There was no championship in 1997 (probably due to lack of proper financing) and in 1998 the players arrived to Maykop - a town of 140,000 people, capital of Adygea. It was fifth edition of Russian Premier league and for the fourth time reigning champions (Ladya Azov) did not arrive! Sankt Petersburg team (absent in 1996) had highest Elo, but lost four matches in a row and found themselves down into 8th place after six rounds. So the gold went to Sberbank Kazan, who won 9 matches and lost only one (against the home side). The University team from Maykop won silver, and it could have been even better, hadn't they lost badly to Severstal Cherepovets 4-2. An incredible play was delivered by 21-year old GM Morozevich on board 1 for Tomsk - 9 of 10! (Elo performed = 2947).