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In 1973 Bobby Fischer was the guest of the Philippine government and was asked to choose the equipment for an international tournament in Manila. Bent Larsen went on to win it with 12.5 from 15. The set Fischer picked is the one reproduced here.
It is a working tournament design, not a display piece. A 106mm king on a narrow 40mm base, 1,346g across 34 pieces, and a silhouette built around height rather than mass. The dark side is ebonised boxwood; the light side is finished as distressed antique rather than left bright.
The proportion that gives it away is the bishop. At 89mm it stands taller than the 86mm queen, which almost no modern set allows. It sits within our reproduction chess pieces.
Most reproductions in this range descend from English or Russian workshops. This one is a tournament committee's choice from 1973, selected by a player at the height of his career for equipment he expected to look at for three weeks.
What Fischer picked is telling. The base is narrow at 40mm, the king is tall at 106mm, and the whole set is light at 1,346g. That is a set optimised for a clear board and quick handling rather than for standing firm, which is the opposite of what a collector usually chooses.
The tall bishop is the giveaway detail and the reason to buy it. If you would rather have wide bases and more mass, the heavier options in the reproduction chess pieces will suit you better.
Fischer had become world champion the previous year and was an honoured guest of the Philippine government. Asked to select the pieces for the international tournament being held there, he chose this pattern. Bent Larsen won the event with 12.5 points from 15 games, one of the strongest performances of his career.
The choice reflects what a player actually wants under tournament conditions. Pieces need to be distinguishable at a glance from a seated position, they need to move quickly without catching on their neighbours, and they need to stay out of the way of the clock. Elegance and heft come second.
The convention that the queen outranks every piece but the king in height is a modern habit, not a rule. Here the bishop reaches 89mm against the queen's 86mm, and the effect on the board is that the diagonals announce themselves before the file does.
It is easy to read as an error until you see it in play. With a narrow 40mm base and a tall profile, the bishops stand clear of the pawns in front of them and the long diagonal stays visible even in a crowded middlegame. The distressed antique light side reinforces it, since the softer tone reads as a shape rather than a bright spot.
The 40mm king base puts this set on 50mm squares, which is at the smaller end of standard tournament sizing. A 55mm board will work and will leave more space around each piece, but 50mm is the size the design was chosen for and the proportions look right on it.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size, and the wider Staunton chess pieces range follows the same convention.
This is the most interesting set in the range for anyone who cares about tournament history, because the selection was made by a specific player for a specific event rather than by a workshop chasing a look. The tall bishop is the detail worth owning it for. The caveats are straightforward: at 1,346g on a 40mm base it is a light, narrow set, so it will feel insubstantial to anyone used to a triple weighted collector piece, and the distressed antique light side deliberately lowers contrast. We would put it in front of a player who values provenance and a clear board over mass.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 50mm. That comes from the narrow 40mm king base rather than the 106mm height. A 55mm board also works and gives more space around each piece.
Yes. The bishop is 89mm and the queen is 86mm. That is faithful to the original 1973 pattern, not a manufacturing error, and it keeps the diagonals visible in a crowded position.
The light pieces are finished to an aged, softened tone rather than left as bright natural boxwood. It lowers contrast against the ebonised dark side and matches how the original set looks today.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately and no storage box ships with the set.
No. The dark pieces are ebonised boxwood, which is boxwood taken to a deep black finish. Sets in genuine ebony are available across our wood chess pieces range.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
106mm (4.20 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
40mm (1.57 inch) |
|
Queen height |
86mm (3.39 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
39mm (1.55 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
89mm (3.52 inch) |
|
Knight height |
77mm (3.05 inch) |
|
Rook height |
62mm (2.43 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
58mm (2.30 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Ebonised boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Light pieces |
Distressed antique boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,346g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm |
|
Provenance |
Pattern selected by Bobby Fischer for the 1973 Manila tournament |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in ebonised and distressed antique boxwood
2 spare queens, one per colour
Chess board not included
Storage box not included
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.
In 1973 Bobby Fischer was the guest of the Philippine government and was asked to choose the equipment for an international tournament in Manila. Bent Larsen went on to win it with 12.5 from 15. The set Fischer picked is the one reproduced here.
It is a working tournament design, not a display piece. A 106mm king on a narrow 40mm base, 1,346g across 34 pieces, and a silhouette built around height rather than mass. The dark side is ebonised boxwood; the light side is finished as distressed antique rather than left bright.
The proportion that gives it away is the bishop. At 89mm it stands taller than the 86mm queen, which almost no modern set allows. It sits within our reproduction chess pieces.
Most reproductions in this range descend from English or Russian workshops. This one is a tournament committee's choice from 1973, selected by a player at the height of his career for equipment he expected to look at for three weeks.
What Fischer picked is telling. The base is narrow at 40mm, the king is tall at 106mm, and the whole set is light at 1,346g. That is a set optimised for a clear board and quick handling rather than for standing firm, which is the opposite of what a collector usually chooses.
The tall bishop is the giveaway detail and the reason to buy it. If you would rather have wide bases and more mass, the heavier options in the reproduction chess pieces will suit you better.
Fischer had become world champion the previous year and was an honoured guest of the Philippine government. Asked to select the pieces for the international tournament being held there, he chose this pattern. Bent Larsen won the event with 12.5 points from 15 games, one of the strongest performances of his career.
The choice reflects what a player actually wants under tournament conditions. Pieces need to be distinguishable at a glance from a seated position, they need to move quickly without catching on their neighbours, and they need to stay out of the way of the clock. Elegance and heft come second.
The convention that the queen outranks every piece but the king in height is a modern habit, not a rule. Here the bishop reaches 89mm against the queen's 86mm, and the effect on the board is that the diagonals announce themselves before the file does.
It is easy to read as an error until you see it in play. With a narrow 40mm base and a tall profile, the bishops stand clear of the pawns in front of them and the long diagonal stays visible even in a crowded middlegame. The distressed antique light side reinforces it, since the softer tone reads as a shape rather than a bright spot.
The 40mm king base puts this set on 50mm squares, which is at the smaller end of standard tournament sizing. A 55mm board will work and will leave more space around each piece, but 50mm is the size the design was chosen for and the proportions look right on it.
No board is included with these pieces. Our chess boards collection is filtered by square size, and the wider Staunton chess pieces range follows the same convention.
This is the most interesting set in the range for anyone who cares about tournament history, because the selection was made by a specific player for a specific event rather than by a workshop chasing a look. The tall bishop is the detail worth owning it for. The caveats are straightforward: at 1,346g on a 40mm base it is a light, narrow set, so it will feel insubstantial to anyone used to a triple weighted collector piece, and the distressed antique light side deliberately lowers contrast. We would put it in front of a player who values provenance and a clear board over mass.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Squares of 50mm. That comes from the narrow 40mm king base rather than the 106mm height. A 55mm board also works and gives more space around each piece.
Yes. The bishop is 89mm and the queen is 86mm. That is faithful to the original 1973 pattern, not a manufacturing error, and it keeps the diagonals visible in a crowded position.
The light pieces are finished to an aged, softened tone rather than left as bright natural boxwood. It lowers contrast against the ebonised dark side and matches how the original set looks today.
No. This listing is for the 34 pieces only, including the two spare queens. Boards are sold separately and no storage box ships with the set.
No. The dark pieces are ebonised boxwood, which is boxwood taken to a deep black finish. Sets in genuine ebony are available across our wood chess pieces range.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
King height |
106mm (4.20 inch) |
|
King base diameter |
40mm (1.57 inch) |
|
Queen height |
86mm (3.39 inch) |
|
Queen base diameter |
39mm (1.55 inch) |
|
Bishop height |
89mm (3.52 inch) |
|
Knight height |
77mm (3.05 inch) |
|
Rook height |
62mm (2.43 inch) |
|
Pawn height |
58mm (2.30 inch) |
|
Dark pieces |
Ebonised boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Light pieces |
Distressed antique boxwood (Gardenia latifolia) |
|
Weighting |
Weighted, thick green felt bases |
|
Piece count |
34, including two spare queens |
|
Total set weight |
1,346g approximate |
|
Recommended square size |
50mm |
|
Provenance |
Pattern selected by Bobby Fischer for the 1973 Manila tournament |
|
Origin |
Hand carved in India |
|
Board |
Not included |
32 chess pieces in ebonised and distressed antique boxwood
2 spare queens, one per colour
Chess board not included
Storage box not included
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.
