and this season started in a lush Australian rainforest. The players needed to complete challenges in order to put money into their prize pot. They worked together, while knowing that one player ("the Mole") was trying to sabotage their every move. After each challenge, players had to take quizzes that asked them questions about the saboteur. Players with the lowest scores, who were way off base in terms of guessing who the Mole was, were eliminated, until there was only one player left standing.

Fans were excited to see Avori, an XSET-signed professional gamer, as a part of the cast. They felt that she was one of the top contenders to win the game. Fans know Avori from her Twitch streaming, and while they were already aware that she was great at strategic gaming, some also believed that she was a force to be reckoned with on the series. Within the first eight episodes (now available to stream on Netflix), Avori established herself as a contender. In her confessional interviews, she laid out her strategy for the audience, and it was obvious that she was quick, smart, and able to read others. Alas, Will was destined to win the game.

Related: Why Fans Love Avori & Pranav's Partnership on The Mole

Avori Was Able to Plan Strategically

One of the most important components of The Mole as a game is the fact that players need to be able to appear as innocent as possible, while still throwing some suspicion on themselves. In the spirit of Survivor and The Amazing Race, The Mole requires physical and mental agility. Players who seem honest may come off like they are trying too hard not to be perceived as the Mole, and thus make themselves look more like the saboteur. Avori was able to plan her game strategically, throwing small aspects of competitions from time to time, in order to make herself look suspicious. However, she didn't actually sacrifice much of the prize pot money.

Avori’s Gaming Background Helped Her (But Not Enough)

avori henderson from the mole

Avori is already a professional gamer, who competes online on a near-daily basis. As a contestant on The Mole, she was able to use what she'd learned in her time as a Web-based competitor (specifically, in multiplayer games) to her advantage. Whether that meant being able to think critically, or anticipating the decisions of others, Avori’s background worked for her as a competitor. Her abilities pushed her closer to a win, but didn't take her all the way.

Avori Was Adaptable Through Twists & Turns

Since everyone is a suspect on The Mole, the show employed various twists as the game continued, in order to keep things fresh for the contestants. From various chances at earning more information while losing money from the prize pot, to surprise competitions that pitted the players against one another, the game was always surprising. Avori was able to keep herself cool, calm, and collected, adapting through the changes. She didn't win the game, but she was a strong competitor nonetheless.

Next: The Mole: Joi Schweitzer Explains Why She Took $25,000 From The Group