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This is a tournament chess board sold on its own, and the material is the first thing to say about it. It is made of medium-density fibreboard (MDF). It measures 53.34cm across, the squares are 57mm, and the panel is 19mm thick. Eight squares of 57mm give a 45.6cm playing grid, which is a genuine tournament size rather than a size that merely sounds like one.
MDF is an engineered panel. Wood fibre is compressed to one uniform density all the way through, so there is no grain running in any direction and nothing inside the panel that wants to move. That is the argument for it under a chess game. A wide timber panel breathes with the weather, and on a humid summer and a dry heated winter it can lift a fraction at a corner or cup across its width. This one has nothing to cup with, so the playing surface stays flat and true.
The underside is felted in green velvet, and at 3,650g the board has enough mass to stay where it is put. Pattern is all that changes between the options: Midnight Black & Gold, Reddish-Brown Burl Grain, Golden Brown Wood Grain, Green Burl, Blue Burl and Rosewood Grain. Other sizes, square sizes and materials sit across our chess boards collection.
Most of the boards on this site are timber, and this one is not. That is the comparison a buyer actually wants, so here it is plainly. A sheesham or an ebony board is bought partly for the material itself: the grain, the weight in the hand, the way it deepens over years. This board is bought for the playing surface, the size and the pattern, and underneath all three it is medium-density fibreboard.
On square size it sits between boards we already sell. The 53.3cm sheesham and maple board with 55mm squares is almost identical across the outside, but its squares are 55mm and it is a 20mm timber board at 5,600g. The 58.4cm bud rosewood and maple board with 60mm squares goes the other way, larger across with 60mm squares. Their recommended king bases bracket this one neatly: 40mm to 45mm on the first, 45mm to 50mm here, 45mm to 52mm on the second.
So the trade is real and worth naming. You give up the timber, and with it the grain and the ageing that come with it. What you get back is a full tournament surface at 19mm of depth, a panel that will not move on you between seasons, and a choice of pattern that runs from formal black and gold through to green and blue. Buyers who want the material itself should be looking at the timber boards instead, and we would rather say so here than have it discovered after delivery.
The measurement that decides fit is the diameter of the king's base, not the height of the king. Two sets that stand at the same height can differ by ten millimetres at the foot, and it is the foot that has to share a square. This board is recommended for a king base of 45mm to 50mm.
On a 57mm square that puts the king across roughly four fifths of the space it stands on, which is the proportion a tournament board is drawn for. Below the window the army looks marooned in the middle of the surface. Above it, adjacent bases start to touch, and a crowded middlegame becomes harder to read at a glance from across the table.
That window covers the standard club sizes rather than the outsized display patterns. The Dominator Staunton at 103mm is turned on a 45mm base and sits at the foot of it. If you are pairing this board with a set already in the house, put a ruler across the widest point of the king's base before ordering, because the height quoted on a set is not a reliable guide to its footing.
Every option on this listing is the same 53.34cm board with the same 57mm squares, the same 19mm panel, the same 3,650g and the same green velvet underside. The choice is entirely visual, which makes it a far simpler decision than it looks.
Midnight Black & Gold is the graphic choice, a near black surface with gold, and it reads as formal on a shelf. Reddish-Brown Burl Grain and Golden Brown Wood Grain are the traditional choices: the first warm and swirled, the second lighter and calmer, with the quieter surface of the pair sitting further back behind a game. Rosewood Grain runs deeper and darker again.
Green Burl and Blue Burl take that same swirling figure somewhere else entirely. They are decorative rather than traditional, they photograph beautifully, and they suit a room where the board is meant to be seen when nobody is playing on it. If you want a surface that disappears under the position, one of the browns will serve you better.
Depth is the thing people underestimate when buying a board online. At 19mm this one has a visible edge, sits proud of the table, and takes a firmly placed move without shifting. It is not a roll-up mat and it is not a travel board that folds away. It is a piece of equipment you leave out, and a position left standing on it overnight looks like it is meant to be there.
The green velvet on the underside earns its place too. It keeps the base off a polished dining table, stops the board sliding when somebody leans on it, and takes the click out of a piece set down hard. At 3,650g there is enough weight for stability without turning the board into a two person lift, and being a handmade item the finished weight can vary by up to 10 percent either way.
Care is simple and it is not quite the same as caring for timber. Wipe the surface with a soft cloth, barely damp at most, and dry it straight away. Keep drinks on a coaster and off the playing surface, because standing moisture is more of a problem on fibreboard than on a timber board. Keep it out of direct sun, and it will look the same in five years as it does on the day it arrives.
The case for this board is the surface it gives you. A 53.34cm board with 57mm squares and 19mm of depth is a real tournament size, and a uniform panel holds that surface dead flat through a humid summer and a dry heated winter in a way a wide timber panel does not always manage. The honest caveat is the material: medium-density fibreboard will not gather the character a sheesham or ebony board does over a decade, and standing moisture is more of a problem here than on timber, so it wants a coaster and a dry cloth rather than a wet one. It suits a club or home player who wants full size squares and a stable surface under a good set, and anyone who would rather spend the difference on the pieces than on the board they stand on.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF), with the underside felted in green velvet. The board is 53.34cm across, the squares are 57mm and the panel is 19mm thick.
No. This listing is the board on its own, so the playing set is chosen and bought separately.
Pieces with a king base of 45mm to 50mm. Measure the widest part of the king's base rather than going by the height of the set, then compare it against our Staunton chess pieces.
No. Every option is 53.34cm across with 57mm squares, 19mm thick and around 3,650g, with the same green velvet underside. Only the surface pattern changes.
For the size and the stability. You get 57mm squares and 19mm of depth on a panel that stays flat through seasonal humidity swings. If the timber itself is the point of the purchase, a sheesham or ebony board is the better buy and we would say so.
Wipe it with a soft cloth that is barely damp and dry it straight away, keep drinks on a coaster, and avoid standing moisture and direct sun. It needs no oiling or polishing.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
53.34cm x 53.34cm (21 inch x 21 inch) |
|
Square size |
57mm (2.24 inch) |
|
Playing grid |
45.6cm across eight squares |
|
Board thickness |
19mm (0.74 inch) |
|
Material |
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) |
|
Underside |
Felted in green velvet |
|
Weight |
3,650g |
|
Weight tolerance |
Handmade, up to 10 percent either way |
|
Recommended king base |
45mm to 50mm (1.8 inch to 2.0 inch) |
|
Pattern options |
Midnight Black & Gold, Reddish-Brown Burl Grain, Golden Brown Wood Grain, Green Burl, Blue Burl, Rosewood Grain |
|
Chess pieces |
Not included |
One 53.34cm tournament chess board with 57mm squares, in your chosen pattern
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF), felted underneath in green velvet
Playing sets are sold separately and are not part of this listing
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.
This is a tournament chess board sold on its own, and the material is the first thing to say about it. It is made of medium-density fibreboard (MDF). It measures 53.34cm across, the squares are 57mm, and the panel is 19mm thick. Eight squares of 57mm give a 45.6cm playing grid, which is a genuine tournament size rather than a size that merely sounds like one.
MDF is an engineered panel. Wood fibre is compressed to one uniform density all the way through, so there is no grain running in any direction and nothing inside the panel that wants to move. That is the argument for it under a chess game. A wide timber panel breathes with the weather, and on a humid summer and a dry heated winter it can lift a fraction at a corner or cup across its width. This one has nothing to cup with, so the playing surface stays flat and true.
The underside is felted in green velvet, and at 3,650g the board has enough mass to stay where it is put. Pattern is all that changes between the options: Midnight Black & Gold, Reddish-Brown Burl Grain, Golden Brown Wood Grain, Green Burl, Blue Burl and Rosewood Grain. Other sizes, square sizes and materials sit across our chess boards collection.
Most of the boards on this site are timber, and this one is not. That is the comparison a buyer actually wants, so here it is plainly. A sheesham or an ebony board is bought partly for the material itself: the grain, the weight in the hand, the way it deepens over years. This board is bought for the playing surface, the size and the pattern, and underneath all three it is medium-density fibreboard.
On square size it sits between boards we already sell. The 53.3cm sheesham and maple board with 55mm squares is almost identical across the outside, but its squares are 55mm and it is a 20mm timber board at 5,600g. The 58.4cm bud rosewood and maple board with 60mm squares goes the other way, larger across with 60mm squares. Their recommended king bases bracket this one neatly: 40mm to 45mm on the first, 45mm to 50mm here, 45mm to 52mm on the second.
So the trade is real and worth naming. You give up the timber, and with it the grain and the ageing that come with it. What you get back is a full tournament surface at 19mm of depth, a panel that will not move on you between seasons, and a choice of pattern that runs from formal black and gold through to green and blue. Buyers who want the material itself should be looking at the timber boards instead, and we would rather say so here than have it discovered after delivery.
The measurement that decides fit is the diameter of the king's base, not the height of the king. Two sets that stand at the same height can differ by ten millimetres at the foot, and it is the foot that has to share a square. This board is recommended for a king base of 45mm to 50mm.
On a 57mm square that puts the king across roughly four fifths of the space it stands on, which is the proportion a tournament board is drawn for. Below the window the army looks marooned in the middle of the surface. Above it, adjacent bases start to touch, and a crowded middlegame becomes harder to read at a glance from across the table.
That window covers the standard club sizes rather than the outsized display patterns. The Dominator Staunton at 103mm is turned on a 45mm base and sits at the foot of it. If you are pairing this board with a set already in the house, put a ruler across the widest point of the king's base before ordering, because the height quoted on a set is not a reliable guide to its footing.
Every option on this listing is the same 53.34cm board with the same 57mm squares, the same 19mm panel, the same 3,650g and the same green velvet underside. The choice is entirely visual, which makes it a far simpler decision than it looks.
Midnight Black & Gold is the graphic choice, a near black surface with gold, and it reads as formal on a shelf. Reddish-Brown Burl Grain and Golden Brown Wood Grain are the traditional choices: the first warm and swirled, the second lighter and calmer, with the quieter surface of the pair sitting further back behind a game. Rosewood Grain runs deeper and darker again.
Green Burl and Blue Burl take that same swirling figure somewhere else entirely. They are decorative rather than traditional, they photograph beautifully, and they suit a room where the board is meant to be seen when nobody is playing on it. If you want a surface that disappears under the position, one of the browns will serve you better.
Depth is the thing people underestimate when buying a board online. At 19mm this one has a visible edge, sits proud of the table, and takes a firmly placed move without shifting. It is not a roll-up mat and it is not a travel board that folds away. It is a piece of equipment you leave out, and a position left standing on it overnight looks like it is meant to be there.
The green velvet on the underside earns its place too. It keeps the base off a polished dining table, stops the board sliding when somebody leans on it, and takes the click out of a piece set down hard. At 3,650g there is enough weight for stability without turning the board into a two person lift, and being a handmade item the finished weight can vary by up to 10 percent either way.
Care is simple and it is not quite the same as caring for timber. Wipe the surface with a soft cloth, barely damp at most, and dry it straight away. Keep drinks on a coaster and off the playing surface, because standing moisture is more of a problem on fibreboard than on a timber board. Keep it out of direct sun, and it will look the same in five years as it does on the day it arrives.
The case for this board is the surface it gives you. A 53.34cm board with 57mm squares and 19mm of depth is a real tournament size, and a uniform panel holds that surface dead flat through a humid summer and a dry heated winter in a way a wide timber panel does not always manage. The honest caveat is the material: medium-density fibreboard will not gather the character a sheesham or ebony board does over a decade, and standing moisture is more of a problem here than on timber, so it wants a coaster and a dry cloth rather than a wet one. It suits a club or home player who wants full size squares and a stable surface under a good set, and anyone who would rather spend the difference on the pieces than on the board they stand on.
- Blake Sterling, CEO & Founder, Sterling Chess
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF), with the underside felted in green velvet. The board is 53.34cm across, the squares are 57mm and the panel is 19mm thick.
No. This listing is the board on its own, so the playing set is chosen and bought separately.
Pieces with a king base of 45mm to 50mm. Measure the widest part of the king's base rather than going by the height of the set, then compare it against our Staunton chess pieces.
No. Every option is 53.34cm across with 57mm squares, 19mm thick and around 3,650g, with the same green velvet underside. Only the surface pattern changes.
For the size and the stability. You get 57mm squares and 19mm of depth on a panel that stays flat through seasonal humidity swings. If the timber itself is the point of the purchase, a sheesham or ebony board is the better buy and we would say so.
Wipe it with a soft cloth that is barely damp and dry it straight away, keep drinks on a coaster, and avoid standing moisture and direct sun. It needs no oiling or polishing.
|
Spec |
Detail |
|
Board size |
53.34cm x 53.34cm (21 inch x 21 inch) |
|
Square size |
57mm (2.24 inch) |
|
Playing grid |
45.6cm across eight squares |
|
Board thickness |
19mm (0.74 inch) |
|
Material |
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) |
|
Underside |
Felted in green velvet |
|
Weight |
3,650g |
|
Weight tolerance |
Handmade, up to 10 percent either way |
|
Recommended king base |
45mm to 50mm (1.8 inch to 2.0 inch) |
|
Pattern options |
Midnight Black & Gold, Reddish-Brown Burl Grain, Golden Brown Wood Grain, Green Burl, Blue Burl, Rosewood Grain |
|
Chess pieces |
Not included |
One 53.34cm tournament chess board with 57mm squares, in your chosen pattern
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF), felted underneath in green velvet
Playing sets are sold separately and are not part of this listing
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.
