The Players: Barry Endsley
National Master Barry Endsley’s 2297 USCF Correspondence rating makes him the #32 active correspondence player in the United States, and the top USCF-active player in Michigan (and in this tournament). Barry has also won the trophy for the best Upper Penninsula Over-The-Board player in 2009 and 2010.
I am 63 years old and currently reside in Calumet, Michigan with my wife Judy. I grew up in Texas and Arkansas and graduated from The University of Texas in 1970 with degrees in physics and mathematics. In 2007 after many years as a software engineer at the Johnson Space Center, I retired and moved up to Calumet.
I reached my OTB peak in 1981 when I obtained the National Master level. In 1984 I won the Houston Absolute Championship. Shortly after that, we began having kids and my OTB rating slowly declined to its floor, where it has remained for many years. I still try to play 6 to 8 tournaments a year, but they are mostly in Wisconsin, which is actually more convenient and closer for me.
I’ve been playing correspondence chess most of my life. I started in high school with the old Chess Review in 1964 and have managed to have at least 10 to 12 games going at all times since. I was Postal Champion of Texas for a couple of years, so it would be nice if I could do the same in Michigan.
Have you played the other guys in the tournament OTB or Correspondence? What are your impressions of your opponents?
I played James in an email tournament a couple of years ago. We drew in a tight, static, position that didn’t seem to allow either of us to make much progress. I played Brad in a Golden Knights tournament back in 1984. I won, but we were both much younger and lower rated at the time. Brad defeated me last summer in an OTB game at the U.P. Open. I’ve never played Stan or Eric, but it doesn’t look there will be any easy games in this tournament.
Who do you think is likely to score the most points?
I don’t know my opponents well enough to make much of a prediction, but I think Eric’s rating says enough about who the favorite should be.
Does your style change when you play correspondence instead of over-the-board?
To me, OTB and correspondence chess are like two separate games played with the same rules. Whereas, OTB chess is a sport or an art, correspondence chess is more of a science. I don’t know that that makes me play any different style-wise, but I do think it’s much more of a search for the truth in a position, not just trying to make a playable move within a certain time limit.
Do you have a favorite correspondence player?
I suppose Berliner, as he was in the process of winning the World Championship while I was just taking up postal chess.
Do you think about your games in the shower or when you should be sleeping?
Probably. I do remember taking a diagram into the bathroom at work a few times when things were slow.
u u u
Black to Play
| White resigned after 23...Rxf2! not waiting for Barry to play 24.Kxf2 Qh2+ 25.Kf1 (25.Ke3 Qxg3+ 26.Kd4 e5#) 25...Rf8+ 26.Bf4 Bxc5 27.e3 b4+ 28.Qd3 Bxe3! 0–1, Lars H. Carlson (2242) - Barry Endsley (2194), ICCF correspondence tournament 2008. |