puzzle 253: "game four"

[Erik Agard]

nearing the end...

On 29 July 2017 at 11:28, Erik Agard <cruelandu...@gmail.com> wrote:

what would [the game] be without a dance break? 

On 28 July 2017 at 14:45, Erik Agard <cruelandu...@gmail.com> wrote:

#2 comin' atcha

On 27 July 2017 at 11:59, Erik Agard <cruelandu...@gmail.com> wrote:

It’s game time! This will be a best-of-five series, with one game every day between today and Monday. All you have to figure out is:

1. Who’s playing?
2. What are they playing?
3. Who wins the series?

To check answers, request hints, report errata, and so forth, email me at cruelandu...@gmail.com. Good luck!

PS: Thanks to joon pahk, who tested these puzzles and made them better.

[Erik Agard]

(a point of clarification on game four: the meta answer is a well-known german who is not currently alive and who would be a solid fifth theme entry for this puzzle.)