Jonathan Berry
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Berry is a Canadian
International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster
, an International Arbiter
, a FIDE Master
(FM) over-the-board, and a chess journalist and author. He is the only Canadian to hold international titles for over-the-board chess, correspondence chess, and chess arbiting.
at the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship
s, Montreal
1969, and graduated from that institution in 1973.
Berry had a solid result of tied fourth as a 16-year-old, with 6.5/10, at the 1970 Canadian Open Chess Championship
, in St. John's
; the event was won by Danish Grandmaster Bent Larsen
. He placed third in the 1970 Junior Canadian Chess Championship, held in Toronto
, with 5.5/9. Berry played his first Closed Canadian Chess Championship
at Toronto
1972, and finished in the middle of a strong field, scoring 8.5/17; the winner was Peter Biyiasas
. He was of National Master
strength by this time. He tied for third place at the 1972 Canadian Junior Championship in London, Ontario
, with 6/9. Berry won the 1974 Vancouver
City Closed Championship with 7/8, and also won the 1974 Mexican
Open Championship at Guadalajara
with 7.5/8. In 1975, Berry scored 9/15 at the Canadian Closed / Zonal in Calgary, Alberta, missing the standard for International Master by only one point; Biyiasas repeated as champion. Berry scored 7.5/10 in the 1976 Canadian Open Chess Championship
in Toronto
. Berry represented Canada at the 1977 Pan American
Individual Championship at Santa Cruz
, Bolivia
, placing sixth.
He had a below average result of 5.5/15 at the 1978 Canadian Closed / Zonal in Toronto. Filling in at the absolute last minute on the Canadian team for the 1982 Lucerne
Chess Olympiad
, because of a family emergency with one of the selected players, and with no other Master able to answer the call, he made the trans-atlantic trip, played two games on the second reserve board, and drew both of them. Berry was at around 50 per cent in each of his next four Canadian Championship Zonals: 7/15 at Ottawa
(1984); 8/15 at Hamilton
, Ontario (1994); 4.5/9 at Brantford
, Ontario (1999); and 5.5/11 at Richmond
, British Columbia (2002).
Since returning to Canada's west coast in the mid-1980s, he has been champion of British Columbia
three times: in 1994, in 2000 (first equal), and in 2006 (first equal). He was awarded the FIDE Master title by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, in 1984. Berry, by then living in Nanaimo, British Columbia
, scored 5.5/9 at the London, England International II in 1997.
Berry also plays simultaneous blindfold chess
and in 2004 played 12 games, tying the world record for players over the age of 50, scoring +9=2-1.
of Correspondence Chess
by the International Correspondence Chess Federation
in 1985. Representing Canada on board two in the XI Correspondence Olympiad, he scored 7/9 in the preliminaries, helping Canada to qualify for the finals; there, again on board two, he scored 5/12.
, Manitoba
, 1974, where his bilingual skills in English and Spanish proved very helpful. He directed the 1974 Canadian Junior Championship in Vancouver. Berry directed Vancouver 1975, an International tournament with 320 players, which was won by Paul Keres
; it was Keres' last victory before he died a few weeks later. Based upon those four major events, Berry was awarded the title of International Arbiter
by FIDE in 1975, at the age of only 22, the youngest ever (a record since broken).
Berry directed the Grand Manan International 1984. He also became involved at the Olympiad level later that same year, in Thessaloniki
. He has returned to the Olympiad in 1996 Yerevan
, 2000 Istanbul
, and 2004 Calvià
. The 1988 World Chess Festival, Saint John, New Brunswick
, was the most ambitious chess event ever held in Canada; it had seven Candidates' matches, two strong International Opens, several Class tournaments, and the World Blitz Championship. Berry was an assistant arbiter for the Candidates' matches. Berry helped to run the 1988 World Rapid Championships in Mazatlán
. From 1994-99, Berry was the head Arbiter for the North Bay
International Open series of six tournaments, which averaged over 250 players. Berry was the head arbiter for the 25th anniversary Paul Keres Memorial Tournament, Vancouver 2000. Berry was an assistant arbiter at the U.S. Chess Championship
, Seattle, in 2002 and 2003.
He has been in charge of three Canadian Open Chess Championship
: at Winnipeg
1986; at Kapuskasing 2003 (where he introduced an innovative pairing system, the 'Kap' system); and at Ottawa
2007, which saw a record 22 Grandmasters participate, and where he utilized the "Capelle la Grande" pairing system, its first use in Canada. Berry is arguably Canada's most experienced arbiter, both in length of service and in variety of top events run. However, Berry has drawn some criticism in certain circles, for introducing incredibly complex pairing systems which are often difficult for participants to understand.
in 1975, as well as the Editor of the Federation's magazine CFC Bulletin (later called Chess Canada). The magazine became well respected among the international chess community. Berry served as Executive Director and Editor until 1983. Berry has continued to write occasionally for Chess Canada in the years since.
Berry became the chess columnist for The Globe and Mail
, Canada's national newspaper, in 1981, and has held that post since, writing a Saturday column each week, which usually focuses on Canadian and world chess news, a well-annotated game from high-class play, and some insightful commentary. The column is written in a general-interest style, yet also appeals to serious players. Berry is approaching 1,500 columns.
Berry served as Technical Editor about 15 years for the respected magazine Inside Chess, founded and edited out of Seattle by Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan. He wrote the book Diamond Dust, the tournament book of the CCCA's 60th anniversary tournament, and The Pocket Guide to Chess. He served as technical and layout editor for the Duncan Suttles
chess project, Chess on the Edge, published in three volumes in 2008. He was inducted into the Canadian Chess Hall of Fame in 2001.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster
International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster
International Correspondence Chess Grandmaster is a title created by the FIDE in 1953, second only to that of world correspondence champion. Now awarded by the International Correspondence Chess Federation.-American ICCGMs:* Hans Jack Berliner, GM 1968...
, an International Arbiter
International Arbiter
In chess, International Arbiter is a title awarded by FIDE to individuals deemed capable of acting as arbiter in important chess matches . The title was established in 1951....
, a FIDE Master
Chess master
A chess master is a chess player of such skill that he/she can usually beat chess experts, who themselves typically prevail against most amateurs. Among chess players, the term is often abbreviated to master, the meaning being clear from context....
(FM) over-the-board, and a chess journalist and author. He is the only Canadian to hold international titles for over-the-board chess, correspondence chess, and chess arbiting.
Chess over the board
Berry represented the University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a public research university. UBC’s two main campuses are situated in Vancouver and in Kelowna in the Okanagan Valley...
at the Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship
Pan American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship
The Pan-American Intercollegiate Team Chess Championship is the foremost intercollegiate team chess championship in the Americas...
s, Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
1969, and graduated from that institution in 1973.
Berry had a solid result of tied fourth as a 16-year-old, with 6.5/10, at the 1970 Canadian Open Chess Championship
Canadian Open Chess Championship
The Canadian Open Chess Championship is Canada's Open chess championship, first held in 1956, and held annually since 1973, usually in mid-summer. It is organized by the Chess Federation of Canada....
, in St. John's
St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John's is the capital and largest city in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is the oldest English-founded city in North America. It is located on the eastern tip of the Avalon Peninsula on the island of Newfoundland. With a population of 192,326 as of July 1, 2010, the St...
; the event was won by Danish Grandmaster Bent Larsen
Bent Larsen
Jørgen Bent Larsen was a Danish chess Grandmaster and author. Larsen was known for his imaginative and unorthodox style of play and he was the first western player to pose a serious challenge to the Soviet Union's dominance of chess...
. He placed third in the 1970 Junior Canadian Chess Championship, held in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, with 5.5/9. Berry played his first Closed Canadian Chess Championship
Canadian Chess Championship
This is the list of all the winners of the Canadian Chess Championship, often referred to as the Canadian Closed Championship to distinguish it from the annual Canadian Open tournament. The winner of the Canadian Closed advances to the next stage of the FIDE World Chess Championship cycle...
at Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
1972, and finished in the middle of a strong field, scoring 8.5/17; the winner was Peter Biyiasas
Peter Biyiasas
Peter Biyiasas is a Canadian chess grandmaster. He was Canadian champion in 1972 and 1975, represented Canada with fine success on four Olympiad teams, played in two Interzonals. He moved to the United States in 1979, settling in California. He has been retired from competitive play since the...
. He was of National Master
Chess master
A chess master is a chess player of such skill that he/she can usually beat chess experts, who themselves typically prevail against most amateurs. Among chess players, the term is often abbreviated to master, the meaning being clear from context....
strength by this time. He tied for third place at the 1972 Canadian Junior Championship in London, Ontario
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
, with 6/9. Berry won the 1974 Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
City Closed Championship with 7/8, and also won the 1974 Mexican
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
Open Championship at Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
with 7.5/8. In 1975, Berry scored 9/15 at the Canadian Closed / Zonal in Calgary, Alberta, missing the standard for International Master by only one point; Biyiasas repeated as champion. Berry scored 7.5/10 in the 1976 Canadian Open Chess Championship
Canadian Open Chess Championship
The Canadian Open Chess Championship is Canada's Open chess championship, first held in 1956, and held annually since 1973, usually in mid-summer. It is organized by the Chess Federation of Canada....
in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. Berry represented Canada at the 1977 Pan American
Pan American Games
The Pan-American or Pan American Games are a major event in the Americas featuring summer and formerly winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Pan American Games are the second largest multi-sport event after the Summer Olympics...
Individual Championship at Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz de la Sierra
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, commonly known as Santa Cruz, is the capital of the Santa Cruz department in eastern Bolivia and the largest city in the country...
, Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
, placing sixth.
He had a below average result of 5.5/15 at the 1978 Canadian Closed / Zonal in Toronto. Filling in at the absolute last minute on the Canadian team for the 1982 Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
Chess Olympiad
Chess Olympiad
The Chess Olympiad is a biennial chess tournament in which teams from all over the world compete against each other. The event is organised by FIDE, which selects the host nation.-Birth of the Olympiad:The first Olympiad was unofficial...
, because of a family emergency with one of the selected players, and with no other Master able to answer the call, he made the trans-atlantic trip, played two games on the second reserve board, and drew both of them. Berry was at around 50 per cent in each of his next four Canadian Championship Zonals: 7/15 at Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
(1984); 8/15 at Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
, Ontario (1994); 4.5/9 at Brantford
Brantford, Ontario
Brantford is a city located on the Grand River in Southern Ontario, Canada. While geographically surrounded by the County of Brant, the city is politically independent...
, Ontario (1999); and 5.5/11 at Richmond
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, British Columbia (2002).
Since returning to Canada's west coast in the mid-1980s, he has been champion of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
three times: in 1994, in 2000 (first equal), and in 2006 (first equal). He was awarded the FIDE Master title by FIDE, the World Chess Federation, in 1984. Berry, by then living in Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo, British Columbia
Nanaimo is a city on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It has been dubbed the "Bathtub Racing Capital of the World" and "Harbour City". Nanaimo is also sometimes referred to as the "Hub City" because of its central location on Vancouver Island and due to the layout of the downtown...
, scored 5.5/9 at the London, England International II in 1997.
Berry also plays simultaneous blindfold chess
Blindfold chess
Blindfold chess is a form of chess play wherein the players do not see the positions of the pieces or touch them. This forces players to maintain a mental model of the positions of the pieces...
and in 2004 played 12 games, tying the world record for players over the age of 50, scoring +9=2-1.
Correspondence chess
Berry was just into his teens when started playing correspondence chess in 1967. He qualified for his first Canadian Championship (K33) in 1976-78, placing third with 10/13. He won K34 (1977–78) with 7/8, and K36 (1979–81) with 7.5/9. In the 60th Anniversary International tournament of the Canadian Correspondence Chess Association (CCCA), from 1981–1985, he placed equal second, with 10/14. In the 3/4 finals for the 13th World Correspondence Chess Championship, running from 1984–89, he scored 9/13, and qualified for the finals, where he scored 6/16, for 13th place. Berry was awarded the title of International GrandmasterInternational Grandmaster
The title Grandmaster is awarded to strong chess players by the world chess organization FIDE. Apart from World Champion, Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain....
of Correspondence Chess
Correspondence chess
Correspondence chess is chess played by various forms of long-distance correspondence, usually through a correspondence chess server, through email or by the postal system; less common methods which have been employed include fax and homing pigeon...
by the International Correspondence Chess Federation
International Correspondence Chess Federation
International Correspondence Chess Federation was founded in 1951 as a new appearance of the ICCA , which was founded in 1945, as successor of the IFSB , founded in 1928....
in 1985. Representing Canada on board two in the XI Correspondence Olympiad, he scored 7/9 in the preliminaries, helping Canada to qualify for the finals; there, again on board two, he scored 5/12.
Chess arbiter
Berry began helping to run tournaments in his mid-teens. He was in Mexico in 1973 on vacation when he was asked to direct the Mexican Zonal qualifier, which he did successfully. He successfully ran the first Pan-American Individual Championship at WinnipegWinnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
, Manitoba
Manitoba
Manitoba is a Canadian prairie province with an area of . The province has over 110,000 lakes and has a largely continental climate because of its flat topography. Agriculture, mostly concentrated in the fertile southern and western parts of the province, is vital to the province's economy; other...
, 1974, where his bilingual skills in English and Spanish proved very helpful. He directed the 1974 Canadian Junior Championship in Vancouver. Berry directed Vancouver 1975, an International tournament with 320 players, which was won by Paul Keres
Paul Keres
Paul Keres , was an Estonian chess grandmaster, and a renowned chess writer. He was among the world's top players from the mid-1930s to the mid-1960s....
; it was Keres' last victory before he died a few weeks later. Based upon those four major events, Berry was awarded the title of International Arbiter
International Arbiter
In chess, International Arbiter is a title awarded by FIDE to individuals deemed capable of acting as arbiter in important chess matches . The title was established in 1951....
by FIDE in 1975, at the age of only 22, the youngest ever (a record since broken).
Berry directed the Grand Manan International 1984. He also became involved at the Olympiad level later that same year, in Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki
Thessaloniki , historically also known as Thessalonica, Salonika or Salonica, is the second-largest city in Greece and the capital of the region of Central Macedonia as well as the capital of the Decentralized Administration of Macedonia and Thrace...
. He has returned to the Olympiad in 1996 Yerevan
Yerevan
Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
, 2000 Istanbul
Istanbul
Istanbul , historically known as Byzantium and Constantinople , is the largest city of Turkey. Istanbul metropolitan province had 13.26 million people living in it as of December, 2010, which is 18% of Turkey's population and the 3rd largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and...
, and 2004 Calvià
Calvià
Calvià is a municipality on the island of Majorca, part of the Spanish autonomous community of the Balearic Islands. It is located in the southwestern part of the island of Majorca, between the Serra de Tramuntana and the Serra de Na Burguesa. The municipal seat is the town of Vila Calvia.Calvià...
. The 1988 World Chess Festival, Saint John, New Brunswick
Saint John, New Brunswick
City of Saint John , or commonly Saint John, is the largest city in the province of New Brunswick, and the first incorporated city in Canada. The city is situated along the north shore of the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the Saint John River. In 2006 the city proper had a population of 74,043...
, was the most ambitious chess event ever held in Canada; it had seven Candidates' matches, two strong International Opens, several Class tournaments, and the World Blitz Championship. Berry was an assistant arbiter for the Candidates' matches. Berry helped to run the 1988 World Rapid Championships in Mazatlán
Mazatlán
Mazatlán is a city in the Mexican state of Sinaloa; the surrounding municipio for which the city serves as the municipal seat is Mazatlán Municipality. It is located at on the Pacific coast, across from the southernmost tip of the Baja California peninsula.Mazatlán is a Nahuatl word meaning...
. From 1994-99, Berry was the head Arbiter for the North Bay
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
International Open series of six tournaments, which averaged over 250 players. Berry was the head arbiter for the 25th anniversary Paul Keres Memorial Tournament, Vancouver 2000. Berry was an assistant arbiter at the U.S. Chess Championship
U.S. Chess Championship
The U.S. Chess Championship is an invitational tournament held to determine the national chess champion of the United States. Since 1936, it has been held under the auspices of the U.S. Chess Federation. Until 1999, the event consisted of a round-robin tournament of varying size...
, Seattle, in 2002 and 2003.
He has been in charge of three Canadian Open Chess Championship
Canadian Open Chess Championship
The Canadian Open Chess Championship is Canada's Open chess championship, first held in 1956, and held annually since 1973, usually in mid-summer. It is organized by the Chess Federation of Canada....
: at Winnipeg
Winnipeg
Winnipeg is the capital and largest city of Manitoba, Canada, and is the primary municipality of the Winnipeg Capital Region, with more than half of Manitoba's population. It is located near the longitudinal centre of North America, at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers .The name...
1986; at Kapuskasing 2003 (where he introduced an innovative pairing system, the 'Kap' system); and at Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
2007, which saw a record 22 Grandmasters participate, and where he utilized the "Capelle la Grande" pairing system, its first use in Canada. Berry is arguably Canada's most experienced arbiter, both in length of service and in variety of top events run. However, Berry has drawn some criticism in certain circles, for introducing incredibly complex pairing systems which are often difficult for participants to understand.
Chess administrator, editor, columnist, and author
While still in university, Berry became the President of the British Columbia Chess Federation. He was hired as the Executive Director of the Chess Federation of CanadaChess Federation of Canada
The Chess Federation of Canada or CFC is Canada's national chess organization. Founded in 1872 as the Canadian Chess Association, it was replaced in 1932 by the Canadian Chess Federation , which for the first time included representation from all major cities in Canada...
in 1975, as well as the Editor of the Federation's magazine CFC Bulletin (later called Chess Canada). The magazine became well respected among the international chess community. Berry served as Executive Director and Editor until 1983. Berry has continued to write occasionally for Chess Canada in the years since.
Berry became the chess columnist for The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is a nationally distributed Canadian newspaper, based in Toronto and printed in six cities across the country. With a weekly readership of approximately 1 million, it is Canada's largest-circulation national newspaper and second-largest daily newspaper after the Toronto Star...
, Canada's national newspaper, in 1981, and has held that post since, writing a Saturday column each week, which usually focuses on Canadian and world chess news, a well-annotated game from high-class play, and some insightful commentary. The column is written in a general-interest style, yet also appeals to serious players. Berry is approaching 1,500 columns.
Berry served as Technical Editor about 15 years for the respected magazine Inside Chess, founded and edited out of Seattle by Grandmaster Yasser Seirawan. He wrote the book Diamond Dust, the tournament book of the CCCA's 60th anniversary tournament, and The Pocket Guide to Chess. He served as technical and layout editor for the Duncan Suttles
Duncan Suttles
Duncan Suttles is an International Grandmaster of chess who was the strongest Canadian player between the eras of Abe Yanofsky and Kevin Spraggett. He is one of the few over-the-board grandmasters who also holds the title of Grandmaster of Correspondence Chess. Suttles has been inactive in...
chess project, Chess on the Edge, published in three volumes in 2008. He was inducted into the Canadian Chess Hall of Fame in 2001.