Akobian-Perelshteyn, 0-1. Two winners of the prestigious Samford Fellowship (present and past) face each other. Perelshteyn played an aggressive King's Indian and took the risk of keeping his king in the center. Akobian sacked a pawn to get at the king, but the black queen roamed the board and interfered with white's plans. Black consolidated, exploited other pawn weaknesses and promoted a passed pawn which cost Akobian a minor piece.

Krush-Christiansen, ½-½. This Nimzo-Indian between the two former U.S. Champions had all the makings of being a decisive game. The pawn structures were asymmetrical and ragged with many opportunities for mistakes. It turned out that Krush's had the better pawn structure and benefited from over-ambitious play by Christiansen. However, the experienced GM played actively and harassed white to the point where there was no progress to be made.

Muhammad-Simutowe, 0-1. Again… the IM from Zambia was party to an interesting game. Both he and Muhammad met at the Wilbert Paige tournament and he was seeking to even the score. Simutowe was fortunate to get out of the opening alive after his pieces became entangled. Muhammad had begun to establish a grip in the center after 18.Nf5. At this point, NM Lionel Davis (watching at the ICC) claimed that "Black is busted." While this assessment is a bit overstated, white certainly had more options in the position. The tide began to turn after 29…bxa4! Simutowe penetrated, won a pawn and executed impeccable endgame technique. Muhammad fought all the way and continued to set up mating possibilities in case the Zambian fell asleep at the board. It was not be and thus, Simutowe would take sole possession of 1st place with 2-0.

Paschall-Ehlvest, ½-½. When one takes one look at the opening, it would be safe to say that the game would attract interest. Whenever the Sicilian Najdorf is thrown on the board, then there is a chance a novel idea will be unfurled.  Paschall played 7.a3!? which received criticism at the Internet Chess Club, but it has been played several times at Grandmaster level with success. Ehlvest played 10…Nxd4 11.Qxd5 b5, a typical Sicilian maneuver. After 17…Ng4, white obtained a slight edge since the knight had to retreat with 19…Nf6. Despite an interesting opening, no one was ever in danger of losing… perhaps a credit to Paschall!