Berkeley Bishops
History of the Berkeley Bishops
The town of Berkeley was named after an Irishman, Bishop Berkeley. An Irishwoman, Elizabeth Shaughnessy, founded the Berkeley Chess School. So when we were choosing a team name for the Berkeley Chess School's best, the Berkeley Bishops seemed an appropriate one.
The Berkeley Bishops team played their first match on November 10, 1984 in Berkeley against the Orange County "Wizards". Over the years they had many memorable matches both in Berkeley and Los Angeles. The students on that first team eventually formed the Berkeley High School team that won the State Championship for three of their four high school years, the other winner being College Prep, whose number one board was also a "Bishop".
In the early nineties the Bishops played against a combination team of Weibel and Mission San Jose, and in the years following, the annual Weibel v Bishop match became a staple for preparing students for the State Championships.
In the year 2000 the Bishops traveled to Straffan, Ireland for a match against the All-Ireland under-14 Champions and the Irish team played the return match in Berkeley in 2001. In 2006 a Bishop's team again traveled to Ireland, this time to Dublin to play the students of GM Alexander Baburin. The Irish team played the return match in 2007.
The Bishops proudly boast alumni International Master, David Pruess, International Master, Jon Ludwig Hammer and Junior Champion of Norway, National Master, A ndy Lee, National Master Sam Shankland, Daichi Siegrist, Junior Champion of Japan, Monty Peckham, California High School State Champion, Alexander Setzephandt member of the Pressman All American Team for three consecutive years and many others too numerous to mention. The philosophy of the Berkeley Chess School -- to share the joy of chess with as many young people as possible -- is embodied in its Berkeley Bishops Team where emphasis is placed on competing and good sportsmanship rather than on results.
How is the team chosen?
Students, grades 3 through 8, taking classes from the Berkeley Chess School are invited to compete in a qualifying tournament early in the school year. All the students who compete in this tournament are "Bishops" and are ranked according to how they perform at that tournament. A Berkeley Bishops Queen's team is chosen from the students who play in the first All Girls Tournament of the school year and they too are ranked according to how they perform at that tournament. However, if you were unable to attend the qualifying tournament you may challenge a member of the team for a place on the team. Additionally a student on the team may challenge a student who has a higher ranking on the team and if he wins he will take that student's place and that student will move down one place.
The Commitment
Students on the Berkeley Bishop's and the Berkeley Queen's team must show up for every match played against another school or team. They must wear a Berkeley Chess School tee shirt or sweat shirt. The matches will be at most once a month. Special classes will be offered to strengthen the team's play on the month when there is not a match. Most matches, events and classes will be held on Saturdays. The top 10 or 20 Bishops play most of the matches against other schools. However, usually we field our lower Bishops twice in the academic year against weaker school teams. The line up of the team to play other schools is by USCF rating.
The Rules of Challenge
Students are encouraged to challenge in order to improve their place on the team. Every challenge must be done through the Berkeley Chess School. If you want to play a challenge match you should call or email the Chess School (510-843-0150 or bcschool@pacbell.net) and inform them of your wish. Usually, but not always, you will be paired against somebody who is up to five boards ahead of you, or if you are not yet a Bishop you will be paired against somebody whose USCF rating is close to yours. Having been informed of who your opponent will be, the two families arrange for the time and date of the challenge. With rare exceptions, the challenge must be played at Hillside School, on Monday, Friday or Sunday evenings at 7pm. A member of the Berkeley Chess School staff will supervise the game. When you are challenged you have a two-week window to agree to a time and date. If you fail to agree to a time and date you forfeit the match. You may not challenge the same person more than once a month.
The Challenge Match
A match consists of two games. The time control is Game in 30 minutes (making a total of a possible hour). The challenger must score at least 1.5 points to win. If the defender wins the first game, the challenge is over and he keeps his place on the team. The defender gets white for the first game, black for the second. Challenge games are not USCF rated.