Chess players' nicknames
Matthew
Kasparov, 'The Beast of Baku'.
Yermolinsky is 'The Yerminator'.
Anand, the 'Tiger of Madras' aka 'Fast Breeder' (anyone know why?).
Can anyone else add to the list of chess players and their nicknames, good
or bad? (not ICC or FICS nicks, please!)
Many thanks
Bill Smythe
> .... Can anyone else add to the list of chess players and their
nicknames, good
> or bad? ....
Somebody once nicknamed me The Kid from Smythe Dakota, of which Smythe
Dakota has stuck.
Bill Smythe
Jerzy
news:b8a9s4$c1e$1$8300...@news.demon.co.uk...
> Nigel Short is 'Nosher'.
On ICC his nick is NDShort or Lara ;-)
>
> Kasparov, 'The Beast of Baku'.
>
> Yermolinsky is 'The Yerminator'.
>
> Anand, the 'Tiger of Madras' aka 'Fast Breeder' (anyone know why?).
>
> Can anyone else add to the list of chess players and their nicknames, good
> or bad? (not ICC or FICS nicks, please!)
>
OK I will give you nicks of the winners the last Dos Hermanas qualifiers on
ICC :
1st prize (1500 Euro) GM Vladimir Potkin, Russia (Porter)
2nd prize ( 750 Euro): GM Pablo Zarnicki, Argentina (ZARNICKI)
3rd/4th ( 500 Euro): GM Vitaly Golod, Israel (Akula)
IM Roi Reinaldo, Spain (Reinalbo)
5th-8th ( 200 Euro): GM Konstantin Sakaev, Russia (K-Sakaev)
GM Luke McShane, England (McShane)
GM Christian Bauer, France (crazyboy26)
IM Csaba Balogh, Hungary (BaloghCs)
9th-16th ( 100 Euro): GM Mikhail Kobalia, Russia (M-Kobalija)
GM Alexey Dreev, Russia (Igrok)
GM Alexander Grischuk, Russia (depressnyak)
GM Pavel Jaracz, Poland (agnel)
GM Ivan Ivanisevic, Yugoslavia (ikica)
GM Levon Aronian, Armenia (L-Aronian)
GM Sergey Shipov, Russia (Crest)
GM Ildar Ibragimov, USA (ildar)
More you will get on :
Regards,
Jerzy
Dan Scoones
How about some nicknames of classical players:
The Austrian Morphy (Steinitz)
The Drawing Master (Schlechter)
The Kentucky Lion (Showalter)
The Chess Machine (Capablanca)
Der Kleine Capablanca (Kashdan)
The Stormy Petrel (Nimzowitsch)
Praeceptor Germaniae (Tarrasch)
Richard the Fifth (Teichmann)
The Dean of American Chess (Helms)
Closer to our times, we have:
Nosher L. Git (Short) -- an anagram
The Good Doctor (Nunn)
The Beast of Birmingham (Miles)
The Penguin (Keene)
The Machine with Two Switches (Speelman)
The Hand (Smyslov)
The Magician from Riga (Tal)
The Fetus (Karpov) -- cruel, I know...
Gazza (Kasparov) -- inspired by Paul Gascoigne, surely
Matthew
Thanks! This is just what I was after.
Do you have any idea why Speelman's nick is 'The Machine with 2 Switches'?
To answer my question on Anand's nickname; perhaps it refers to his quick
(and awesome) playing speed, as in '*fast breeder* nuclear reactor'...
Bests
Matthew
Tugboat Andy
What's the story behind The Hand, for Smyslov? I've never heard that one.
Matthew
"Tugboat Andy" <tugboa...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
<Snip>
> What's the story behind The Hand, for Smyslov? I've never heard that one.
My guess is it may have something to do with the infamous 'Smyslov Screw',
where he would screw a piece down onto the chessboard (usually with apparent
force) in order to intimidate his opponent.
Miriling
>From: tugboa...@yahoo.com (Tugboat Andy)
>Date: 4/26/03 12:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <34f932ae.0304...@posting.google.com>
The Hero of Hastings (Pillsbury)
The Black Death (Blackburne)
The Last Knight of the King's Gambit (Spielmann)
Kid Gefaehrlich (Fine)
The Hungarian Petrosian (Portisch)
The Great Stone Face (Botvinnik)
Baby Snake (Karpov)
The Walking ECO (Semyon Furman)
The Iceberg (Kramnik)
Fed (Fedorwicz)
Rocky (Fedorowicz)
The Doctor (John Curdo)
George Mirijanian
>
>
>
Jerome Bibuld
Heil Dubya!
Here are a few closer to home (within the military control of the U. S. A.):
"Mo": GM Maurice Ashley
"E. T.": FM Emory Tate
"The Terminator": FM William Morrison (although I've heard a couple of
assholes, pretending to know him, refer to him as "Bill")
"Pete": FM Norman Rogers
"Steve": NM Ernest P. Colding
"Pop" or "Pops": USCF Expert Willie Johnson
"The Young Legend": IM Amon Simutowe.
Heute Uhmuhrikkka und Irak. Morgen die ganze Welt!
Uhmuhrikkka, Uhmuhrikkka uber Alles!
Fraternally,
Jerome Bibuld
gens una sumus
Wilma
Budapest Tourney.
Wilma
P.S. What do you think? Might Jennifer Shahade win the Generations, or is it
bad form for you to say?
Wilma
"Jerome Bibuld" <chess...@aol.comnospam> wrote in message
news:20030426164755...@mb-m16.aol.com...
Wilma
Wilma
"Wilma" <iamwilma...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:G7Fqa.43479$4P1.4...@newsread2.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
Jerome Bibuld
Heil Dubya!
Those who know me at all, know that I am VERY outspoken. However, as Chief
Arbiter of the Generation Chess International Tournament, I must keep my
opinions to myself concerning the outcome until AFTER the outcome. I'm sorry I
can't oblige you in this case.
[I can say that, as soon as WIM Shahade gets her (FIDE) rating over 2400, I
will invite her to play in a GM tournament that I organize or help to
organize.]
>Wilma
>P.S. What do you think? Might Jennifer Shahade win the Generations, or is it
>bad form for you to say?
>
>Wilma
Heute Uhmuhrikkka und Irak. Morgen die ganze Welt!
Dan Scoones
<matti44.s...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>Do you have any idea why Speelman's nick is 'The Machine with 2 Switches'?
This nickname was bestowed by Nigel Short after one of their
candidates matches -- the one in 1989, I think. He said Speelman
could either play extremely positionally or extremely tactically, and
you never knew which you were going to see.
Dan Scoones
wrote:
>What's the story behind The Hand, for Smyslov? I've never heard that one.
In a relatively recent interview (New In Chess, probably) Smyslov said
that at his advanced age he does not have the energy to calculate a
lot of difficult variations, but instead tends to go with the move
that his hand wants to make. Naturally, the players on the circuit
immediately dubbed him "The Hand."
Dan Scoones
>>What about
>The Hero of Hastings (Pillsbury)
>The Black Death (Blackburne)
>The Last Knight of the King's Gambit (Spielmann)
>Kid Gefaehrlich (Fine)
>The Hungarian Petrosian (Portisch)
>The Great Stone Face (Botvinnik)
>Baby Snake (Karpov)
>The Walking ECO (Semyon Furman)
>The Iceberg (Kramnik)
>Fed (Fedorwicz)
>Rocky (Fedorowicz)
>The Doctor (John Curdo)
>
>George Mirijanian
Good work, George!
After posting my list I remembered a few of yours, plus:
The Northern Philidor (A.D. Petroff)
The Book (Zuckerman)
The Iron Tigran (Petrosian)
Dan
Dan Scoones
>The Hero of Hastings (Pillsbury)
>The Black Death (Blackburne)
>The Last Knight of the King's Gambit (Spielmann)
>Kid Gefaehrlich (Fine)
>The Hungarian Petrosian (Portisch)
>The Great Stone Face (Botvinnik)
>Baby Snake (Karpov)
>The Walking ECO (Semyon Furman)
>The Iceberg (Kramnik)
>Fed (Fedorwicz)
>Rocky (Fedorowicz)
>The Doctor (John Curdo)
>
>George Mirijanian
A few more nicknames bestowed by Nigel Short (what is it with him,
anyway?)
Bob (Gelfand)
Chucky (Ivanchuk)
Vishy (Anand)
Big Al (Beliavsky)
Matthew
Judit Polgar - 'Lassie'
Steinitz - 'The Austrian Morphy'
Shirov - 'Giraffe'
Khalifman - 'Sasha'
Topalov - 'The Wizard'
Does anyone know if the following have/had a nickname in the chessworld?
Kamsky
Spassky
Timman
Korchnoi
Larsen
Fischer
Bests
Matthew
Miriling
>Date: 4/26/03 9:34 PM Eastern Daylight Time
>Message-id: <6gbmavgkuuktlpcss...@4ax.com>
The Pride and the Sorrow of Chess (Morphy)
George Mirijanian
>
>
>
EZoto
>The Hungarian Petrosian (Portisch)
>The Great Stone Face (Botvinnik)
I think these two are incorrect but not sure. Portisch was called The
Hungarian Botvinnik and Botvinnik was called The engineer. Just from
what I recollect.
EZoto
Jerome Bibuld
Mr. Zoto's recollection seems half-right to me. I had an uneasy feeling about
the "nickname" of Portisch, but was too lazy to follow up on it. As for
Botwinnik, I BELIEVE he was called BOTH, "The Great Stone Face" and "The
Engineer".
>I think these two are incorrect but not sure. Portisch was called The
>Hungarian Botvinnik and Botvinnik was called The engineer. Just from
>what I recollect.
>
>EZoto
Heute Uhmurikkka unbd Irak. Morgen die ganze Welt!
Miriling
>On 27 April 2003 EZoto ez...@intergate.com wrote in
>Message-id: <8ojnav4cild141ll7...@4ax.com>
>If you think the above-mentioned nicknames for Portsich and Botvinnik are
incorrect, then you are challenging the competence of Bill Wall as a collector
of correct chess trivia. These nicknames have been documented by Wall and are
to be found in other sources.
George Mirijanian
>
>
>
st...@mimosa.csv.warwick.ac.uk
"Spess" - John Speelman (whose name was once misprinted "Specimen")
"Chess Fluff" - Nigel Short (while at school)
[
These occurred in a 1991 rec.games.chess quiz reachable from
http://www.ewartshaw.co.uk/chess.html
(final paragraph on page)
]
--
J.E.H.Shaw [Ewart Shaw] st...@uk.ac.warwick TEL: +44 2476 523069
Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
http://www.warwick.ac.uk/statsdept http://www.ewartshaw.co.uk
3 ((4&({*.(=+/))++/=3:)@([:,/0&,^:(i.3)@|:"2^:2))&.>@]^:(i.@[) <#:3 6 2
Mhoulsby
> These occurred in a 1991 rec.games.chess quiz reachable from
> http://www.ewartshaw.co.uk/chess.html
> (final paragraph on page)
>]
>--
>J.E.H.Shaw [Ewart Shaw] st...@uk.ac.warwick TEL: +44 2476 523069
> Department of Statistics, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
> http://www.warwick.ac.uk/statsdept http://www.ewartshaw.co.uk
Very nice, Ewart. Thanks.
Mark
wth...@godzilla5.acpub.duke.edu
Portisch has also been called "The Little Botvinnik".
I recall this because Botvinnik objected strenuously
"I still play and have always played more actively than
Portisch, whose style reminds me of Flohr". The quote
(as close as I can come to a quote, anyway) is from a
book on the 1968 Candidates event.
Mind you, at this point Portisch was 4-0 with some
draws against Petrosian. With a score like that
Botvinnik would still have been champion.
William Hyde
EOS Department
Duke University
wth...@godzilla5.acpub.duke.edu
Tarrasch "Praeceptor Germaniae".
Milan Matulovic "J'adoubovic"
Emanual Lasker was referred to as "Lasker Preferred",
and Edward as "Lasker common", but this happened only
once, I think, at NY 1924 where they both played.
Jerzy
Korchnoi - Iron Victor
Fischer - Enfant terrible ?
Jaan Ehlvest - Elvis of chess ;-)
best
Jerzy
Dan Scoones
>Korchnoi - Iron Victor
>Fischer - Enfant terrible ?
>
>Jaan Ehlvest - Elvis of chess ;-)
This reminds me:
The King (Ehlvest)
The Colonel (Ionescu)
The General (Timoshenko?)
The first one is obviously a transfer from Elvis Presley.
In Informant, Ionescu is cited as Co. Ionescu and Timoshenko as Ge.
Timoshenko, which suggest the English abbreviations for Colonel and
General.
EZoto
Are you some sort of troublemaker? Where in my post did I challenge
the competence of Bill Wall? Where in my post am I saying such
things? All I said is I think Portisch was called The Hungarian
Botvinnik because I read it in a book on the 1968 candidates and
Botvinnik didn't think Portisch play was similiar to his at all but in
Hungary they still called him The Hungarian Botvinnik though if they
called him The Hungarian Petrosian then so be it. I never heard of
it. Are you some sort of blasted dictator! Take your arrogance
somewhere else.
Miriling
>On 1 May 2003 EZoto ez...@intergate.com wrote in
>Message-id: <skd3bvcn95d2fhdpu...@4ax.com>
>
>
>Are you some sort of troublemaker? Where in my post did I challenge
>the competence of Bill Wall? Where in my post am I saying such
>things? All I said is I think Portisch was called The Hungarian
>Botvinnik because I read it in a book on the 1968 candidates and
>Botvinnik didn't think Portisch play was similiar to his at all but in
>Hungary they still called him The Hungarian Botvinnik though if they
>called him The Hungarian Petrosian then so be it. I never heard of
>it. Are you some sort of blasted dictator! Take your arrogance
>somewhere else.
On 27 April 2003 EZoto wrote:
The Hungarian Petrosian (Portisch)
The Great Stone Face (Botvinnik)
I think these two are incorrect but not sure.
-snip-
Your ignorance of chess facts is showing. Who is the one showing arrogance? It
is the one who thinks that the claims are incorrect but is "not sure."
If you don't know what are you talking about, please don't challenge people who
are more knowledgeable about chess and its history.
George Mirijanian
EZoto
Show me in my posts where I am challenging people. Show me in my
posts where I am challenging the competence of Bob Wall. You made a
lot of statements. Me saying not sure is what??? Where am I
challenging people who know more than me? Go back under your rock and
stay there.
EZoto
Miriling
>On 1 May 2003 EZoto ez...@intergate.com replied in
>Message-id: <d3l3bvo3dfvvnn2t1...@4ax.com>
>
>
>Show me in my posts where I am challenging people. Show me in my
>posts where I am challenging the competence of Bob Wall.
-snip-
The name of the chess author and historian is Bill Wall, not Bob Wall. Take
note and please get your facts right.
George Mirijanian
EZoto
Troll. Now I made a mistake. Troll. Yes it is Bill. Troll. You
said some bad things for no reason. Troll. If your looking for a
fight then say some lies about other people in this NG. I guarantee
there are some here who would gladly oblige and enjoy your company.
EZoto
wth...@godzilla5.acpub.duke.edu
> >Subject: Re: Chess players' nicknames
>
> >On 1 May 2003 EZoto ez...@intergate.com wrote in
> >Message-id: <skd3bvcn95d2fhdpu...@4ax.com>
> >
> >
> >Are you some sort of troublemaker? Where in my post did I challenge
> >the competence of Bill Wall? Where in my post am I saying such
> >things? All I said is I think Portisch was called The Hungarian
> >Botvinnik because I read it in a book on the 1968 candidates
As mentioned in an earlier post, I read the same
comment.
and
> >Botvinnik didn't think Portisch play was similiar to his at all but in
> >Hungary they still called him The Hungarian Botvinnik though if they
> >called him The Hungarian Petrosian then so be it. I never heard of
> >it. Are you some sort of blasted dictator! Take your arrogance
> >somewhere else.
>
>
>
> On 27 April 2003 EZoto wrote:
>
> The Hungarian Petrosian (Portisch)
> The Great Stone Face (Botvinnik)
>
> I think these two are incorrect but not sure.
Well, people can have more than one nickname.
>
> Your ignorance of chess facts is showing. Who is the one showing arrogance? It
> is the one who thinks that the claims are incorrect but is "not sure."
> If you don't know what are you talking about, please don't challenge people who
> are more knowledgeable about chess and its history.
Well, I am sure that Portisch was at one time given
a nickname which compared him to Botvinnik. It might
have been "the hungarian botvinnik", though it could also
be "the little botvinnik" - but I may be confusing this
latter with Kashdan's nickname.
Botvinnik didn't like the comparison, and the other name,
"The Hungarian Petrosian", seems more apt.
King Leopold
Let me tell you something. Bill is a friend of mine, And he don't need no
stinkin' nick name of Bob. Capish?
Leo the Lip
<wth...@godzilla5.acpub.duke.edu> wrote in message
news:yv7zisst...@godzilla5.acpub.duke.edu...
tgf
Viktor the Terrible