How about an addition to the rules:
| The very first move in the game must not be in the center board (or more specifically CC)
So player has to pick some other board. If they choose C in that board, then they're fucked, the next player will end up playing the Orwin Gambit. So both players will avoid C like the plague until they're sure the Orwin Gambit is no more applicable.
Even if I start with some board (say NE), and in the first move itself I play a C and thereby giving the other player an option of taking the Orwin Gambit, it still can't be effectively used. Because I can later play NE again in the C table, thereby outplaying the gambit (since the C inside NE is already used).
Edit: Formatting
The initial idea (extending Orwin Gambit) should still be leverageable into a much better position. This might fall short of a certain win though, if the opponent plays a proper response strategy -- which we should probably assume if the contestants are peer mathematicians. :)