Oxford City 1 defeated Oxford City 2 in the final of the Frank Wood Shield (FWS) by 4 points to 2 — the narrowest possible margin under the handicap system.

This was the last match of the Oxfordshire chess season and the victory is some compensation for City 1 after losing their first division title to Witney. In the second division, Bicester 1 became champions without losing a match and will take their place in the first division next season. Cumnor 1 — promoted last season — go straight back down to division 3. Cowley 3 easily won the third division dropping just one point along the way and Witney 3 were just as dominant in the fourth division. This week’s game was played in the Frank Wood Shield final. Simon King is a dangerous opponent in his favourite Closed Sicilian — witness his superb FWS semi-final victory over Chris Smith of University 1 reported in this column earlier in the year.

However, Matt Brown regularly ends up on the black side of this opening and seems to have a convincing antidote off pat.

White: Simon King (City 2) Black: Matt Brown (City1) 1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 g6 5.d3 Bg7 6.Be3 Rb8 7.Qd2 b5 8.Nd1 b4 9.f4 Qb6 10.a3!? The natural 10.Nf3 is the almost universal choice in this standard position. Simon seeks an opening of the a-file; but it’s not clear who this benefits.

10...a5 11.Nf3 f5!? 12.e5!? Simon gambits a pawn to open lines and exploit his slight lead in development.

12...dxe5 13.fxe5 13.0–0! was better. Then, after 13...exf4 14.Bxf4 e5?! 15.Re1 White is doing well since 15...Qc7? 16.Nxe5! is winning for White.

13...Nxe5 14.0–0 Bb7 15.axb4?! White has good compensation for the pawn — but here 15.Nxe5 Bxe5 should have been interposed before 16.axb4.

15...Nxf3+! 16.Bxf3 Bxf3! 17.Rxf3 axb4 Black’s two in-between moves before recapturing on b4 have left the position simplified in his favour.

18.c3 Nf6 19.d4 Qc6 20.Qe2 cxd4 Better was 20...bxc3 21.bxc3 Nd5 21.Bxd4 0–0 22.Ra6 Qd5 23.Re6?! After 23.Rd3 Qc4 24.Ra7 with 25.Ne3 to follow, White is certainly struggling to demonstrate adequate compensation — but has practical chances.

23...Ne4! 24.Rxe7?! Instead, 24.Bxg7! was more testing. Then Black should play 24...Qxe6! 25.Bxf8 Kxf8, since after 24...Kxg7?! 25.Rxe7+ White is OK.

24...Bxd4+ 25.cxd4 Qxd4+ 26.Kg2 Rfe8?! Missing 26...Qc5! which, combined with 27...Ng5, wins an exchange.

27.Rd3?! Qc5 28.Rxe8+ Rxe8 29.Re3 White’s best chance of holding lies in exchanging knights and queens to bring about a pure rook ending. A good first step would be to challenge Black’s dominant knight with 29.Nf2 29...Qc6 30.Qf3 Rd8 31.Nf2 Rd2 32.Re2 Qc2 33.Rxd2 Qxd2 34.b3 Kf7 White is completely tied up so Black has time to improve his king before heading for a king and pawn endgame.

35.g4 Desperation, but 35.Kg1 Nxf2 36.Qxf2 Qxf2+ 37.Kxf2 Ke6 was completely winning for Black anyway.

35...Qxf2+ 36.Qxf2 Nxf2 0–1.