After rounds 5 and 6 of the Four Nations Chess League — played last weekend at Staverton Park near Daventry — Oxford 1 are flying high at the top of the division 2A pool.

In addition, the three points, garnered from defeating Welsh side Rhyfelwyr Essyllwg and drawing with Anglian Avengers, guarantee Oxford a place in the promotion pool, even before the next and final qualifying round.

After the next round, the qualifiers from pool A are joined by the pool B qualifiers for the last 4 rounds and so begins the battle for the top 4 spots and consequent promotion. Those joining Oxford from pool B will include White Rose 2 and 3Cs 1 — both of whom can beef up considerably in terms of personnel for the big matches — and King’s Head, who can’t — but nevertheless remain unbeaten and a considerable threat.

All-in-all, the nail-biting continues — but Oxford 1 are just where they need to be at this stage. Oxford welcomed back Aidan Rawlinson for rounds 5 and 6 after a break of more than a year and the lay-off seems to have done him good. He was Oxford’s star turn over the weekend with 2/2 including the following round 5 victory. Aidan’s opponent, Tom Brown, plays well and gains the initiative out of the opening — but hands it back for a mere pawn and takes a fearful roasting.

White: Aidan Rawlinson Black: Tom Brown

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0–0 5.Nc3 d6 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.0–0 e5 8.e4 exd4 9.Nxd4 Re8 10.h3 a6 11.Be3 Rb8 12.Qc2 c5 This is the so called Gallagher Variation after the English-Swiss Grandmaster, Joe Gallagher and is an attempt to stir up the King’s Indian fianchetto — a system which, for Black anyway, can be rather stifling.

13.Nde2 b5 14.Rad1 Qc7 15.cxb5 axb5 16.Qd3 c4! Excellent! The backward d-pawn has no right to be defended — it’s all about the initiative.

17.Qxd6 Qxd6 18.Rxd6 b4 19.Na4 Nxe4 20.Rc6!? f5! Once again, not getting side-tracked by defending pawns.

21.Bxe4 Rxe4? Finally, and tragically, becoming materialistic. After the superior 21...fxe4! 22.Rxc4 Ba6 23.Rc2 Bd3 24.Rd2 Ne5 Black has a sizeable advantage.

22.Rd1 Natural and good; threatening 22.Rxc8+ 22...Bb7?! 23.Rc7 Rxe3? Desperation — but even after the better move 23...Nf8, White can demonstrate that he now has the initiative with the strong move 24.Nc5.

24.Rdxd7! 1–0

It’s only a week now until the Candidates Tournament gets under way in London. This tournament, to identify a challenger for the World Champion Vishy Anand, will be the strongest in history.

The coverage online will be thorough of course — but a visit to the venue, The IET, at 2 Savoy Place, is guaranteed to be a memorable day out for chess fans.