Mike Goodall
Encyclopedia
Kenneth Michael Goodall, better known as Mike Goodall, (born January 13, 1946 in Denver, Colorado
; died October 5, 2010 in Marinwood, California
) was until his death the most active chess
tournament organizer in Northern California
. He organized and directed the U.S. Chess Championship
in 1975, 1984 and 1986, the U.S. Junior Chess Open Championship in 1985, and the U.S. Women's Chess Championship
in 1984 and 1986. Most of these events were held on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley
. Goodall also organized memorial tournaments at the San Francisco Mechanics Institute, such as the Stamer Memorial and the Capps Memorial. He also held USCF
rated King's Gambit
tournaments. The biggest tournament he ever ran was the First Golden Gate Open in 1976 with 468 players.
Goodall was an International Arbiter
, recognized and certified by FIDE, the World Chess Federation. He was also a National Tournament Director for the USCF. Goodall was also a tournament chess player and for many years was a rated chess expert
. He once defeated Grandmaster Nick de Firmian
.
Goodall was the person charged with transmitting the moves from Iceland
to the New York
PBS TV Station during the 1972 World Chess Championship match between Bobby Fischer
and Boris Spassky
. This led to a permanent job as Assistant Director of Broadcast Operations for PBS.
Goodall held various positions in the California Chess Association and in the United States Chess Federation
. He was President of the California Chess Association and Regional Vice-President of the USCF. He was also a member of the Tournament Directors Qualification Committee. He was regularly a Northern California delegate to the United States Chess Federation.
Goodall was known for his annual Christmas party
, which was a gala event to which top chess players were invited.
Goodall had been a scientific data analyst for the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory in Berkeley.
Goodall lived for many years in Berkeley, California
, where he did accounting work in the publishing industry. After retiring he moved to the Marinwood area of San Rafael
, California, where he become a chess philanthropist, contributing to many chess related causes.
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
; died October 5, 2010 in Marinwood, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
) was until his death the most active chess
Chess
Chess is a two-player board game played on a chessboard, a square-checkered board with 64 squares arranged in an eight-by-eight grid. It is one of the world's most popular games, played by millions of people worldwide at home, in clubs, online, by correspondence, and in tournaments.Each player...
tournament organizer in Northern California
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
. He organized and directed 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...
in 1975, 1984 and 1986, the U.S. Junior Chess Open Championship in 1985, and the U.S. Women's Chess Championship
U.S. Women's Chess Championship
The U.S. Women's Chess Championship tournament is to determine the woman chess champion of the United States.-List of U.S. Women's Chess Champions:*1937 Adele Rivero*1938 Mona May Karff*1940 Adele Rivero*1941 Mona May Karff*1942 Mona May Karff...
in 1984 and 1986. Most of these events were held on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
. Goodall also organized memorial tournaments at the San Francisco Mechanics Institute, such as the Stamer Memorial and the Capps Memorial. He also held USCF
United States Chess Federation
The United States Chess Federation is a non-profit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of the FIDE. The USCF was founded in 1939 from the merger of two regional chess organizations, and grew gradually until 1972, when membership...
rated King's Gambit
King's Gambit
The King's Gambit is a chess opening that begins with the moves:White offers a pawn to divert the Black e-pawn so as to build a strong centre with d2–d4...
tournaments. The biggest tournament he ever ran was the First Golden Gate Open in 1976 with 468 players.
Goodall was 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....
, recognized and certified by FIDE, the World Chess Federation. He was also a National Tournament Director for the USCF. Goodall was also a tournament chess player and for many years was a rated chess expert
Chess expert
Chess expert is a title given by the United States Chess Federation . It is awarded to chess players rated from 2000 to 2199. Players rated above that are masters while players below that are class players. Approximately 400,000 chess players have USCF ratings, of which approximately 4000 are rated...
. He once defeated Grandmaster Nick de Firmian
Nick de Firmian
Nicholas Ernest de Firmian , is a chess grandmaster and three-time U.S. chess champion, winning in 1987 , 1995, and 1998. He also tied for first in 2002, but Larry Christiansen won the playoff...
.
Goodall was the person charged with transmitting the moves from Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
to the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
PBS TV Station during the 1972 World Chess Championship match between Bobby Fischer
Bobby Fischer
Robert James "Bobby" Fischer was an American chess Grandmaster and the 11th World Chess Champion. He is widely considered one of the greatest chess players of all time. Fischer was also a best-selling chess author...
and Boris Spassky
Boris Spassky
Boris Vasilievich Spassky is a Soviet-French chess grandmaster. He was the tenth World Chess Champion, holding the title from late 1969 to 1972...
. This led to a permanent job as Assistant Director of Broadcast Operations for PBS.
Goodall held various positions in the California Chess Association and in the United States Chess Federation
United States Chess Federation
The United States Chess Federation is a non-profit organization, the governing chess organization within the United States, and one of the federations of the FIDE. The USCF was founded in 1939 from the merger of two regional chess organizations, and grew gradually until 1972, when membership...
. He was President of the California Chess Association and Regional Vice-President of the USCF. He was also a member of the Tournament Directors Qualification Committee. He was regularly a Northern California delegate to the United States Chess Federation.
Goodall was known for his annual Christmas party
Christmas Party
"Christmas Party", alternately titled "Santa Claus is Coming to Scranton", is the tenth episode of the second season of The Office —the show's sixteenth episode overall. It was written by Michael Schur and directed by Charles McDougall. It was first broadcast on December 6, 2005 on NBC.In this...
, which was a gala event to which top chess players were invited.
Goodall had been a scientific data analyst for the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory in Berkeley.
Goodall lived for many years in Berkeley, California
Berkeley, California
Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington...
, where he did accounting work in the publishing industry. After retiring he moved to the Marinwood area of San Rafael
San Rafael, California
San Rafael is a city and the county seat of Marin County, California, United States. The city is located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area...
, California, where he become a chess philanthropist, contributing to many chess related causes.