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The Zagreb pattern comes from the 1959 Candidates tournament and it is one of the most copied Soviet designs. The knight is the reason: a short, alert head with a cropped mane and the muzzle held level, quite unlike the flowing manes on Indian luxury patterns.
This version is in burnt boxwood rather than ebonised or ebony. The dark pieces are scorched rather than dyed, which leaves a warm brown-black with the grain still visible through it and no surface colour to wear away.
Paired with a 55cm board in poplar and white erable. It sits among our reproduction chess pieces.
The Zagreb pattern is listed separately as pieces only, in several timbers including this burnt boxwood. If you own a 55mm board already, that is the cheaper way in and gives you the timber choice.
The board supplied here is poplar on the dark squares and white erable on the light. Erable is the French name for maple, and it is the traditional light timber on continental boards. Thirteen millimetres and 3,044g makes it a veneer construction, matte finished so it does not throw lamp glare.
Fifty five millimetre squares against a 41mm king base is a generous fit, which suits a set whose bishop reaches 78mm and needs room across the diagonals. Other boards sit across our chess boards collection.
Ebonising is a dye. The colour sits at the surface, which is why a deep chip shows pale wood underneath and why the high points on a well-handled set lighten over the years.
Burning is a treatment of the timber itself. The surface is scorched, so the darkening goes into the wood and the grain remains visible through it rather than being covered over. The result is a warm brown-black rather than a flat black, less uniform than a dye and more forgiving of wear. It is a slower process, and it is why burnt boxwood sets cost more than ebonised ones of the same pattern.
Set a Zagreb knight beside a luxury Indian one and the difference is obvious. The Indian knight flows: long mane, arched neck, a lot of carving. The Zagreb is cropped and alert, the head held level with the neck rather than reared back, the mane cut short and close.
It is a design of function rather than display, which is what a Candidates tournament needed. It also reads faster on a crowded board, because the silhouette is compact and does not blur into its neighbours. Each is carved freehand, so the four in your set will differ slightly.
The bishop stands 78mm against a 99mm king, which is high in proportion, and the knight follows at 70mm. That closely-stepped officer group is characteristic of Soviet patterns and it is why the board matters: on 50mm squares the diagonals get crowded.
Fifty five millimetres is the right size and it is what is supplied. Thirty four pieces including two spare queens, plus the board. No storage box is included. The pattern is also listed as pieces only across our Staunton chess pieces range.
Zagreb is one of the two or three Soviet patterns worth owning, and the burnt boxwood is what lifts this version above the ebonised copies. Scorching darkens the timber itself instead of coating it, so you keep the grain, you get a warmer brown-black than a dye gives, and there is no surface colour to wear off the high points in ten years. That is a real durability advantage, not a cosmetic one. The board is a sensible match at 55mm squares, generous enough for a set with a 78mm bishop, though at 13mm it is a veneer playing surface rather than furniture. If you want the Zagreb knight and you want the set to still look right after a decade of use, this is the version to buy.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
55cm x 55cm with 55mm squares, 13mm thick and around 3,044g, in poplar and white erable with a matte finish. Erable is the French name for maple.
Boxwood whose surface has been scorched rather than dyed. The darkening goes into the timber and the grain stays visible through it, giving a warm brown-black. Unlike ebonising there is no surface colour to wear off the high points over time.
The Candidates tournament held partly in Zagreb, and the pieces used there gave the pattern its name. It has been one of the most copied Soviet designs ever since.
It is short and alert, with a cropped mane and the muzzle held level, rather than the reared head and long flowing mane of the Indian luxury patterns. It reads faster on a crowded board.
No. This listing is the 34 pieces and the board only.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
99mm (3.89 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
41mm (1.61 inch) |
|
Queen height |
82mm (3.22 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
39mm (1.53 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
78mm (3.07 inch) |
|
Knight height |
70mm (2.75 inch) |
|
Rook height |
57mm (2.24 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
50mm (1.96 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
36mm (1.41 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Burnt boxwood |
|
Light pieces |
Natural boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt on every base |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Chess pieces weight |
1,000g approximate |
|
Board size |
55cm x 55cm (21.6 inch) |
|
Board square size |
55mm (2.16 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
13mm |
|
Board construction |
Poplar and white erable, matte finish, 3,044g |
|
Pieces origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
One 55cm poplar and white erable chess board with 55mm squares
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. If you need assistance, our team is only a call or email away.
Is shipping really free?
Yes — we offer free standard shipping on all orders across Australia, with no minimum spend. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Are there any exceptions to free shipping?
No exceptions. Every order ships free, regardless of size, weight, or order value.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days, with delivery times depending on your location. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is on its way.
Do you ship to all areas of Australia?
Yes, we deliver Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas — all at no shipping cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Absolutely. As soon as your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow its journey to your door.
What if I need my order quickly?
Get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. Standard shipping is free, and we'll advise on the fastest available option for your area. To contact us, simply email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au, call (03) 7037 0931 or open the live chat.
Changed your mind? You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Sterling Chess will cover the cost of shipping return items under our 100-day free returns policy.
All Sterling Chess products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
If you're shopping for a new chess set, you're in the right place—and here's why.
1. We know chess inside and out
At Sterling Chess, we're not just another online store. We’re chess lovers, players, collectors, and game night fanatics.
That means we care about quality, balance, and feel—and we only stock sets we’d use ourselves. From tournament-grade boards to handcrafted wooden pieces, we’ve got what real players want.
2. Unmatched variety for every player
Whether you're just learning or a lifelong grandmaster, we have something for you.
Looking for a folding set for travel? A stunning showpiece for your home? A kid-friendly set for your budding chess champion? We’ve got it all—and more.
3. Fast and FREE shipping on all orders
Shipping is FREE on all Sterling Chess orders.
We ship quickly from local and international warehouses, so you’re not waiting weeks to get your game on.
Most orders are packed and sent within 24–48 hours. Plus, you’ll get tracking updates every step of the way.
4. Customer support that actually helps
Have a question? Need help choosing a set? Our friendly team is ready to help—no scripts, no bots, just real people who care about your experience.
You can call our team anytime between business hours on (03) 7037 0931 or email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our live chat during business hours to contact our helpful support team.
5. Thousands of happy customers
Don't just take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves. Sterling Chess is trusted by thousands of players who keep coming back for more. Great products. Great service. No hassle.
6. Classic games, too
We're all about chess—but we also carry backgammon, checkers, poker and other timeless strategy games. If you love the classics, you’ll feel right at home.
Ready to make your move?
Choose a chess set that fits your style, skill level, and space—and enjoy the Sterling Chess difference. You’ll love how it looks. You’ll love how it plays. And you’ll love buying from a team that loves the game just as much as you do.
The Zagreb pattern comes from the 1959 Candidates tournament and it is one of the most copied Soviet designs. The knight is the reason: a short, alert head with a cropped mane and the muzzle held level, quite unlike the flowing manes on Indian luxury patterns.
This version is in burnt boxwood rather than ebonised or ebony. The dark pieces are scorched rather than dyed, which leaves a warm brown-black with the grain still visible through it and no surface colour to wear away.
Paired with a 55cm board in poplar and white erable. It sits among our reproduction chess pieces.
The Zagreb pattern is listed separately as pieces only, in several timbers including this burnt boxwood. If you own a 55mm board already, that is the cheaper way in and gives you the timber choice.
The board supplied here is poplar on the dark squares and white erable on the light. Erable is the French name for maple, and it is the traditional light timber on continental boards. Thirteen millimetres and 3,044g makes it a veneer construction, matte finished so it does not throw lamp glare.
Fifty five millimetre squares against a 41mm king base is a generous fit, which suits a set whose bishop reaches 78mm and needs room across the diagonals. Other boards sit across our chess boards collection.
Ebonising is a dye. The colour sits at the surface, which is why a deep chip shows pale wood underneath and why the high points on a well-handled set lighten over the years.
Burning is a treatment of the timber itself. The surface is scorched, so the darkening goes into the wood and the grain remains visible through it rather than being covered over. The result is a warm brown-black rather than a flat black, less uniform than a dye and more forgiving of wear. It is a slower process, and it is why burnt boxwood sets cost more than ebonised ones of the same pattern.
Set a Zagreb knight beside a luxury Indian one and the difference is obvious. The Indian knight flows: long mane, arched neck, a lot of carving. The Zagreb is cropped and alert, the head held level with the neck rather than reared back, the mane cut short and close.
It is a design of function rather than display, which is what a Candidates tournament needed. It also reads faster on a crowded board, because the silhouette is compact and does not blur into its neighbours. Each is carved freehand, so the four in your set will differ slightly.
The bishop stands 78mm against a 99mm king, which is high in proportion, and the knight follows at 70mm. That closely-stepped officer group is characteristic of Soviet patterns and it is why the board matters: on 50mm squares the diagonals get crowded.
Fifty five millimetres is the right size and it is what is supplied. Thirty four pieces including two spare queens, plus the board. No storage box is included. The pattern is also listed as pieces only across our Staunton chess pieces range.
Zagreb is one of the two or three Soviet patterns worth owning, and the burnt boxwood is what lifts this version above the ebonised copies. Scorching darkens the timber itself instead of coating it, so you keep the grain, you get a warmer brown-black than a dye gives, and there is no surface colour to wear off the high points in ten years. That is a real durability advantage, not a cosmetic one. The board is a sensible match at 55mm squares, generous enough for a set with a 78mm bishop, though at 13mm it is a veneer playing surface rather than furniture. If you want the Zagreb knight and you want the set to still look right after a decade of use, this is the version to buy.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
55cm x 55cm with 55mm squares, 13mm thick and around 3,044g, in poplar and white erable with a matte finish. Erable is the French name for maple.
Boxwood whose surface has been scorched rather than dyed. The darkening goes into the timber and the grain stays visible through it, giving a warm brown-black. Unlike ebonising there is no surface colour to wear off the high points over time.
The Candidates tournament held partly in Zagreb, and the pieces used there gave the pattern its name. It has been one of the most copied Soviet designs ever since.
It is short and alert, with a cropped mane and the muzzle held level, rather than the reared head and long flowing mane of the Indian luxury patterns. It reads faster on a crowded board.
No. This listing is the 34 pieces and the board only.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
99mm (3.89 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
41mm (1.61 inch) |
|
Queen height |
82mm (3.22 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
39mm (1.53 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
78mm (3.07 inch) |
|
Knight height |
70mm (2.75 inch) |
|
Rook height |
57mm (2.24 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
50mm (1.96 inch) |
|
Officer base diameter |
36mm (1.41 inch), bishop, knight and rook |
|
Dark pieces |
Burnt boxwood |
|
Light pieces |
Natural boxwood |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt on every base |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Chess pieces weight |
1,000g approximate |
|
Board size |
55cm x 55cm (21.6 inch) |
|
Board square size |
55mm (2.16 inch) |
|
Board thickness |
13mm |
|
Board construction |
Poplar and white erable, matte finish, 3,044g |
|
Pieces origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Storage box |
Not included |
34 chess pieces, including two spare queens
One 55cm poplar and white erable chess board with 55mm squares
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. If you need assistance, our team is only a call or email away.
Is shipping really free?
Yes — we offer free standard shipping on all orders across Australia, with no minimum spend. The price you see at checkout is the price you pay.
Are there any exceptions to free shipping?
No exceptions. Every order ships free, regardless of size, weight, or order value.
How long will my order take to arrive?
Orders are typically dispatched within 1–2 business days, with delivery times depending on your location. You'll receive tracking details by email once your order is on its way.
Do you ship to all areas of Australia?
Yes, we deliver Australia-wide, including regional and remote areas — all at no shipping cost to you.
Can I track my order?
Absolutely. As soon as your order ships, we'll email you a tracking number so you can follow its journey to your door.
What if I need my order quickly?
Get in touch before ordering and we'll do our best to help. Standard shipping is free, and we'll advise on the fastest available option for your area. To contact us, simply email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au, call (03) 7037 0931 or open the live chat.
Changed your mind? You can return unused, unopened items within 100 days of your order date, provided they’re in original packaging and resaleable condition. Sterling Chess will cover the cost of shipping return items under our 100-day free returns policy.
All Sterling Chess products are backed by Australian Consumer Law and include a minimum 12-month Australian warranty. If there’s an issue with your product, our team is here to help and will work to make it right.
Click here to view our full returns policy.
If you're shopping for a new chess set, you're in the right place—and here's why.
1. We know chess inside and out
At Sterling Chess, we're not just another online store. We’re chess lovers, players, collectors, and game night fanatics.
That means we care about quality, balance, and feel—and we only stock sets we’d use ourselves. From tournament-grade boards to handcrafted wooden pieces, we’ve got what real players want.
2. Unmatched variety for every player
Whether you're just learning or a lifelong grandmaster, we have something for you.
Looking for a folding set for travel? A stunning showpiece for your home? A kid-friendly set for your budding chess champion? We’ve got it all—and more.
3. Fast and FREE shipping on all orders
Shipping is FREE on all Sterling Chess orders.
We ship quickly from local and international warehouses, so you’re not waiting weeks to get your game on.
Most orders are packed and sent within 24–48 hours. Plus, you’ll get tracking updates every step of the way.
4. Customer support that actually helps
Have a question? Need help choosing a set? Our friendly team is ready to help—no scripts, no bots, just real people who care about your experience.
You can call our team anytime between business hours on (03) 7037 0931 or email us at support@sterlingchess.com.au. Alternatively, you can use our live chat during business hours to contact our helpful support team.
5. Thousands of happy customers
Don't just take our word for it—our reviews speak for themselves. Sterling Chess is trusted by thousands of players who keep coming back for more. Great products. Great service. No hassle.
6. Classic games, too
We're all about chess—but we also carry backgammon, checkers, poker and other timeless strategy games. If you love the classics, you’ll feel right at home.
Ready to make your move?
Choose a chess set that fits your style, skill level, and space—and enjoy the Sterling Chess difference. You’ll love how it looks. You’ll love how it plays. And you’ll love buying from a team that loves the game just as much as you do.
