Really? I shall look upon Andrew in an entirely new light from now on. That is so charmingly 1960s that it's given me an idea for a Mike Myers-style spoof movie on chess in the Swinging Sixties to be called Andy. It opens with Cilla Black singing "What's it all about, Andy" over the opening credits and then cuts to a London pub. 'Andy' approaches 'Bird'...Stewart Reuben wrote:Andrew Whiteley once said the only use of a BM title was for chatting up birds.
Stewart Reuben
Andy: "'Ullo, darlin', woss your name?"
Bird: "Oo! Wouldn't you like to know!"
Andy: "'Ere! I've got m' BM title parked outside. Fancy a ride?"
Bird: "Oo! 'Ow d'ya get that, then?
Andy: "Well, I 'ad to checkmate a few geezers down at 'Astings, know wot I mean?"
etc etc.
Perhaps Richard could comment on the 'bird-pulling' potential of the IM title. I wonder if you misheard Andrew and he was in fact referring to his BMX bike.