Sidney P. Johnston

Sidney Paine Johnston (Nov. 29, 1869 – March 19, 1905) was a chess master and officer of the Chicago Chess and Checker Club. In contemporary Elo terms, his peak rating is estimated at 2458 (achieved in 1903). In that year, Johnston tied with Louis Uedemann and Max Judd for first place at the Western Chess Association's fourth U.S. Open in Chicago, with a score of 14.5/17.

Johnston drew Harry Pillsbury in a Queen's Gambit Declined when the master visited the Chicago Chess and Checker Club in 1898 and 1899. The game reportedly lasted four hours. In December 1899 and January 1900, Johnston played a first-to-seven match against Frank Marshall for stakes of $150. The match ended in Marshall's favor, but Johnston won six games to Marshall's seven, with two draws. Johnston hoped for a rematch, but none was ever arranged.

On July 14, 1901, Johnston became chess editor at the Chicago Daily Tribune and took over the "Over the Chess Board" (later "Across the Chess Board") column from Louis Uedemann. His final column ran on March 5, 1905, two weeks before his unexpected death at home at the age of 35.