Oxford and Cambridge Nearly Even After 152 Years

The Oxford versus Cambridge Varsity Match is recognized as the longest-standing chess competition, having taken place every year since 1873, except during the war years. The inaugural match was a remarkable event, attended by 700 spectators, including chess legends Wilhelm Steinitz and Johannes Zukertort. At that time, there were no chess clocks, so matches were timed using sand glasses, a technique that would soon become outdated with the invention of chess clocks in the following decade.

Over the years, the match has featured some of the best chess players in England. In the past, many of the top players from these two universities were seen as potential international representatives for England in chess, although their performances varied. For instance, in the 1929 and 1930 matches, the leading player from Cambridge made early blunders that resulted in significant losses, including losing their queen in one game due to a knight fork and in another due to a bishop pin.

In the 21st century, the matches have taken on a more international flavor, with about a third of the players coming from countries outside the UK. This year’s match ended with Cambridge winning 4.5 to 3.5, giving them a slight edge overall in the series, leading by just two victories.

A standout performance was made by Oxford’s Tom O’Gorman, who became the first player to achieve five consecutive wins in this historic matchup, all from the top board. His impressive win streak included victories over notable players such as Harry Grieve, who later became British champion, and Matthew Wadsworth, who is on the verge of qualifying as a grandmaster. Notably, during his latest game, O’Gorman faced off against Cambridge’s Alex Leslie, where he employed a clever tactic to win a rook for a knight and ultimately secured his victory in 34 moves. This accomplishment, especially in such a prestigious fixture, has sparked discussions about the possibility of anyone surpassing the record set by the young Irish International Master.

The RAC Club in Pall Mall, London, has been the venue for the Varsity Match since 1978 and hosts the post-match dinner and award ceremony. An interesting detail from their match program revealed that nine out of the 16 players this year were in fields like mathematics or science, while four were studying economics or philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE). Only three players were focused on arts subjects.

Many individuals who have competed in this match have gone on to achieve notable success outside the chess world, as documented in John Saunders’ comprehensive resource, BritBase. The site includes biographical details about various players who have participated in the Varsity matches for either university, demonstrating the diverse paths these individuals take.

Chess has seen a resurgence at various British universities, influenced by factors such as World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen’s global recognition, the popular Netflix series “The Queen’s Gambit,” and the ease of online play available on platforms like chess.com and lichess.org. The recent BUCA championships in Leicester marked a record participation of 54 teams, with University College London clinching their first victory, surpassing competitors such as Oxford, Warwick, and Cambridge.

In addition to the Varsity Match, chess is making its way back to television. The BBC2 is airing an eight-part series titled “Chess Masters: The Endgame,” which is the first chess-focused program to be produced since “The Master Game” last aired in 1983. This new series features amateur players instead of professionals due to the high fees associated with bringing in elite players for televised events.

The series will showcase 12 contestants, emphasizing diversity and communication skills alongside technical knowledge. Six of these players are women, and their playing levels range from approximately 1600 to 1900, representing skills typical of strong club players. The initial episode is expected to attract a large audience, reflecting the renewed interest in chess on television, spurred by the long-standing absence of dedicated programming in the genre.