THE WESTMINSTER BUDGET

London, England

9 April 1897

THE VARSITY CHESS MATCH.

At the British Chess Club on Friday the Blues met for their annual contest, this being the twenty-fifth match between Oxford and Cambridge, and up to the present the scores are 15 to 9 in favour of Cambridge. In 1895 and 1896 the Oxonians succeeded in winning, and on Friday they scored successive win. Play commenced at two p.m., and continued till six p.m. The first finished game was at Board No 1, between Mr. Spencer-Churchill and Mr. E. A. Crowley, in which the Oxonian had the move, and keeping his initial advantage to the end, Mr. Churchill scored the first point for Oxford. At Board No. 2 Oxford were again to the fore, Mr. E. Lawton securing the best of a pretty game against Mr. Naish. This gave a lead of two points, but by good play the Cantabs equalized soon after, in which Mr. MacLean finally prevailed. The next game was a draw at Board 7, and as Oxford then continued by winning on Board 6, they placed the possibility of losing out of the question. The one remaining game between Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Battersly continued till time was called, and then a draw resulted on adjucation, Oxford thus winning a hard-fought match by 4 to 3.