Coincidence?

I have completed about 500 or so tactical problems . . . and though I originally told myself I wouldn't do so, I have decided to play some chess games before I finish all of the 1500 problems I am attempting to do this month.

So far I like what I see. I won several solid games this weekend... at least one against the King's Gambit (my arch-nemesis!) and many against people with higher rankings (one at least 100 points higher (FICS scale)).

Are the tactics studying helping? It's still too early to tell, but currently my FICS rank is peaking. It has been higher, but not in a while.