Chess is already under way again in the Oxfordshire leagues despite some last-minute problems for Fixtures Secretary Peter Hemmings. The late withdrawal of Wantage 1 from division 1 and a University side from division 2 means that there will only be seven teams in each of these divisions.

The other two divisions will have eight teams — but a double promotion scheme is mooted for this season to move teams into the higher divisions. Meanwhile, the first round of the Frank Wood Shield takes place on Monday and the pick of the draw is holders City 1 against Cowley 2.

The Witney Chess Club Junior Tournament and Adult Rapidplay takes place this Saturday, October 8, at Kings School Primary in New Yatt Road, Witney. Registration is at 9.30am. The guest of honour, Andrew Farthing, the chief executive of the English Chess Federation, will award the prizes. The draw and timetable for the London Chess Classic has been announced. The tournament will run from December 3-12 at the Olympia Conference Centre. The addition of Levon Aronian to an already star-studded line up means that the top four players in the World and the American firebrand Hikaru Nakamura (nicknamed ‘H-Bomb’) are all competing.

Englishman Luke McShane made a terrific show last year — but even so, the English quartet of Adams, Short, McShane and Howell will be hard pressed to register in such company. Even if they are reduced to competing for the honour of ‘top home player’ the chess between the four will still be well worth watching.

Witness the no holds barred battle between top Englishman Michael Adams and young pretender David Howell from last year’s London Classic.

White: Michael Adams Black: David Howell 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0–0 Nxe4 5.d4 Be7!? A rare alternative to 5...Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 — the endgame that has proved a thorn in White’s side ever since Vladimir Kramnik successfully defended it four times against Garry Kasparov in their 2000 world title match.

6.Qe2 Nd6 7.Bxc6 bxc6 8.dxe5 Nb7 Black’s position looks reasonably solid; but play is straightforward for White.

9.c4 0–0 10.Nc3 f6 11.Re1 fxe5 12.Qxe5 Bf6 13.Qg3 Nc5 14.Bg5 Nd3?! Too ambitious. Better would have been the natural developing move 14...d6.

15.Re3! Sacrificing this vital pawn means there’s no way back for Adams.

15...Nxb2 16.Rae1 Bxg5 After 16...Nxc4 Adams intended 17.Re7! Bxe7 18.Rxe7 with unstoppable threats.

17.Nxg5 Qf6 18.Rf3 Qd8 It can’t be said that Black’s last two moves have improved his position — but at least White can’t play Re7 any more.

19.Nce4 Ba6 20.Nxh7! Rxf3 21.gxf3 Kxh7 22.Ng5+ Kg8 23.Qh4 The point of White’s combination. Can mate be stopped?

23...Bxc4! Had Adams missed this move which guards g8?

24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Re5! White has the minimum attacking force of three pieces — but it’s enough.

25...Be6 26.Qh8+ Ke7 27.Qxg7+ Kd6 28.Ne4 checkmate.