Tournament Chess Pieces

Tournament chess pieces

A tournament set is bought to a standard rather than to taste. The proportions are specified, the weighting has to hold a piece upright when a board is knocked, and the shapes have to read instantly from across a table under time pressure. Everything else is secondary.

This range is pieces only, so the board is a separate decision, and that is deliberate: club and competition players usually already own a board and are replacing or upgrading an army against it.

What the standard actually says

This is worth stating plainly, because it is misquoted constantly. FIDE puts competition squares between 5cm and 6cm, sets the king at 95mm with up to 10 per cent variance, and puts the base of each piece at 40 to 50 per cent of its own height. It also describes a Staunton STYLE in wood, plastic or materials imitating them. It does not approve individual products, and no piece set carries a FIDE certification. Any claim otherwise is marketing. Boards cut to those proportions are in tournament chess boards.

This range is built around the FIDE regulation size: a 95mm king with up to 10 per cent variance, which is the band to buy in for rated play. Alongside those sit shorter armies for smaller boards, junior play and travel, and taller ones for players who want more presence on a large board or a collector piece cut to tournament proportions. Every listing states its king height and base diameter, so matching a set to your board and to your club's requirements takes a moment.

Weighting

Weighting is metal added into the base beneath the felt. Single weighted suits casual play, double weighted is what club players tend to prefer, and triple weighted is deliberate and slow to move, which some players like and others find heavy. The range includes unweighted plastic as well, which is what schools and clubs buying in quantity usually want, because it survives being carried in a bag and costs less to replace.

Felt matters nearly as much. Good felt protects the board, lets a piece slide rather than scrape, and stays glued over years of use. Thin felt is the first thing to fail on a cheap set.

Timbers and patterns

The dark side runs through genuine ebony, ebonised boxwood, sheesham, bud rosewood and mahogany-stained options, with antiqued boxwood on the light side where a warmer patina is wanted. Solid plastic covers the club and school end. Beyond the plain tournament patterns the range carries French Chavet, German Knight, Colombian and Leningrad shapes, plus reproductions of armies used at named events, from the 1849 original Staunton and the 1865 Steinitz through Cambridge Springs 1904, Reykjavik 1972 and the Sinquefield Cup. Those sit alongside the wider reproduction chess pieces range.

Buying in Australia

Everything here is held in Australian stock and shipped from Australia, so there is no international freight wait and no customs step.

All products sold by Sterling Chess are backed by a 12 month limited manufacturer warranty. This covers manufacturing defects and cracking, and ensures every product is 100% genuine. Sterling Chess also offers 100 day free returns.

Browse related

• Tournament chess boards. Boards cut to competition proportions.
• Tournament chess sets. Board and pieces matched and ready.
• Staunton chess pieces. The pattern in full, beyond competition sizes.
• Chess boards. Every board, with square sizes stated.
• Chess pieces. The complete pieces range.

Tournament chess pieces FAQs

Are these pieces FIDE approved?

FIDE publishes an equipment standard rather than approving individual products, so no piece set carries a certification. What matters is whether a set meets the published proportions, and each listing gives the king height and base diameter so you can check.

What king height should I buy?

Work from the board rather than from a rule. Measure your square size and choose a king whose base sits comfortably inside it with a visible margin on every side. FIDE puts competition squares between 5cm and 6cm, sets the king at 95mm with up to 10 per cent variance, and puts the base of each piece at 40 to 50 per cent of its own height. If you are buying both, a matched set from tournament chess sets removes the question.

Do these come with a board?

No, this range is an army on its own. Boards are in chess boards, and matched sets are in tournament chess sets.

Is plastic acceptable for club play?

Yes, and it is the usual choice where sets are carried to venues and handled by many people. Solid plastic at competition proportions plays correctly and replaces cheaply. Timber is the upgrade for a set that stays in one place.

What does double weighted mean?

Metal is set into the base beneath the felt so the piece stands firmly and does not topple when the board is bumped. Double weighted is the common club specification; triple weighted is heavier again and a matter of preference rather than correctness.