I believe most top level events use DGT sets (timeless pieces) such as these: http://www.chesscentral.com/DGT_Electronic_Chess_Board_Bag_and_Clock_Package_p/dgt-board.htm
These are probably the standard because it's an easy way to transmit the moves to a computer.
Yes, I noticed that the DGT Timeless sets seem to be what get used most often now. I guess that's called a German Knight style, right? What I'd love to know is 1) when did that become the most used type, 2) for say, the Championship Set from House of Staunton, would that be more like the Golden Rosewood or Rosewood, and 3) what sets were used before this one over the years for the most prestigious tournaments? Don't know how much of that info is out there.
Over the decades, important FIDE events in the US (inc. US Championships, Candidates Matches) have used plastic men, while wood was being used in Europe.
We're past that now, but can you imagine much pride being mustered as the equipment used in the Fischer-Larsen match were exhibited?
Cheap BHB clock, modest wooden board, and a Drueke Player's Choice plastic set.
Thanks, goldendog, that's exactly the type of info I was curious about. In a perfect world, I'd love to see a site that would have a chess set's name, and then a list of the major tournaments it's been used in. I'm guessing that doesn't exist, but I'd at least like to get a feel for what were the most common sets used in different eras/regions. Were the plastic sets used in the US around that time usually the Drueke Player's Choice? What were the wood sets used in Europe around that time like?
The Player's Choice set was common but grossly outnumbered by the solid plastic USCF Special sets in everyday tournaments.
The Marshall chess club had on hand for their events a nice plastic set in the 70s, as I judge from various pics.
The Cavalier Deluxe. I used to have one. Large, with a 4-1/8" king and heavily weighted, but the plastic was somewhat brittle.
Before that, in the 50s and at least into the 60s, the Windsor Castle was used at the Marshall.
I met a guy with an old Windsor from the Marshall. He thought Fischer probably had used the set, as he haunted the place. Could well be.
If you look closely at the table and pieces Fischer and Taimanov used in their match, you will see it's the same as what was used earlier in the Cuban Olympiad.
The tables and sets were fabricated by Fidel's orders. The pieces were large, club sized men (4-1/4") and of boxwood and ebonized boxwood.
In fact, for the first USSR v. The World match, Fischer's table alone was one from the Cuban Olympiad.
I imagine he must have at least expressed his approval of the gear somewhere along the line.
The set Fischer-Spassky used for their second match was a Dubrovnik.
This was Fischer's favorite set of all.
An example is seen better here.
Here's a replica.
The set originally was made for the 1950 Dubrovnik Olympiad.
Wow, that's all great stuff! Do you know anything about what wooden sets were used in Europe around that time (other than the Dubrovnik - and how widely used was that one)?
Also, I was wondering about the JOL set used in the '72 Fischer-Spassky match. Was that set inspired in particular by any other sets? I thought I had seen that Fischer requested that set, and I wondered if he had any input or suggestions on its design. Also, was that set ever used in any other big tournaments, or was it basically a one-off?
Wow, that's all great stuff! Do you know anything about what wooden sets were used in Europe around that time (other than the Dubrovnik - and how widely used was that one)?
Also, I was wondering about the JOL set used in the '72 Fischer-Spassky match. Was that set inspired in particular by any other sets? I thought I had seen that Fischer requested that set, and I wondered if he had any input or suggestions on its design. Also, was that set ever used in any other big tournaments, or was it basically a one-off?
I don't know much about Euro sets of that era, apart from the Lardy and similar designs (also French).
For those many Soviet-Soviet matches, it seems that they were locally sourced, and I know nothing about them.
The '72 JOL set by all appearances seems to have been made for the occasion. By then it had been 25+ years since Jaques made a decent set. I'd also read that Fischer requested a Jaques set, but oddly enough the only occasion that I know of where he might have used one was in his Candidates match with Petrosian, and there I wouldn't swear to it, but it looks like an antique Jaques from c. 1920.
So far as I know, the '72 design wasn't used again for such matches for several years, and in the cases I'm thinking of, they were HOS replicas, sized up to 3-3/4" from the original 3-1/2" (as per my bit of research).
I'd like a close look at what Karpov-Korchnoi used for their matches, just out of curiosity--the last being in Italy.
@Firebrand, or anyone else: When did that DGT Timeless/German Knight become the default type? Looks to me like it's been that way for quite some time. Have any of you seen a set of that style, but ebony/ebonized used in a big tournament? I know that DGT doesn't make them in that color, but others, such as HOS, do.
@goldendog: Do you know of any tournaments where the up-sized HOS Reykjavik was used?
@goldendog: Do you know of any tournaments where the up-sized HOS Reykjavik was used?
I don't have any such pics saved and I can't find any online, so put it in the unproven category.
Have any of you seen a set of that style, but ebony/ebonized used in a big tournament? I know that DGT doesn't make them in that color, but others, such as HOS, do.
I don't recall black dgt timeless pieces being used.
HOS used to put the dgt hardware in some of their designs but they no longer feature them.
A big improvement was the Professional (ebonized, I think) over the timeless design. It has been used at the US Championships in St. Louis, and I think it's a classier choice.
Yeah, from what I can tell DGT doesn't make the Timeless in black, but other companies make a very similar looking design (like the HOS Championship ebonized), and I figured that might have made an appearance. Also, I'm guessing the Timeless wasn't the first set that had that look to it, and maybe a black one had been used at some point. I actually really like the German Knight style in black (over brown) - the minimalism and streamlining in the design does appeal to me. I like ones like the Professional that you pointed to also, I think both types are pretty cool.
The bishops on the HOS Champoionship set apear diferent than the DGT set used in the Major tourneys like Tata Steel. The HOS biship's tops are diferent. The TCS and the ChessCafe sets looK like a more exact replica of the DGT sets used in tournaments.
A new design has been approved for the 2013 world championship, which has already been used in the Candidates matches (won by Carlsen). It's an interesting design. Kind of quirky and a little bit 'Indian'.
The new design's knight looks like a much simplified version of the HOS Sheffield.
baddogno wrote:
The new design's knight looks like a much simplified version of the HOS Sheffield.
I agree, the top part looks almost like a roughed out blank for the HOS Sheffield set. That's exactly the first thing that occurred to me the first time I saw these pieces.
Wow..! Thanks for sharing all the great info on the varius chess pieces. I wish HOS would come out with a 3 1/2 inch king of the Dubrovnic set. I am sure it would fantastic! While in Poland a long time ago I saw players using A Weigle 3 1/2 inch king set. I bought one I was so impressed. Its made of hornbeam would kinda like ironwood. Over 20 years have passed & not one warped piece. Now thats quality workman ship.
For an excellent reproduction of the 1950 Dubrovnik pieces contact Gregor at
https://www.noj.si/?mod=catalog&action=productDetails&ID=12
It's even possible to custom order them with DGT sensors installed. Cheers, John C.
I was wondering if anyone knows of a site that has information about the types of sets used in World Championships and other major tournaments over the years. It seems that most of the recent ones use a German Knight type set. What wood is usually used for the dark pieces, Golden Rosewood, or Rosewood? I can't exactly tell from the pictures I've seen. Are ebony or ebonized pieces ever used? When did this type of set become the norm, and what was used over time before that? I've looked around, but it seems pretty hard to find this type of info. Thanks!