"If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.."
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National Master Shane Matthews Defied all odds, in beating off a scorching attack by National Master, Duane Rowe.

In what seemed like almost a forced win for NM Rowe, the "Magician" sacrificed his Queen to not only fend off Rowe's attack but also eventually turn the tables, and eventually win the game, with the help of the Bishop pair.

This victory for Matthews puts him on 4 points after 5 rounds and he now shares Joint 1st place with NM Jomo Pitterson, who also defeated Ryan Palmer in Round 5, after beating off a premature attack By Ryan Palmer.

Of note is that both leaders registered victotirs with the black pieces.

Defending champion FM Warren Elliott was held to a draw by National master, Robert Wheeler and is now in shared second place, with 3 points.

Mark Smith upset NM Geoffrey Byfield, while NM Holness turned the tables on FM Gibbs to pull off a draw against what seemed liek an unstoppable attack by the aggressive FM Gibbs.

Equitable Brown defeated Eton Chin, Peter Myers won against Markland Douglas, and Bertram Scott defeated Adrian Palmer.

Promising junior player, Malaku Lorne won another controversial game, against Mario Marshall, which had to be decided, by the Appeals committtee, after Mario tried to claim a draw by Adjudication, with seconds remaining on his clock. Lorne is now on three points, and will face FM Warren Elliott, in what will be the most important match of his career.

SCHEDULE OF RESULTS AFTER ROUND 5

RANK	NAME	Rnd 1		Rnd 2		Rnd 3		Rnd 4		Rnd 5
1	S. Matthews	D10	1/2	W12	1.5	D4	2	W11	3	W3	4
2	J. Pitterson	D11	1/2	D15	1	W9	2	W4	3	W7	4
3	D. Rowe	D12	1/2	W16	1.5	D8	2	W14	3	L1	3
4	W. Elliott	W13	1	W9	2	D1	2.5	L2	2.5	D6	3
5	G. Byfield	L14	0	W17	1	L11	1	W18	2	L13	2
6	R. Wheeler	D15	.5	D11	1	D13	1.5	W12	2.5	D4	3
7	R. Palmer	D16	.5	W10	1.5	D14	2	W8	3	L1	3
8	M. Marshall	W17	1	D14	1.5	D3	2	L7	2	L15	2
9	P. Myers	W18	1	L4	1	L2	1	L15	1	W17	2
10	M. Holness	D1	.5	L7	.5	W15	1.5	D13	2	D11	2.5
11	G. Gibbs	D2	.5	D6	1	W5	2	L1	2	D10	2.5
12	E. Brown	D3	.5	L1	.5	W16	1.5	L6	1.5	W14	2.5
13	M. Smith	L4	0	W18	1	D6	1.5	D10	2	W6	3
14	E. Chin	W5	1	D8	1.5	D7	2	L3	2	L12	2
15	M. Lorne	D2	.5	D6	1	L10	1	W9	2	W8	3
16	A. Palmer	D7	.5	L3	.5	L12	.5	W17	1.5	L18	1.5
17	M. Douglas	L8	0	L5	0	W18	1	L16	1	L9	1
18	B. Scott	L9	0	L13	0	L17	1	L5	0	W16	1

NATIONAL CHAMPS 2002, RND 5 STANDINGS

Nm Jomo Pitterson 4
NM Shane Matthews 4
Nm Duane Rowe 3
Ryan Palmer 3
FM Warren Elliott 3
NM R. Wheeler 3
Malaku Lorne 3
Mark Smith 3
Nm M. Holness 2.5
NM G. Gibbs 2.5
Equitable Brown 2.5
NM G. Byfield 2.0
Mario Marshall 2
Eton Chin 2
Peter Myers 2
Adrian Palmer 1.5
Markland Douglas 1
Bertram Scott 1

NATIONAL CHAMPS 2002, ROUND 6 PAIRINGS

Board 1 NM S. Matthews(4) vs NM J. Pitterson(4)
Board 2: M. Smith(3) vs D.Rowe(3)
Board 3: M. Lorne(3) vs FM W. Elliott(3)
Board 4: NM R. Wheeler(3) vs R. Palmer(3)
Board 5:E. Brown(2.5) vs FM G. Gibbs
Board 6:NM G. Byfield(2) vs NM Mark Holness(2.5)
Board 7:P. Myers(2) vs E. Chin(2)
Board 8:B. Scott(1) vs Mario marshall(2)
Board 9:A. Palmer(1.5) vs M. Douglas(1)

END

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