US Hall of Fame
Bill Goichberg
Inducted 2018 b. 1942
United States of America
Biography
A great innovator in American chess, Bill Goichberg pioneered in holding rated scholastic tournaments (1966) and originated the National High School Championship (1969), the National Junior High School Championship (1973), the National Elementary (K-6) Championship (1976), and the National (K-12) Championship (1991). Goichberg originated non-smoking events (1973), the Grand Prix (1979), and Rated Beginner Opens (1990). He also ran many GM/IM swiss norm events to help American players earn FIDE titles and popularized sudden death time controls and the Quad format. Goichberg organized thousands of tournaments, including the World Open (1973-), the world’s largest chess tournament for most of the past 45 years.
Notable Games
Explore More Legends of Chess
Eugene Torre
inducted 2021
Robert (Bobby) James Fischer
inducted 1986 (U.S.) | 2001 (World)
Paul Charles Morphy
inducted 1986 (U.S.) | 2001 (World)
Mikhail Tal
inducted 2003
Garry Kasparov
inducted 2005
Judit Polgar
inducted 2021
Oscar Panno
inducted 2024
Rex Sinquefield
inducted 2020
Wilhelm (William) Steinitz
inducted 1987 (U.S.) | 2001 (World)
Susan Polgar
inducted 2019 (U.S.) | 2023 (World)
Dr. Jeanne Cairns Sinquefield
inducted 2020
Efim Geller
inducted 2024
