Contrary to the "Pink Mastermind" theory described above, the Central Alliance didn't really have a clear leader. I actually forgot who had proposed it (and looking back in my messages it seems to have been Italy). And once we got going it became clear that each of us was good at tactics and was happy to exchange the usual bonding messages necessary to keep a group alliance going but wasn't interested in micromanaging one another (which can be galling for good players). We ended up with side messages going, where Italy and I would plan Mediterranean moves and Germany and Italy planned anti-French (or anti-English) moves without me.
In 1901 we got very lucky and no built Russia. Germany made it into France. This was looking very good. In 1902, Italy moved on the Eastern Med, I pushed hard against Russia's front and Germany helped Italy into Piedmont. We might have been held back a bit if England had troubled Germany but instead she assisted Germany against Russia and happily whacked away at France, preventing him from mounting an effective defense.
By 1903, Russia was crippled, France was on the way out, and Turkey was surrounded with enemy armies in Bulgaria and Syria. I don't recall whether I let Russia into Rumania voluntarily in spring 1903 but I pushed him out in the fall without too much fanfare. Turkey really had no chance at that point.
Before Spring 1905

By the beginning of 1905 (above), I had a ton of armies and essentially no navy and was starting to think about next steps. I was reluctant to swallow Russia immediately and reached out to him about working together. From my perspective, I could probably snatch his centers at any time but if I waited to do that and worked with him, it would delay having the other players form a "stop the leader" alliance. Russia agreed but then didn't follow through. Probably justifiably, he didn't trust my intentions (I had sent him a series of misleading messages over the first couple years so that was on me). I also may have been insufficiently clear about the Janissary alliance I had in mind - I wanted complete alliance with him - we would discuss each move and he would do exactly as we agreed. In exchange, I would keep him in the game through the end unless I was able to solo. Those partnerships can be very effective (always helpful to have a second set of eyes brainstorming and strategizing) but it didn't work out here.
Fall Orders 1905

In Fall 1905 I jumped for Munich. I knew it was a linchpin center that if I could take it I would be in a very strong position for a solo. Unfortunately, I elected to stab only Germany in this move and didn't also capture Venice. The upside was that Germany had to retreat West (good for me) but as Italy captured Con (I may have agreed to this and if I did, it was dumb) I was no built and Italy had two builds. If I had captured Venice (and defended Con) Italy would have had no builds and I could have built F Tri and A Vie. With the new Anglo-German hostilities in the North, I think I would have had a good chance of running to the solo. This was probably the key turning point of this match and I blew it.
I was further distressed in winter 1905 when Italy built an army in Venice. I'm not sure what he had in mind as I didn't have a build that year and I honestly don't recall if he took Con with my consent or not. Well, what he had in mind was pretty clear in 1906 when he absolutely steamrolled my southern flank and let Germany back into Munich. This was full panic mode moment for me. In one year I had blown my chance at a solo and was looking at a possible G/I two-way or (more likely given the Atlantic fleet situation) an Italian solo.
Winter 1905

[To be continued]