Introduction
The type of chess board sets used in championship games by professional chess players differs greatly from the chess board sets used in regular chess games. Championship chess board sets have to adhere to the strictest guidelines in order to ensure that each piece and the chess board set as a whole is produced at the highest quality with each chess piece being distinguishable from the next. The attention to detail that goes into creating a championship chess board set for use in professional games compared to the regular chess board sets found in your every day shop is one of the main reasons for the high price and superior quality associated with championship chess board sets. To many the strict requirements that the designers of championship chess board sets have to abide by may seem exaggerated however for high stakes games a small mistake caused by mistaking one chess piece for another can be disastrous.
Championship chess board sets also come fitted with a range of features that help with tasks such as tracking the moves of each chess player and broadcasting games onto a monitor so that spectators can watch. There are many differences between championship chess board sets and the regular chess board sets used for your everyday chess game with the main difference being the overall aesthetics of championship chess sets. For professional chess players it’s beneficial to practice playing chess on a championship chess set as opposed to a regular chess set especially when in preparation for a championship game. Championship chess sets are modelled after the Staunton Chess Set to ensure that there is consistency in the style of chess board sets used in championship games and to ensure that each chess set adheres to a traditional design. One of the main benefits of having a consistent chess board set design for championship games is that it allows professional chess players to better familiarise themselves with the type of chess set they will be using during their games.
What Type Of Chess Sets Are Used In Professional Tournaments?
Chess board sets have to meet several requirements before they can be considered for use in professional tournaments and so professional chess sets are hand made from wood by chess board specialists for each professional tournament. Each chess set has to meet strict size and weight requirements but must also have the right look in terms of aesthetics. Professional chess sets are usually modelled after the traditional London Staunton design which has been the default design for chess sets for the last decade.
Professional tournaments and championship chess games are such high stakes that every possible measure has been taken to ensure that each player has an equal opportunity to win the game. Measures such as ensuring that each chess set used in a professional tournament game meets strict requirements in terms of size, weight and attention to detail for each individual chess piece. In the heat of a chess game it’s very easy to mistake one piece for another especially if chess pieces look similar due to a lack of distinction in features and an ultimately flawed design. To prevent such an instance from occurring during a professional chess tournament chess board specialists carve each chess set out of wood whilst adhering to strict design requirements. The hardest pieces to create is the Knight and the queen as these pieces are the most detailed which means they also take the longest to make in order to ensure they meet the official expectations. Professional tournaments also require their chess board sets to include electronic trackers so that the chess players moves can be tracked and monitored on screen.
Technology has conveniently made it so that chess games can now be viewed by spectators because of the use of electronic trackers embedded in both the chess board and the chess pieces. Electronic trackers can be useful in chess because they allow chess players to better track their own and their opponents previous moves. Electronic trackers are also useful as they limit any confusion as to where each chess players chess pieces should be and prevent either side from cheating at any point in the game. Professional chess sets that are used in tournaments are unlike the average chess board set in that they are hand carved for the sole purpose of being used in a professional tournament and they also come fitted with electronic tracking devices for both the chess board and pieces. A common feature that is consistent among all professional tournament chess board sets is the design as every professional chess set has to be designed according to London Staunton design which has been the default design for professional chess sets for the last decade.
What Kind Of Chess Sets Are Used In World Championship Chess Games?
World Championship Chess games are played on wooden hand crafted chess boards made by chess board specialists. Chess board sets that are made for championship chess games are designed according to the official London Staunton design and are fitted with electronic trackers so that each players moves can be tracked during the game. Championship chess sets are some of the best chess sets in terms of quality and can be quite expensive compared to regular chess sets. In addition to having to meet these requirements championship chess sets have to also be approved by FIDE.
World championship chess sets are designed according to the official London Staunton design and are known to be some of the best chess sets because of their quality and attention to detail. For a chess set to be considered to be used in a championship game it must first be approved by the official organising body for chess, FIDE. Championship chess sets are designed according to the London Staunton design and are fitted with electronic wiring to ensure that each players moves can be tracked and displayed on a monitor. Championship chess sets are unlike most chess sets because of this as most chess board sets are not required to have any tracking features or adhere to any specific design. The most common type of material for championship chess sets is Sheesham wood as it is a hardwood and will provide the most durability but also because it can be easily polished and decorated to highlight the beautiful grains of the wood. In addition to being some of the highest quality chess board sets championship chess sets are both aesthetically pleasing and follow a consistent design in terms of the type of materials used and the design of the individual chess pieces.
In rare occasions such as in the 2021 world championship games chess board sets made of untraditional materials may be utilised. For example in 2021 Fabiano Caruana introduced the pearl royale diamond chess set to a worldwide chess fanbase. Although the pearl royale diamond chess set met the expectations of the requirements stated by FIDE in terms of the chess pieces being easily distinguishable, features such as the electronic tracker was absent and the expected wooden chess board set was replaced by white gold and sapphire. The introduction of the pearl royale diamond chess set at the 2021 world championship games raised the perception around the world of just how luxurious a championship chess set can be. Since the introduction of the pearl royale diamond chess set at the 2021 world chess championship by Fabiano Caruana there has yet to be another chess set produced to such a high standard. In most cases the type of chess sets used in championship chess games are produced by following the traditional approach of having chess board sets made by specialised artisans who specialise in crafting wooden chess sets however in rare instances chess sets are designed and made by master jewellers like Colin Burn.
Why Are Championship Chess Sets So Expensive?
Championship chess sets have to meet strict requirements in order to be considered worthy of being used in championship games by FIDE and so because of this championship chess sets tend to take considerably longer to produce and are much more expensive as a result. Championship chess sets are usually made from hardwoods as opposed to softwoods which are much easier to work with. Championship chess sets also come fitted with electronic wiring to ensure that each move can be tracked and displayed on a monitor which further adds to the price of a championship chess set.
Championship chess board sets tend to be much more expensive compared to other chess board sets because unlike other chess sets that are mass produced championship chess sets are handcrafted by artisans who specialise in making chess sets. Championship chess sets are valued based on the time taken to create them in addition to the many features that they possess that regular chess board sets lack. Championship chess sets are coveted by chess fans and collectors as they are desired by chess fans for their sentimental value and can be extremely valuable for collectors of chess board sets because of their limited availability. Chess board sets that are made to be used in championship games are usually designed by a few specially trained artists who each contribute to the completion of the chess board set which limits the amount of chess sets that can be produced in a specified amount of time. This is ideal for world championship games as only a dozen or more chess board sets are needed for the whole event. The value of championship chess sets can increase exponentially after a world championship game because in addition to the inherent value of championship chess sets many chess fans around the world place extra value on owning a chess set that has been used in a championship game and that has been touched by their favourite chess players.
Championship chess sets can cost anywhere from $300 to $2000 and more in cases like the pearl royale diamond chess set which costs up to $4 million dollars. Compared to most other chess board sets championship chess sets come fitted with features that add to the functionality of the chess set. The most important feature that championship chess sets posses is an electronic tracking device that’s used to track the moves of each player and display it on a screen for spectators to be able to watch. Chess players have to go through an immense amount of training and preparation for championship chess games with each move being tracked electronically and timed by way of a chess clock in order to prevent cheating and time wasting. By using a championship chess set chess players are better able to prepare for upcoming games in an environment that’s as close to the official event as possible. Championship chess board sets are not only in high demand by chess fans and collectors many professional chess players also prefer to play on championship chess sets and having such a limited number of championship chess sets available to be purchased further adds to the cost of championship chess board sets.
Conclusion
Most professional chess players in training for championship chess games tend to prefer playing on championship chess board sets so that they can be better adjusted to the atmosphere of a real world chess championship event. However in rare instances professional chess players may play on chess board sets that may be deemed untraditional such as in the case of the pearl royale diamond chess set being used in the 2021 world chess championship games although the pearl royale diamond chess set met many of the requirements of FIDE. Championship chess sets are unlike the average chess set in that they come fitted with a range of features that make tasks such as keeping scores during tournament games much easier. One of the biggest differentiators between championship chess board sets and regular chess board sets is that they are fitted with electronic wiring so that each chess players moves can be tracked and displayed on a monitor.
Championship chess sets unlike most chess board sets are also hand sculpted from wood by artisans who specialise in making championship chess board sets which further adds to the uniqueness of championship chess board sets. Most professional chess players will benefit the most by playing on championship chess board sets and familiarising themselves with the atmosphere and feel of a real world chess championship event however during casual and friendly games it’s much more common to play with regular chess board sets. Depending on the occasion a professional chess players may play on a championship chess board set or a regular chess set however many chess players express their creative personalities by acquiring and showcasing their own personal beautifully decorated chess sets as opposed to the standard black and white design of most chess board sets.
