The internecine but friendly annual rivalry between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, generously hosted last month by the Chess Circle of the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, resulted in an overwhelming 6-2 victory for the light blues. Cambridge now leads the longest-running chess series in the world with 59 wins. Oxford has 53 wins, and 22 matches have been drawn.
Oxford have in the past benefited from grandmaster representation in their team, but this year they were clearly outgunned in rating terms. In spite of dour resistance, the heavily weighted rating, statistics eventually told in favour of Cambridge.
The match was, as ever, efficiently controlled by David Sedgwick, while the splendid black-tie closing awards elevate the annual varsity match to the social chess occasion of the year. There the gold Margaret Pugh Trophy was once again awarded to Cambridge.
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