By beating Wantage 1 last week, Oxford City 1 have won the Oxfordshire leagues first division for the third year in a row. City have lost only once and will do the double if they manage to beat Cowley 2 in the final of the Frank Wood Shield.

Cowley 1 hosted Witney 1 on the same night and not even the presence of grandmaster Peter Wells for Witney could save them from a 4-2 defeat. In the race for second, Cowley and Witney now both have 14 points with one match each remaining. Before City’s run of titles, one or other of the University sides seemed regularly to claim the title; but University 2 were relegated last year and, having defaulted three matches this season, University 1 will now be relegated. Sadly, next season the first division will be without University representation. Much of City’s success has been thanks to the form of board two Jon Manley. In the league, he has scored 7.5 points from eight games due, in no small part, to the way he deals with the Sicilian. In this week’s game — played on board two in the Wantage match — his opponent’s king comes under attack straight out of the opening.

White: Jon Manley Black: Roly Piggott 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.f4 This is no surprise since the Grand Prix Attack has bought Jon a hatful of points this season and works best against 2…d6.

3…g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 e6!? 5...Nc6 is more usual.

6.0–0 Perhaps White could have punished Black’s unusual move order with 6.d4!? when, after 6…cxd4 7.Nxd4, Black’s d6 pawn looks vulnerable.

6...Ne7 7.Qe1!? Again 7.d4 was possible.

7...a6?! 8.a3 The inclusion of these a-pawn moves helps White more than Black, because White now has a bolt hole for his bishop.

8…Nbc6 9.d3 0–0 It’s very dangerous to castle into White’s attack like this and 9…h6 was a safer move.

10.f5 exf5?! If 10...d5 then 11.Ba2 or if 10...gxf5 then 11.Qg3. White keeps the initiative in both cases; but either was preferable to the move played.

11.Qh4 Qc7 After 11...Ne5 12.Bg5! is very hard to meet and similarly 11...fxe4 12.Ng5! would leave Black struggling. Perhaps h5!? is the best move when Black’s position looks full of holes but is hard to break down.

12.Bh6 Be6? This is really asking for it; but 12...b5 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.Bxd5 would not improve matters and no better is 12...Ne5 13.Ng5! Nxc4 14.Bxg7 Kxg7 15.Qxh7+ Kf6 16.e5+. Perhaps Black could have tried 12...Nd8 when the thematic 13.Ng5?! is a mistake (13.Rae1 is better) since 13...Bd4+ 14.Kh1 Re8 defends.

13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.Ng5 Qd7 16.Qxh7+ Kf6 17.e5+! Kxg5 Now both 17...dxe5 and 17...Nxe5 allow 18.Nce4 mate; and 17...Kxe5 18.Qg7+ Rf6 19.Rae1+ Kd4 20.Nf3 is also mate.

18.h4+ Kg4 19.Qh6 1-0.