Official FIDE Chess Set

loubalch "The problem is, that whatever set they use (other than a DGT set) would have to be modified to work with the electronic chess board."

In Baku 2016, the Reykjavik model was modified to play with boards DGT, great news.

the current model FIDE I don't like it, especially the king's turban and the knights, it was good to be in India for the 2013 championship they have chosen that model, but to be the official world championships in all, no.

You would have thought, since the DGT e-boards are used for championship matches and at most high level tournaments, that FIDE would have commissioned a set that properly fit the 55mm DGT board. As it turns out, the set is actually a better fit on a 50mm (2") board, which is the size of the chess board the set comes with when you buy it as a bundle.

Even so, the pawn is too tall and its diameter too wide for a 2" board. By not specifying the design parameters, FIDE left up to the designer to make those decisions. Too bad he didn't read the FIDE equipment regs beforehand.

I used to buy all kind of computer chess games, way back when, some were out of my range, but I always wanted one that had wooden pieces, and when these 1st came out I thought pretty hard about buying one, I don't even remember the year that was, its been so long ago, lol.

However, I couldn't bring myself to buy it, because the only wooden pieces that were available were by the Mfg.

Which I wasn't too keen on, especially for the price they wanted for it. I think when it first came out, it was state of the art, and very expensive. It still is expensive, and it still has very few choices for the wooden pieces. So I never got it.

They needed more wooden piece set options for it, in my opinion. Also a larger board would have been nice as well, but I still think the price is just too high. At least for me it is.

Crimson, I agree, I don't think the set's worth more than $150, at the outside. At least, not to me. Plus I'd prefer a sheesham version to the ebonised.

FIDE set looks good! Knights look perfect (not like every other set--where the knights look like genetic experiments gone wrong).

DGT classic is the only other 3d set I like.

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

What contest? have a link?

image #5 and #8

is a thumbs up👍

Is the official FIDE chess set/board still available anywhere? Cant seem to find it anywhere online. Ive found pieces but no board...

Chess Baron has the pieces. I thought the board would just be the standard DGT type?

Not all the chess sets (DGT ones, anyway) FIDE have used actually match FIDE's rules. (Well, the tournament director/arbiter can allow variations.) Plus ugly. I'd choose something I liked, not something FIDE endorsed, particularly.

I have a chess table, and if I were having it made again I'd have it made for 55mm (FIDE standard) instead of the 2.5" squares I have. But plenty of sets with 4" kings have reasonable piece base diameters so I'm not /too/ lacking in my choice of pieces.

Of course, my chess table doesn't have DGT's electronic functionality. I do hope one day that another company will come up with an alternative but equivalent method for piece detection, or that DGT's patent(s) will expire. Really, really, great concept; too often spoiled by cheap looking boards and ugly pieces.

All IMHO, taste varies, your milage may vary.

Look at the DGT set used for the US championships in St Louis. A beautiful traditional Jacques model.

My gripe with nearly all DGT sets, including the new, very ugly official FIDE set, is that the pieces generally are too top heavy (the kings and bishops especially), the knights are far too similar between sets (as if made with a cookie cutter), while the pawns are too bulky on the base. The designs completely lack the grace and harmony (because attention is no longer paid to the proportions) of well-made sets of old - to the point of looking extremely cheap. Therefore I'm glad to see that the Reykjavik model (although no particular favourite of mine) is coming back as a DGT.

I own the exact Chavet set that foreverwin posted pics of on page one of this thread. They are some of my favorite pieces. The FIDE set appears to have drawn at least a little inspiration from those Chavet pieces. I didn't like the FIDE offering that much when I first laid eyes on it; but as with some others, it has grown on me. I like the fact that it's different, with modern lines, and that the set appears well-made. I'd like to pay less for it, but it appears to be priced about right at $295 (at Chess Baron, including free worldwide shipping).

Congrats on having that Chavet set. VERY tough to find. It took me over 2 decades to find my example ... 

Thank you! Congratulations to you as well! I first saw this set in use during those mid-nineties PCA matches you referred to in an earlier post. Not long after, I saw them featured on the cover of Nigel Short's "Chess Basics." I had to have it! But it would be several years before I could track down a full-sized version on eBay. It's been one of my favorite (of many) sets for about eleven years now. I check eBay fairly often for a version in black, as in the Short cover; but like you said, these sets are hard to find. I've only seen one other like mine sell in over a decade. It recently sold for over $300. Even smaller versions are scarce. 

Exactly ! The Intel Grand Prix sets. I used to watch those videos forever lol. If Chavet would only bring that set back and market it right they would make BANK.

Never really understood the design change. They could've kept the one we've been discussing and produce another set simultaneously. If that wasn't an option, then they should've left well enough alone. I love the look and feel of the earlier set, and have gotten compliments on it. The only flaw is that the wood used tends to warp. At least one of my pieces is a little bent: one of the rooks. 

You're right they are also susceptible to the "Lardy Lean". I have another vintage Chavet (#6 size) in boxwood and ebony stain that was made around 1990 and both King's have a slight lean. 

beautiful