The recent Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) weekend proved one of the best ever for the Oxford sides.

In division 2, Oxford 1 won both their matches including a heavy defeat of their arch rivals, the strong Pandora’s Box team, and look well placed to fight for promotion. Not to be outdone, Oxford 2 won their two division 3 matches.

With only four promotion places available and no fewer than 39 sides in the south section and a further eight in the north section, the third division of the 4NCL is notoriously difficult to escape.

Nevertheless Oxford 2, now lying second in the league, are certainly in the mix.

There were some smoother Oxford wins over the weekend but none more entertaining than new signing Matthew Cornford’s victory for the seconds on board 4 against Celtic Tigers.

His opponent was Jonathan Pein, the 14-year-old son of International Master Malcolm Pein.

White: Matthew Cornford Black: Jonathan Pein

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nge2 0–0 7.0–0 e5 8.d5 Nd4 9.Nxd4 exd4 10.Ne2 Nd7 11.h3?! The first new move and I don’t get it. The move seems to be largely irrelevant to the position. 11...a5 12.Ng3 Nc5 13.f4 Qh4 14.Qf3 Re8 The opening has clearly gone well for Black. 15.Bd2 h5 16.Bc2?! d3! 17.Bxd3 Bxb2 18.Rad1 Bg4?! This is certainly a very imaginative sacrifice – but it’s also unsound. 19.hxg4 hxg4 20.Qe3 Qh8!? 21.Ne2 f5 22.e5 dxe5 23.Bc3! Bxc3 24.Nxc3 exf4 25.Qxc5! g3 26.Rxf4. White is safe because after 26...Qh2+ 27.Kf1 Qh1+ he has 28.Qg1 26…g5?! Objectively, Black should limit his losses with 26...Qxc3 27.Rf3? Certain he’s about to win, White over-elaborates. Simply 27.Rxf5 was easily winning. 27...b6! Woops! There’s nowhere for the white queen go to stay in contact with g1. 28.Rxg3 bxc5 29.Rxg5+ Kf8 30.Rxf5+ Ke7 White has just knight and bishop for his queen - but the dangerous play he has against Black’s king means it’s not at all clear who’s better. 31.d6+! cxd6 32.Nd5+ Kd8 33.Rf7? Qd4+ 34.Kf1 Qh4?! 35.Bf5! Qh1+? 35…Qxc4+ was much better.

36.Kf2 Re2+!? If 36...Qxd1 37.Rd7+ Kc8 38.Re7+ Kb8 39.Rxe8+ Kb7 40.Re7+ then Black can’t escape the checks and it’s a draw. 37.Kxe2 Qh5+ 38.g4 Qxf7 39.Rh1 Despite the swapping of rooks, White’s initiative persists. 39...Qe8+ 40.Kf3 Ra7 41.Rb1! Ra8 42.Rb7 Qc6? The queen needs scope so 42...Qe1 was better. 43.Rh7 Rb8 44.Rh8+ Qe8 45.Rxe8+ Kxe8 Now it’s White who has the extra material and a passed pawn to boot. 46.Nc7+ Kf7 47.g5 Rb2 48.g6+ Kf6 49.Ne8+ 1–0 

The Kidlington Chess Congress takes place on February 2 and 3. There are four sections to suit players of all strengths.