Once again only eight admirals contested the contemporary seas. The rest of the WBC attendees missed out on a fine game system. Six players played all three Swiss rounds. Jim Fleckenstein Jr. (nom de guerre Jimmy) led the way with a 3-0 record. Defending champ Jim Eliason, Aaron Silverman, and Tom Beckley were 2-1, Stephen Williams was 1-2 and former champ Jim Fleckenstein, Sr., dogged by an ill wind, went 0-3. Jimmy Fleckenstein bested Jim Eliason in one semifinal of Latin American War from 3rd Fleet. Jimmy won many key activation rolls and his AA fire against the American carrier aircraft was deadly. Tom Beckley beat Aaron Silverman in the other semifinal in Invasion of Beluchistan from 5th Fleet. Tom sank Aaron's big Soviet aircraft carrier on turn 2, which more than compensated for the devastation Aaron wreaked on Tom's airbases. In the final, Jimmy tled the Indians to a narrow victory in Battle of the Flattops from 5th Fleet and took home his third title in this tournament. For the last nine years I've been the winner in even numbered years and an also ran in odd numbered years. Look out next year!

2nd Fleet was introduced into the tournament last year but was little played. That trend reversed itself this year with scenarios being chosen from the games in order of their age: four from 2nd Fleet, three from 7th Fleet, two from 5th Fleet, and only one game of 3rd Fleet seeing action in the Swiss rounds. In all, 12 different scenarios were played: 2, 5, and 7 from 2nd Fleet, 1, 4, 6, and 8 from 5th Fleet, 1, 5, and 8 from 7th Fleet, and 1 and 4 from 3rd Fleet.

The newcomers did well. Tom Beckley lost a close game in the finals and Stephen Williams split his two games with former champions. Hopefully more newcomers will arrive next year and achieve similar success.