Chess

The world's oldest regular chess fixture, the Oxford vs Cambridge match, will be played today for the 115th time at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall. Scores in the series, which began in 1873, are level at 48 wins for each side, with 17 draws.

Play begins at noon and spectators are welcome - as long as they are sufficiently well-dressed. Here is the winner of last year's Best Game prize, awarded by match sponsors Watson, Farley & Williams.

Black's 8...Nxd2, in place of the usual 8...g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2, was either a slip of the finger or a brave innovation., but the sacrifice was justi- fied by White's unconvin- cing play. His 13.Bb5 and 14.Bxc6 is a poor idea, and 17.Qe3 must be better than Qf6. The move that really let Black take control, however, was 18.h4. White has not time for such a luxury, as Black brilliantly showed with 19...Qb7, threatening Qb4+, and 20...d3!!, flushing the king out of hiding. After 21...Qb2, White was unable to defend himself.

White: A Hon (Cambridge)

Black: B Keohane (Oxf'd)

1 e4 e6 18 h4 d4

2 d4 d5 19 c4 Qb7

3 Nc3 Nf6 20 a3 d3

4 Bg5 Bb4 21 Nxc5 Qb2

5 e5 h6 22 Nxd3 Qxc2

6 Bd2 Bxc3 23 Ke3 Rd8

7 bxc3 Ne4 24 Rhd1 Qc3

8 Qg4 Nxd2 25 Rac1 Qd4+

9 Qxg7 Rf8 26 Kf3 Bc6+

10 Kxd2 c5 27 Ke2 Qe4+

11 Nf3 cxd4 28 Kf1 Qxg2+

12 Nxd4 Nc6 29 Ke1 Qe4+

13 Bb5 Bd7 30 Kf1 Rxd3

14 Bxc6 bxc6 31 Rxd3 Qxd3

15 Qxh6 c5 32 Ke1 Rg8

16 Nb3 Qc7 White resigns

17 Qf6 Ba4