Oxford 1 garnered 2 points from 4 in rounds 3 and 4 of the Four Nations Chess League last weekend as I predicted a fortnight ago — but I got little else right! I thought Cheddleton 1 would prove too strong — but Oxford rose to the occasion and defeated the professional outfit by 4.5 points to 3.5.

The following day Oxford met bottom of the table Guildford 2 and I predicted a win. Unfortunately for Oxford, on the same day — in order to meet their rivals for the title, Wood Green — Guildford’s first team had been strengthened by some new recruits and consequently many Guildford first team regulars were pushed down to the second team.

Oxford thus faced a much stronger team than they might have expected and went down by 5.5 points to 2.5.

Disappointing, but the result against Cheddleton — who boasted a grandmaster on board 5 and a former British Champion on board 6 — will buoy the team for the rest of the season.

On board 1, the Cheddleton grandmaster Danny Gormally didn’t appear to do too much wrong initially against Oxford’s David Zakarian — but over-pushed at a critical juncture and was punished by a skilful and determined opponent.

White: David Zakarian Black: Danny Gormally 1.e4 c5 2.b3 This unusual anti-Sicilian move is tricky to meet in practice and is becoming increasingly popular. Georgian Grandmaster, Tamaz Gelashvili is an expert and he has a tremendous plus score with it.

2…d6 3.Bb2 Nf6 4.Nc3 g6 5.Nd5 Bg7 6.Nxf6+ exf6 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Qxd7 9.Qf3 0–0! 10.Ne2 David is not tempted by 10.Bxf6 Bxf6 11.Qxf6 d5 after which Black has dynamic play for his pawn.

10...Re8 11.0–0–0!? Nc6 12.d4 Qe7 13.d5 Ne5 14.Qg3 b5 15.Rhe1 b4 16.f4 Nd7 17.f5!? Blocking the black bishop’s prospectus but giving away the e5 square.

17...Ne5 The brave 17...Qxe4 might be the best move here. Then play might continue 18.Qxd6 Qxf5 19.Ng3 Qg5+ 20.Kb1 with a complicated game.

18.h4 c4?! A slightly panicky reaction to White’s kingside show. Black is well placed in the race after 18...a5 19.h5 a4 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.Nf4 Bh6!

19.Bxe5 Qxe5 20.Qxe5 Rxe5 21.bxc4!? 21.Nd4 was possible but David has correctly judged that grabbing pawns is in fact very dangerous for Black.

21...Rxe4 22.Nd4 Rxh4 23.c5! Bh6+ 24.Kb2 Bf4 25.c6!? Be5?! Naively forcing White to refute his play.

26.Rxe5! A fantastic exchange sacrifice. The bishop was holding Black’s position together and its removal leaves White’s remaining pieces in control.

26...fxe5 27.Nb5 Rd8 28.Kb3 a5 29.c4 Both sides had clearly been calculating the consequences of taking on d6 for some moves but here 29.Nxd6! is immediately decisive since after 29...Rxd6 30.c4 the pawns can't be stopped.

29...bxc3 30.Kxc3 gxf5 31.Nxd6 Rh6 A good try at a defence — but it falls short.

32.Nxf5 Rxc6+ 33.dxc6 Rxd1 34.Kc2 Rd8 35.c7 Ra8 36.Ne7+ Kg7 37.c8Q Rxc8+ 38.Nxc8 f5 39.a4 h5 40.Nd6 Kf6 41.Nc4 h4 42.Kd3 e4+ 43.Ke3 Kg5 44.Ne5! Of course 44.Nxa5 was winning but David chooses the continuation that needs less thought; a wise decision at the end of a tough game.

44...Kf6 45.Kf4 e3 46.Nf3 1–0