The Varsity Go Match

2005

2004

2002

2001

2000

1999

1998

1997

Other years

The 2005 Varsity Match

The Varsity Match took place in Pembroke College, Cambridge on February 27th, 2005. The overall result was 5-5 with some games played on handicap.

The games were played at 30 mins with 30 stones in 5 minutes overtime. Komi was 6.5.

Round 1

Niall Cardin (2d, O)	beat	Mathieu Flinders (1k, C)
Lai (1k, O)	lost to	Frank Fu (1k, C)
Ivan Wong (4k, O)	lost to	Nick Krempel (3k, C)
Matt Scott (3k, O)	beat	Steve Burgess (5k, C)
Lizzy Abbott (17k, O)	beat	Chris Ball (9k, C)	Handicap

Round 2

Niall Cardin (2d, O)	lost to	Nick Krempel (3k, C)	Handicap: 3
Lai (1k, O)	lost to	Mathieu Flinders (1k, C)
Ivan Wong (4k, O)	lost to	Frank Fu (1k, C)
Matt Scott (3k, O)	beat	Chris Ball (9k, C)	Handicap
Lizzy Abbott (17k, O)	beat	Steve Burgess (5k, C)	Handicap: 9

The 2004 Varsity Match

Following on from the late match last year, the 2004 Match was played in Oxford on Sunday 1st February 2004. The result was 11-5 to Cambridge, in a full handicap tournament, including one game where an Oxford player played for Cambridge to make even numbers.

The Cambridge team included Bruce Chen 1-kyu (1/3 games), Stephen Burgess 7-kyu, Tom Ford 12-kyu (3/3) and Nick Krempel 14-kyu.

The 2002 Varsity Match

This match was held in Cambridge, and played in 2003, after we finally managed to coax the Oxford students here.

The games were all on even, except the 9 stone match between Stephen Burgess and Daisy Wan.

Round 1 (1-5)

Paul Taylor (1k, C)	beat	Niall Cardin (1d, O)
Andrew Walkingshaw (4k, C)	lost to	Matthew Piatkus (4k, O)
Phil Hand (7k, C)	lost to	Christopher Pooley (5k, O)
Simon Frankau (7k, C)	beat	Greg Pallis (11k, O)
Stephen Burgess (7k, C)	beat	Daisy Wan (18k, O)	9 stones

Round 2 (2-5)

Linus Lee Zhi Juan (1k, C)	lost to	Niall Cardin (1d, O)
Paul Taylor (1k, C)	beat	Matthew Piatkus (4k, O)
Andrew Walkingshaw (4k, C)	beat	Christopher Pooley (5k, O)
Stephen Burgess (7k, C)	lost to	Greg Pallis (11k, O)
Liwei Deng (14k, C)	beat	Daisy Wan (18k, O)

Varsity matches from the past

We are aware of the following results:

2001

We didn't exactly win (losing 13-6 over three rounds away on Sunday 26 October). Full classified results follow.

Oxford team was: Wuge Briscoe (6 dan), Niall Cardin (1 kyu), Daniel Groves (2 kyu), Miriam Lo (11 kyu), Edward Laird (11 kyu), Peter Kasporowicz (11 kyu), Christopher Pooley (11 kyu), and Ivan Wong (23 kyu).

Cambridge team was: Konrad Scheffler (1 dan), Jitse Neasen (4 kyu), Paul Russell (5 kyu), Andrew Spray (7 kyu), Paul Taylor (8 kyu), Simon Frankau (10 kyu), Phil Hand (12 kyu).

The games were all on full handicap, except Briscoe-Neasen in Round 2 which was on seven stones.

Round 1 (1-5)

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Konrad Scheffler (1d, C)	lost to	Wuge Briscoe (6d, O)
Jitse Neasen (4k, C)	lost to	Niall Cardin (1k, O)
Christopher Pooley (11k, O)	beat	Paul Russell (5k, C)
Edward Laird (11k, O)	lost to	Paul Taylor (8k, C)
Peter Kasporowicz (11k, O)	beat	Andrew Spray (7k, C)
Ivan Wong (23k, O)	beat	Simon Frankau (10k, C)

Round 2 (2-5)

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Jitse Neasden (4k, C)	lost to	Wuge Briscoe (6d, O)	2 stones
Niall Cardin (1k, O)	lost to	Konrad Scheffler (1d, C)
Peter Kasporowicz (11k, O)	beat	Paul Russell (5k, C)
Christopher Pooley (11k, O)	beat	Andrew Spray (7k, C)
Ivan Wong (23k, O)	lost to	Paul Taylor (8k, C)
Mirian Lo (11k, O)	beat	Simon Frankau (10k, C)
Phil Hand (12k, C)	lost to	Edward Laird (11k, O)

Round 3 (3-3)

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Daniel Groves (2k, O)	lost to	Konrad Scheffler (1d, C)
Paul Taylor (8k, C)	lost to	Niall Cardin (1k, O)
Steve (11k, ????)	lost to	Jitse Neasden (4k, C)
Miriam Lo (11k, O)	lost to	Andrew Spray (7k, C)
Edward Laird (11k, O)	beat	Simon Frankau (10k, C)
Phil Hand (12k, C)	lost to	Christopher Kasporowicz (11k, O)

2000

It was held in Cambridge this year, on Saturday 11th March, at the somewhat overpriced but still rather nice All Bar One. Previous years have seen 4 person teams, but this time Oxford turned up with 9 players plus 3 beginners who tagged along to see the city and maybe catch a few games. Cambridge mustered 8 players. Unsuccessful attempts were made over lunch to find a ninth Cambridge player (Tim Hunt (1d, Cambridge) somehow managed to escape despite dropping in to say hi), so Hoiping Mok (14k, Cambridge) played in both round 1 and round 1.5. Komi was 5.5, full handicaps were used, time limits by general muttering about wanting to get home before midnight.

Oxford came out of rounds 1 and 1.5 with a slight lead at 5-4, and Andrew Lobb (13k, Oxford) dropped out of round 2 to see a friend, averting the need for a round 2.5, so the total matches played would be 17. A draw wasn't on the cards in any case, as the gap widened through round 2. Final score: 10-7 to Oxford, thus maintaining the tradition of visiting side winning now in its 3rd year.

Round 1

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Konrad Scheffler (1k, C)	beat	Henry Segerman (1d, O)
David Pearce (3 kyu, O)	beat	Rob Jack (4 kyu, C)
Paul Russel (5 kyu, C)	beat	Alan Saunders (5 kyu, O)
Andrew Spray (12 kyu, C)	beat	Niall Cardin (5 kyu, O)
Sebastian Bleasdale (13 kyu, C)	beat	Alex Popovici (8 kyu, O)
Andrew Lobb (15 kyu, O)	beat	Duncan Richer (13 kyu, C)
Jon Medlock (13 kyu, C)	lost to	Edward Laird (15 kyu, O)
Matt Piatkus (15 kyu, O)	beat	Hoiping Mok (14 kyu, C)

Round 1.5

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Miriam Lo (18 kyu, O)	beat	Hoiping Mok (14 kyu, C)

Round 2

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Rob Jack (4 kyu, C)	lost to	Henry Segerman (1 dan, O)
Danial Groves (3 kyu, O)	beat	Konrad Scheffler (1 kyu, C)
Andrew Spray (12 kyu, C)	beat	Alan Saunders (5 kyu, O)
Niall Cardin (5 kyu, O)	beat	Paul Russel (5 kyu, C)
Duncan Richer (13 kyu, C)	lost to	Alex Popovici (8 kyu, O)
Matt Piatkus (15 kyu, O)	lost to	Sebastian Bleasdale (13 kyu, C)
Edward Laird (15 kyu, O)	lost to	Hoiping Mok (14 kyu, C)
Miriam Lo (18 kyu, O)	beat	Jon Medlock (13 kyu, C)

1999

took place on Saturday 8th May 1999 in Chequers (a pub) in Oxford. The Cambridge team car, driven by Rob Jack, got to Oxford in time for lunch. Then after a brief wrangle over grades, during which several of the Oxford players seemed to get two grades stronger, we settled down to the go playing. We started round one sitting outside in the sun, but had to hastily move under umbrellas when the heavens opened. The round ended up tied two-all. Good sense then prevailed and we went into the warmth and dry of the pub for the second round. This time Cambridge won all four games and so the final score was 6-2 to Cambridge.

Round 1

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Tim Hunt (1 kyu, C)	lost to	Henry Segerman (1 dan, O)	no komi
David Pearce (7 kyu, O)	lost to	Rob Jack (6 kyu, C)	no komi
Matt Piatkus (21 kyu, O)	lost to	Paul Russell (9 kyu, C)	9 stones and 30 komi
Edward Laird (21 kyu, O)	beat	Andrew Spray (18 kyu, C)	3 stones

Round 2

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Rob Jack (6 kyu, C)	beat	Henry Segerman (1 dan, O)	6 stones
David Pearce (7 kyu, O)	lost to	Tim Hunt (1 kyu, C)	6 stones
Edward Laird (21 kyu, O)	lost to	Paul Russell (9 kyu, C)	9 stones and 30 komi
Matt Piatkus (21 kyu, O)	lost to	Andrew Spray (18 kyu, C)	3 stones

1998

The 1998 match took place on Saturday 7th March in the Castle Inn, Cambridge. Oxford won 6-3 and the Cambridge team drowned their sorrows so effectively that no coherent account of the day until Nick Fortescue the Oxford captain provided one.

Round 1

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Henry Segerman (1 kyu, O)	beat	Matthew Wheelan (1 kyu, C)	- - -
Hugh Robinson (7 kyu, C)	lost to	Nick Fortescue (4 kyu, O)	3 stones
James Murray (16 kyu, C)	lost to	Claas Roever (15 kyu, O)	No komi
Venetia Jackson (25 kyu, O)	lost to	Paul Russell (21 kyu, C)	4 stones
David Firth (12 kyu, C)	beat	David Pearce (12 kyu, O)	- - -

Round 2

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Venetia Jackson (25 kyu, O)	lost to	James Murray (16 kyu, C)	9 stones
Paul Russell (21 kyu, C)	lost to	Claas Roever (15 kyu, O)	6 stones
David Pearce (12 kyu, O)	beat	Hugh Robinson (7 kyu, C)	5 stones
Nick Fortescue (4 kyu, O)	beat	Matthew Wheelan (1 kyu, C)	3 stones

1997

This year the Varsity Match was resurrected after a lapse of 5 years. A team of 5 undergraduates got the bus to Oxford on Sunday 11th of May. They arrived to find that Oxford only had a team of 4, and so in the first round Nick Fortescue played two games simultaneously. In the second round Mark Worthington from Cambridge had a bye. The final score was Oxford 5 - Cambridge 4. The full results were:

Round 1

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Nick Fortescue (7 kyu, O)	beat	Mark Worthington (7 kyu, C)	- - -
Nick Fortescue (7 kyu, O)	beat	Andrew Ketly (C)	5 stones
Eleanor Blair (30 kyu, O)	lost to	Robert Jack (15 kyu, C)	9 stones
David Pearce (15 kyu, O)	beat	David Firth (15 kyu, C)	- - -
Chris Joseph (15 kyu, O)	lost to	Hugh Robinson (9 kyu, C)	6 stones

Round 2

Black	vs.	White	Handicap
Chris Joseph (15 kyu, O)	beat	Andrew Ketley (C)	9 stones + 60 komi
Hugh Robinson (9 kyu, C)	lost to	Nick Fortescue (7 kyu, O)	2 stones
Eleanor Blair (30 kyu, O)	lost to	David Firth (15 kyu, C)	9 stones
David Pearce (15 kyu, O)	lost to	Robert Jack (15 kyu, C)	- - -

1992-1996

No match took place.

1991

Was a 10-10 draw. The Cambridge team comprised John Rickard, William Connolley, Paul Smith, Yong Mao, Zhao Ping Zhang, Eddie Ashfield, Paul Hankin, James Rees and Debra Enzenbacher. The match was played in Oxford.

1990

Oxford 8-4. The Cambridge team comprised Dr Li, John Rickard, William Connolley, Yoshi Yasaki, Tony Warburton, Wei Chen, Barney Pell and Paul Smith. The match was played in Cambridge.

1988-1989

Alison Bexfield (then Alison Franklin) writes:

I recollect playing in at least one Varsity match in those years. We travelled to Oxford for the match and attempted to have a rule of at least one female playing (as was the case then for the Varsity chess match which I also played in). I recall playing Miriam Brod and that Cambridge won the match overall.

1984-1987

A slight gap in our records, then ...

1983

Cambridge 8.5-3.5.

1982

Cambridge 11-7 (BGJ 56).

1981

Oxford 14-10 (BGJ 53).

1979

No match this year. Peter Polkinghorne writes:

"When I was President of CUGS (for just 2 terms when Dave Goto left) in 1979, I recall writing to challenge Oxford - but had no response. Admittedly [I] may have written to a departed member of Oxford."

1978

Cambridge? Peter Polkinghorne recalls playing a match, possibly in 1978, played in Cambridge. Hopefully he'll be able to provide us with some more information.

1976 and 1977

There was almost certainly no varsity match in these years.

1975

Richard Hunter remembers arranging a match this year. The Cambridge team included Paul Fage, Brian Castledine and Peter Smith. The Oxford team included Harry Fearnley. The match took place in a college gardens following a punt trip. They certainly knew how to arrange a go match in those days. Can anyone remember the result?

1973

Oxford 10-6 (BGJ 23 or 24).
This match was played on November 17th - 18th, 1973 in Cambridge. Barry Chandler (O) remembers playing and remembers John Hobson (?), Brian Castledine (C) and Harry Fearnley (O) being there too. Toby Manning (C) played, and recalls Matthew MacFadyen being on the opposing side.

1971-72

There was no varsity match in these years (thanks to Toby Manning for confirming this).

1968

Oxford 8-4 (BGJ 7).

1967

According to Go Review this was the first ever Varsity Match and it was a draw. (Go Review 1967/7).

(Does anybody out there know the results of any other past Varsity Matches? We would like to collect them together here.)