The Oxford-Cambridge Varsity history

Oxford CC logoCambridge CC logoIt was originally suggested by Howard Staunton in 1853 that Oxford and Cambridge should play a challenge chess match, however this was not to be realised until 1871 when the Oxford University Chess Club* were to challenge Cambridge to a match. The Cambridge club consisted only of Dons and so they declined to play the Oxford undergraduates. Instead, the Cambridge Staunton Chess Club, who were an undergraduate group, took up the challenge and a correspondence match was arranged. This match was won by Oxford 4½-2½. In 1872, a return correspondence match was won by Cambridge 4-1. The first official over the board match was played at the City of London Chess Club on 28th March 1873. Three games were planned to be played on each of the seven boards if time was to allow, but on most boards only two were played. This was the arrangement until 1890.

*Foundation of Oxford UCC
The club was founded on April 30th, 1869. Rev. C.E. Ranken of Wadham College was chosen as the first President. The Club, having received its constitution, entered upon what we trust will prove to be a long and glorious career. List of members includes Lord Randolph Churchill, Merton E. Anthony, Christ Church ("one of the best pupils Steinitz turned out") etc. The meetings were held weekly on Wednesdays, and the early members appear to have been more desirous of playing one another than of engaging in foreign matches. -- James M. Walker
From 1871 until 1977 inclusive, there was only one game played on each of the seven boards. In the inter-war years from 1915-1918 there were no contests. During the second world war, there were informal matches (from 1940-1945 except for 1943) but these do not count as part of the match series. In 1953, the 'Miss Margaret Pugh' gold trophy was first awarded. In 1978, a women's board was introduced, and was to determine the match result in the event of a drawn match. Since 1982 this has been extended so that the match is over eight boards, with the rule being that each team has at least one woman player.

/ Prepared by Bob Wade, taken from Oxford University Chess Club site /


1873-2008 SUMMARY
CAMBRIDGE LEAD OXFORD 65½ TO 60½
THEY WON 56 MATCHES, LOST 51 AND DREW 19
TOTAL OF 126 MATCHES IN 135 YEARS

Cambridge won 11 consecutive varsity matches from 1970 to 1980...
...this was directly followed by Oxford's streak of 8 wins in a row.
Three ties in a row occured in 1959, 1960 and 1961,
eight out of sixteen matches held between 1951 and 1966 were tied...
...but there was no single draw between 1967 and 2001!
Biggest overall gap between the teams occured in 1904 as Cambridge were leading by 12 points (22-10).
The only clear score in the history happened in 1919: Cambridge won 7-0.
>> See the progress chart <<


OXFORD-CAMBRIDGE VARSITY MATCH HISTORY
no year match result winners progressive score Oxf
wins		 ties Cmb
wins
1. 1873 Oxford-Cambridge 10-3 Oxford Oxf lead 1-0 1 0 0
2. 1874 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-14½ Cambridge tied at 1-1 1 0 1
3. 1875 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-12½ Cambridge Camb lead 2-1 1 0 2
4. 1876 Oxford-Cambridge 12-5 Oxford tied at 2-2 2 0 2
5. 1877 Oxford-Cambridge 9-3 Oxford Oxf lead 3-2 3 0 2
6. 1878 Oxford-Cambridge 2-10 Cambridge tied at 3-3 3 0 3
7. 1879 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-6½ Cambridge Camb lead 4-3 3 0 4
8. 1880 Oxford-Cambridge 1-12 Cambridge Camb lead 5-3 3 0 5
9. 1881 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-6½ Cambridge Camb lead 6-3 3 0 6
10. 1882 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-7½ Cambridge Camb lead 7-3 3 0 7
11. 1883 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-5½ drawn Camb lead 7½-3½ 3 1 7
12. 1884 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-5½ Cambridge Camb lead 8½-3½ 3 1 8
13. 1885 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-6½ Cambridge Camb lead 9½-3½ 3 1 9
14. 1886 Oxford-Cambridge 6½-3½ Oxford Camb lead 9½-4½ 4 1 9
15. 1887 Oxford-Cambridge 5-7 Cambridge Camb lead 10½-4½ 4 1 10
16. 1888 Oxford-Cambridge 7½-2½ Oxford Camb lead 10½-5½ 5 1 10
17. 1889 Oxford-Cambridge 7-3 Oxford Camb lead 10½-6½ 6 1 10
18. 1890 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 11½-6½ 6 1 11
19. 1891 Oxford-Cambridge 3-4 Cambridge Camb lead 12½-6½ 6 1 12
20. 1892 Oxford-Cambridge 1½-5½ Cambridge Camb lead 13½-6½ 6 1 13
21. 1893 Oxford-Cambridge 1-6 Cambridge Camb lead 14½-6½ 6 1 14
22. 1894 Oxford-Cambridge 3-4 Cambridge Camb lead 15½-6½ 6 1 15
23. 1895 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Camb lead 15½-7½ 7 1 15
24. 1896 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Camb lead 15½-8½ 8 1 15
25. 1897 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Camb lead 15½-9½ 9 1 15
26. 1898 Oxford-Cambridge 3-4 Cambridge Camb lead 16½-9½ 9 1 16
27. 1899 Oxford-Cambridge 1½-5½ Cambridge Camb lead 17½-9½ 9 1 17
28. 1900 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 18½-9½ 9 1 18
29. 1901 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Camb lead 19-10 9 2 18
30. 1902 Oxford-Cambridge 1½-5½ Cambridge Camb lead 20-10 9 2 19
31. 1903 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 21-10 9 2 20
32. 1904 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 22-10 9 2 21
33. 1905 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Oxford Camb lead 22-11 10 2 21
34. 1906 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Oxford Camb lead 22-12 11 2 21
35. 1907 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Camb lead 22½-12½ 11 3 21
36. 1908 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Camb lead 22½-13½ 12 3 21
37. 1909 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Oxford Camb lead 22½-14½ 13 3 21
38. 1910 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 23½-14½ 13 3 22
39. 1911 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Oxford Camb lead 23½-15½ 14 3 22
40. 1912 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Camb lead 23½-16½ 15 3 22
41. 1913 Oxford-Cambridge 6½-½ Oxford Camb lead 23½-17½ 16 3 22
42. 1914 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Oxford Camb lead 23½-18½ 17 3 22
1915 Had not been played.
1916 Had not been played.
1917 Had not been played.
1918 Had not been played.
43. 1919 Oxford-Cambridge 0-7 Cambridge Camb lead 24½-18½ 17 3 23
44. 1920 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Camb lead 25-19 17 4 23
45. 1921 Oxford-Cambridge 5-2 Oxford Camb lead 25-20 18 4 23
46. 1922 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Camb lead 25-21 19 4 23
47. 1923 Oxford-Cambridge 5-2 Oxford Camb lead 25-22 20 4 23
48. 1924 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Oxford Camb lead 25-23 21 4 23
49. 1925 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Camb lead 25-24 22 4 23
50. 1926 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 26-24 22 4 24
51. 1927 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Camb lead 26-25 23 4 24
52. 1928 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 27-25 23 4 25
53. 1929 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Camb lead 27½-25½ 23 5 25
54. 1930 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Camb lead 27½-26½ 24 5 25
55. 1931 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Camb lead 28-27 24 6 25
56. 1932 Oxford-Cambridge 3-4 Cambridge Camb lead 29-27 24 6 26
57. 1933 Oxford-Cambridge 5-2 Oxford Camb lead 29-28 25 6 26
585. 1934 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Camb lead 29½-28½ 25 7 26
59. 1935 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Camb lead 30-29 25 8 26
60. 1936 Oxford-Cambridge 1-6 Cambridge Camb lead 31-29 25 8 27
61. 1937 Oxford-Cambridge 3-4 Cambridge Camb lead 32-29 25 8 28
62. 1938 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Camb lead 32-30 26 8 28
63. 1939 Oxford-Cambridge 3-4 Cambridge Camb lead 33-30 26 8 29
- 1940 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ Unofficial match.
- 1941 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Unofficial match.
- 1942 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Unofficial match.
1943 Had not been played.
- 1944 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ Unofficial match.
- 1945 Oxford-Cambridge 1½-5½ Unofficial match.
64. 1946 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Oxford Camb lead 33-31 27 8 29
65. 1947 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Camb lead 33½-31½ 27 9 29
66. 1948 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-1½ Oxford Camb lead 33½-32½ 28 9 29
67. 1949 Oxford-Cambridge 6-1 Oxford tied at 33½-33½ 29 9 29
68. 1950 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 34½-33½ 29 9 30
69. 1951 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Camb lead 35-34 29 10 30
70. 1952 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Oxford tied at 35-35 30 10 30
71. 1953 Oxford-Cambridge 5-2 Oxford Oxf lead 36-35 31 10 30
72. 1954 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Oxf lead 36½-35½ 31 11 30
73. 1955 Oxford-Cambridge 3-4 Cambridge tied at 36½-36½ 31 11 31
74. 1956 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Oxf lead 37½-36½ 32 11 31
75. 1957 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Oxf lead 38-37 32 12 31
76. 1958 Oxford-Cambridge 1½-5½ Cambridge tied at 38-38 32 12 32
77. 1959 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn tied at 38½-38½ 32 13 32
78. 1960 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn tied at 39-39 32 14 32
79. 1961 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn tied at 39½-39½ 32 15 32
80. 1962 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Oxford Oxf lead 40½-39½ 33 15 32
81. 1963 Oxford-Cambridge 4-3 Oxford Oxf lead 41½-39½ 34 15 32
82. 1964 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Oxf lead 42-40 34 16 32
83. 1965 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-1½ Oxford Oxf lead 43-40 35 16 32
84. 1966 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-3½ drawn Oxf lead 43½-40½ 35 17 32
85. 1967 Oxford-Cambridge 1½-5½ Cambridge Oxf lead 43½-41½ 35 17 33
86. 1968 Oxford-Cambridge 2-5 Cambridge Oxf lead 43½-42½ 35 17 34
87. 1969 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-2½ Oxford Oxf lead 44½-42½ 36 17 34
88. 1970 Oxford-Cambridge 3-4 Cambridge Oxf lead 44½-43½ 36 17 35
89. 1971 Oxford-Cambridge 2-5 Cambridge tied at 44½-44½ 36 17 36
90. 1972 Oxford-Cambridge 1½-5½ Cambridge Camb lead 45½-44½ 36 17 37
91. 1973 Oxford-Cambridge 3-4 Cambridge Camb lead 46½-44½ 36 17 38
92. 1974 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 47½-44½ 36 17 39
93. 1975 Oxford-Cambridge 1-6 Cambridge Camb lead 48½-44½ 36 17 40
94. 1976 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 49½-44½ 36 17 41
95. 1977 Oxford-Cambridge 1½-5½ Cambridge Camb lead 50½-44½ 36 17 42
96. 1978 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 51½-44½ 36 17 43
97. 1979 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 52½-44½ 36 17 44
98. 1980 Oxford-Cambridge 3-4 Cambridge Camb lead 53½-44½ 36 17 45
99. 1981 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-1½ Oxford Camb lead 53½-45½ 37 17 45
100. 1982 Oxford-Cambridge 5-3 Oxford Camb lead 53½-46½ 38 17 45
101. 1983 Oxford-Cambridge 6-2 Oxford Camb lead 53½-47½ 39 17 45
102. 1984 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-3½ Oxford Camb lead 53½-48½ 40 17 45
103. 1985 Oxford-Cambridge 5-3 Oxford Camb lead 53½-49½ 41 17 45
104. 1986 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-2½ Oxford Camb lead 53½-50½ 42 17 45
105. 1987 Oxford-Cambridge 5-3 Oxford Camb lead 53½-51½ 43 17 45
106. 1988 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-3½ Oxford Camb lead 53½-52½ 44 17 45
107. 1989 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-5½ Cambridge Camb lead 54½-52½ 44 17 46
108. 1990 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-2½ Oxford Camb lead 54½-53½ 45 17 46
109. 1991 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-2½ Oxford tied at 54½-54½ 46 17 46
110. 1992 Oxford-Cambridge 6-2 Oxford Oxf lead 55½-54½ 47 17 46
111. 1993 Oxford-Cambridge 5½-2½ Oxford Oxf lead 56½-54½ 48 17 46
112. 1994 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-4½ Cambridge Oxf lead 56½-55½ 48 17 47
113. 1995 Oxford-Cambridge 2-6 Cambridge tied at 56½-56½ 48 17 48
114. 1996 Oxford-Cambridge 3-5 Cambridge Camb lead 57½-56½ 48 17 49
115. 1997 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-5½ Cambridge Camb lead 58½-56½ 48 17 50
116. 1998 Oxford-Cambridge 5-3 Oxford Camb lead 58½-57½ 49 17 50
117. 1999 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-5½ Cambridge Camb lead 59½-57½ 49 17 51
118. 2000 Oxford-Cambridge 3½-4½ Cambridge Camb lead 60½-57½ 49 17 52
119. 2001 Oxford-Cambridge 2½-5½ Cambridge Camb lead 61½-57½ 49 17 53
120. 2002 Oxford-Cambridge 4-4 drawn Camb lead 62-58 49 18 53
121. 2003 Oxford-Cambridge 1½-6½ Cambridge Camb lead 63-58 49 18 54
122. 2004 Oxford-Cambridge 6-2 Oxford Camb lead 63-59 50 18 54
123. 2005 Oxford-Cambridge 3-5 Cambridge Camb lead 64-59 50 18 55
124. 2006 Oxford-Cambridge 4½-3½ Oxford Camb lead 64-60 51 18 55
125. 2007 Oxford-Cambridge 3-5 Cambridge Camb lead 65-60 51 18 56
126. 2008 Oxford-Cambridge 4-4 drawn Camb lead 65½-60½ 51 19 56


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