Nick names

[Paul Cooksey]

Nice and interesting nicknames like Spess are probably a rarity. For every Chariots Offiah or Jukebox Durie there a dozens of Deanos and Smithys

I think it was a surprise to us all when Nigel Short objected so strongly to Nosher. It had been in use for a decade and by people who were on friendly terms with him. The Summerscales used it in their Interview with the Grandmaster book. But frankly now seems far from the worst thing he has done. (cf Twitter for any specific criticism I decide to make of litigious people, on the basis Carl doesn't need the hassle)

Since Mark didn't specify famous chess players, I can report I did have the unusual nickname "Cooksey" for a time. A person who I used to chat with at work called me Cooksey rather than Paul or Mr Cooksey for a couple of years before admitting she thought I was Paul Cook and people called me Cooksey as a nickname.

[Nick Ivell]

Yes, I was surprised when Nigel kicked off over that. It seemed so disproportionate.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Yes, I was surprised when Nigel kicked off over that. It seemed so disproportionate.

Short's dislike of "Nosher" dates back to at least 2007:
https://www.chessgames.com/player/nigel ... &archive=1

If you glad to have me here, you can stop calling me "Nosher". My name is Nigel - and if you insist on calling me by insulting nicknames, you can sod off elsewhere.

[John Clarke]

Given the British near-addiction to nicknames, it's odd that so few of our top chess players ever seem to have been known by one. (I don't count contractions or diminutives.) I've seen it mooted that having one bestowed on you by other members of a group can signify their full acceptance of you into it. Perhaps chess, being basically an individualistic activity, based on rivalry, simply doesn't have the sort of group culture where nicknames tend to evolve.

Anyway, to specific examples.

Mr Short is not the first to have been known by his unloved nickname. One-time Stock Exchange champion and team captain Ronald E Rushbrook wrote an article for Chess (c1967), in which he advocated the virtues of Anderssen's Opening (1.a3) and referred to himself as "Nosher" - the piece was actually titled "Nosher's Eye View".

John Littlewood was once referred to on the air as the "Lincolnshire Poacher", because of where he was living at the time, but it doesn't seem to have caught on in a big way.

The insistence on not forgetting the "OBE" unfortunately rules out another of Mr Keene's appellations (my personal favourite), viz the "Mad Green Monkey".

[Roger de Coverly]

Anyway, to specific examples.

Kasparov shared a nickname "Gazza" with a famous or perhaps notorious England football player of the 1990s and periodic appearances in the tabloids.

John Nunn was "the Doctor".

[Jonathan Rogers]

Jon Tisdall experimented with "Speelwolf" for a while. It does seem odd that one player seems to attract all the nicknames! But apparently even Margaret Thatcher once used it, when Jon played in the Candidates' semi-final in London in 1989...

Back in the early 90s, some players (David Norwood/Julian Hodgson?) tried using "Tricky Mickey" for Michael Adams, whilst New In Chess called the same Adams and Hodgson "the Trompovsky Twins" - but of course Adams soon afterwards gave up the opening.

But it is hard to think of many examples. Well, it's chess - not snooker or darts ...

[Paul Cooksey]

I remember Julian Hodgson referring to himself as the Grandmaster of Disaster in annotations. But like Spiderman for Mickey I don't think these are really nicknames, closer to the ring names of Iron Mike Tyson or Floyd Pretty Boy Mayweather.

[Joey Stewart]

I was wondering why there are so few nicknames floating around too and it struck me, you really need to be more of a 'personality' to be crowned with a nickname and too many of our top players are just nice guys in suits who seem to live normal ordinary lives, chat with people in a friendly manner, eat at the same tables as the commoners etc...

[John Townsend]

I see that Raymond Keene, OBE, has acquired a new nickname at the end of C.N. 12048:

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/ind ... CN_12048

[NickFaulks]

I see that Raymond Keene, OBE, has acquired a new nickname at the end of C.N. 12048:

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/ind ... CN_12048

That really is very funny.

[JonManley]

Who is Nosher except from a rather rambunctuous character in the film Eat the Rich?

"Nosher L. Git" is an anagramatical nickname for Nigel Short. I think it was invented by Tony Miles. Obviously Short doesn't like this name (e.g. see http://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot.c ... -face.html). If the person at the receiving end doesn't like what he's being called then perhaps it could better be described as an insult than a nickname.

Edit: However I'd make an exception for "The Penguin" as that is very funny and accurate.

Nosher https://www.kingpinchess.net/2010/02/wh ... -nickname/

[Joey Stewart]

This talk of Nigel short reminds me of years ago when he would actually visit these forums and had some choice words for those who called him by that nickname...

https://streathambrixtonchess.blogspot. ... e.html?m=1

[Geoff Chandler]

..and back to Ray Keene who actually seems to rejoice in his nickname. I have seen him refer to himself in print as Mr. Penguin.

Was Jonathan Mestel not once referred to as the 'wild man' in the 80's.

[Joey Stewart]

Looks like keen isn't totally retired, I think I might have played him just now....

https://www.chess.com/game/live/124571935129

[John Townsend]

Earlier in this thread, Edward Winter's C.N. 12048 was mentioned:

https://www.chesshistory.com/winter/in ... l#CN_12048

Is the Rhoda Bowles material getting another outing, its third?

Note the extract available at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DNLYSV5Y

The length of Chapter 20 - nine pages - looks ominous.

Who knows if that will be its last outing? Look out for signs that it still has legs yet ...