A tie-break victory for Bedford A against Milton Keynes B secured them the Bedfordshire League Division One title.

With two matches left to play, three teams were still in contention for the title, but Leighton Buzzard's remote chances were dashed when they lost 3.5-1.5 against Milton Keynes A.

That meant Bedford A would have to beat Milton Keynes B by the same margin to take first place on tie-break.

Playing his last game for Bedford, visiting German master David Ortmann swiftly won material with a neat opening trap and, although Florin Apetrei eventually managed to win the piece back, Ortmann was left with a winning endgame.

Steve Ledger came up with the goods as he has so often done for Bedford, by seeing off the dangerous Mark Weighell with the black pieces.

Milton Keynes pulled a point back as Neil Hickman got the worst of a messy game against fellow-captain Tim Woods, but Steven Petitpas successfully negotiated some hair-raising complications to beat Tim Puleston.

That left the title hanging on the last game of the last match of the season.

Paul Habershon then secured victory for Bedford by forcing a draw against Adrian Elwin.