6th Place:   FM David Pruess (SF) vs NM Elvin Wilson (PHI)   1-0


Another very strong performance by FM Pruess who simply carried an 
opening advantage through to the endgame and despite the lack of queens on the
board unleashed a devastating mating attack on the opposing King.  In
addition to being a very well played game, a very important win for San
Fransisco as Wilson was 6-0 in the league up to that point having taken
down many higher rated opponents (mostly with the black pieces no 
less!) and this game was the difference between this match being a win and a 
draw for San Fransisco, a major reason why they emerged as division champs 
instead of in second.


5th Place:  NM Jon Rouleau (BAL) vs FM Lewis Eisen (NY)  1-0


A huge win for Rouleau and the Baltimore team who after a four match 
winning streak had been stunned the previous two weeks by Philadelphia 
and Carolina and were suddenly in danger of missing the playoffs.  Yet 
aided by this wild game Baltimore took down the league leaders and clinched a 
spot rather than having it all ride on the next week's match with 
Boston. In the game itself, White sacrificed a piece for a raging attack, and 
it seemed very unclear if Black would have adequate defenses.  For awhile 
it seemed like that Black might well defend as Eisen developed some solid 
counterplay vs. the opposing King, but then time trouble set in, and 
Eisen was unable to adequately defend his own as White crashed through for 
the win.

4th Place: IM Pascal Charbonneau (BAL) vs FM Norman Rogers (PHI)  0-1  


Surely the biggest shocker of the entire season.  Charbonneau had 
recently gone on a great run having defeated two GMs and an IM in 
his previous three games while Rogers had yet to score at that point in 
the season. With a solid opening Rogers unleashed a raging attack 
against the White King while White's action on the other side was way behind.  
Rogers finished off his nice attack with the cute tactic 23... Rh3+! to which 
there was no answer.  Not only a huge upset for this particular game, 
but for the entire match as Baltimore had won four matches straight while 
Philly had not won one since the first week, and this game was surely a 
big reason as Philly took the match by the narrowest of margins 2.5 - 
1.5