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Buy Chess Sets

At Masters Traditional Games, we take pride in offering exceptional quality, but we don’t stop there. We’re passionate about finding chess sets that are truly special and unique. With Chess, it is particularly easy to go and buy chess sets from a mundane high-street shop. Why do that, when we can find you something a lot more interesting?

Discover the classic elegance of Staunton sets and the artistry of Ornamental Pieces that double as stunning displays. Delve into the extraordinary with our intriguing assortment of unusual sets, pushing the boundaries of chess. Whether you’re a seasoned player, collector, or curious soul, we have the perfect chess set or chessmen to match your style and appreciation for the game.

See also: Chess and Draughts Piece Size Guide.

Chequerboards

DGT Walnut Chess Board
DGT Walnut Chess Board
Dal Negro 42cm Chessboard with Coordinates / Notation (4.5cm squares)
Dal Negro 50cm Chessboard with Coordinates / Notation (5.5cm squares)
Dal Negro 42cm Chessboard with Coordinates / Notation (4.5cm squares)
Dal Negro 42cm Chessboard with Coordinates / Notation (4.5cm squares)
Walnut and Maple Wood Chessboard 50cm (with 50mm squares)
Walnut and Maple Wood Chessboard 50cm (with 50mm squares)
Philos Paris 55cm Chessboard, 5.5cm Squares
Philos Paris Black & White Maple Chessboard
Philos Athen 44cm Chessboard, 5.5cm Squares, No Border
Philos Athen 44cm Chessboard, 5.5cm Squares, No Border
Philos walnut and maple chessboard 40cm (45mm squares)
Philos Walnut and Maple Chessboard

Chess - Electronic

DGT Walnut USB e-Board with Timeless Weighted Electronic Chess Pieces
DGT Walnut USB e-Board with Timeless Weighted Electronic Chess Pieces
DGT Rosewood USB e-Board with indices - Royal Electronic Chess Pieces
DGT Rosewood USB e-Board with indices with Royal Weighted Electronic Chess Pieces
DGT Royal Weighted Electronic Chess Pieces
DGT Royal Weighted Electronic Chess Pieces
DGT Timeless Weighted Electronic Chess Pieces
DGT Timeless Weighted Electronic Chess Pieces
DGT USB e-Board - Rosewood with indices
DGT USB e-Board – Rosewood with indices
DGT USB e-Board - Walnut
DGT USB e-Board – Walnut
DGT Chess Starter Box Brown (Pieces, Board & DGT1002 Chess Timer)
DGT Chess Starter Box Brown (Pieces, Board & DGT1002 Chess Timer)

Chess / Backgammon Tables

Italfama Luxury Beech Chess Table with Drawer (58cm)
Italfama Luxury Beech Chess Table with Briar Elm Chessboard & Drawer (58cm)
Italfama Beech Wood Chess Table with Alabaster Top
Italfama Beech Wood Chess Table with Alabaster Top
Italfama Chess & Backgammon Table (58cm)
Italfama Luxury Beech Chess and Backgammon Table – Hand Inlaid Backgammon Board – Wooden Chess Table With Legs – 58cm Chequerboard Top – Game Table Furniture Set – Made In Italy
Giglio 2 Level, 4 Legged Wooden Chess Table (60mm squares)
Giglio 2 Level, 4 Legged Wooden Chess Table (60mm squares)
Giglio Lockable Cabinet Wooden Chess Table (43mm squares)
Giglio Lockable Cabinet Wooden Chess Table (43mm squares)

Chess Sets - European

House of Marbles Standard Wooden Folding Chess Set
House of Marbles Standard Wooden Folding Chess Set
DGT Walnut Chess Board with Timeless Wooden Chess Pieces
DGT Walnut Chess Board with Timeless Wooden Chess Pieces
DGT Walnut Chess Board with Royal Wooden Chess Pieces
DGT Walnut Chess Board with Royal Wooden Chess Pieces
DGT Timeless Wooden Chess Pieces
DGT Timeless Wooden Chess Pieces
DGT Club Pack (10 x Boards & 10 x 95mm Chess Pieces)
DGT Club Pack (10 x Boards & 10 x 95mm Chess Pieces)
DGT Chess Starter Box Grey (Pieces & Board)
DGT Chess Starter Box Grey (Pieces & Board)

Chess Sets - Oriental

Shin Kaya Table Shogi Board with Wooden Shogi Pieces
Shin Kaya Table Shogi Board with Wooden Shogi Pieces
Wooden Shogi Board with Plastic Pieces
Wooden Shogi Board with Plastic Pieces – Authentic Japanese Chess Set
Wooden Shogi Pieces in Box - Stamped, Aoka Wood
Wooden Shogi Pieces in Box – Stamped, Aoka Wood
Large Leatherette Xiangqi Game Board (48 x 43 cm)
Large Leatherette Xiangqi Game Board (48 x 43 cm)
Simple Wooden Shogi Set by Philos
Simple Wooden Shogi Set by Philos
Philos Shogi Set With Raised Wooden Board & Storage Drawer
Philos Shogi Set With Raised Wooden Board & Storage Drawer
Shin Kaya Table Shogi Board - 2.9cm thick
Shin Kaya Table Shogi Board – 2.9cm thick
Wooden Xiangqi Pieces (33mm)
Wooden Xiangqi Pieces (33mm)

Chess Sets - Ornamental

Decorative Folding Chess Board by Berkeley Chess - 2 inch Squares
Decorative Folding Resin Chess Board by Berkeley Chess – 2 inch Squares (pieces not included)
Sea Life Berkeley Chess Set with 3.75 inch King
Sea Life Berkeley Chess Set with 3.75 inch King
New York Berkeley Chess Set with 4.25 inch King
New York Berkeley Chess Set with 4.25 inch King
Sherlock Holmes Berkeley Chess Set with 6 inch King
Sherlock Holmes Berkeley Chess Set with 6 inch King
Lord of the Rings Berkeley Chess Set with 5 inch King
Lord of the Rings Berkeley Chess Set with 5 inch King
Ornate Staunton Berkeley Chess Set with 4.25 inch King
Ornate Staunton Berkeley Chess Set with 4.25 inch King

Chess Sets - Unusual

PacoSako Chess Pieces (black & white)
PacoSako Chess Pieces (black & white)
3 Player Circular Chess
3 Player Chess In The Round – 3 Player Chess Set with Round / Circular Board
Quadro Chess & Draughts - 4 player
Quadro Chess & Draughts – 4 player
Strato 3D Multilevel Chess Set
Strato 3D Multilevel Chess Set
Chess 4 (Four Player Chess)
Chess 4 (Four Player Chess)

Game Clocks

DGT 1005 Byo-yomi Timer - For the Game of Go & Shogi
DGT 1005 Byo-yomi Timer – For the Game of Go & Shogi
Dal Negro Chess Hourglass - 10 Minute
Dal Negro Chess Hourglass – 10 Minute
Dal Negro Magnetic Chess Hourglass - 30 Second
Dal Negro Magnetic Chess Hourglass – 30 Second
Dal Negro Wooden Chess Hourglass - 15 Minute
Dal Negro Wooden Chess Hourglass – 15 Minute
DGT 2010 Official FIDE Digital Chess Clock
DGT 2010 Official FIDE Digital Chess Clock
SchachQueen Digital Chess Clock / Timer - FIDE Certified
SchachQueen Digital Chess Clock / Timer – FIDE Certified
GARDE Classic Mechanical Chess Clock
GARDE Classic Mechanical Chess Clock
GARDE Start Digital Chess Clock
GARDE Start Digital Chess Clock

Giant Chess & Draughts

Garden Games Giant Lawn-Friendly Chequerboard
Garden Games Giant Lawn-Friendly Chequerboard
Garden Games Giant Chess Set (64cm King, Pieces Only, Without Board)
Garden Games Giant Chess Set (64cm King, Pieces Only, Without Board)
Ultimate Premium Giant Chess Set (120cm King, without board)
Ultimate Premium Giant Chess Set (120cm King, without board)
Mega Uber Games Giant Chess Set (90cm King, without board)
Mega Uber Games Giant Chess Set (90cm King, without board)
Uber Games Giant Chess Extenders (30cm)
Uber Games Giant Chess Extenders (30cm)
Uber Games Giant Chess Set (60cm King, without board)
Uber Games Giant Chess Set (60cm King, without board)
Rolly Giant Chess Set, 64cm King (without board)
Rolly Giant Chess Set, 64cm King (without board)
Set of 6 bags for Giant Chess pieces (for 90cm set)
Set of 6 bags for Giant Chess pieces (for 90cm set)

Lewis Chessmen

Isle Of Lewis Compact Chess Set - 9 inches with circular cabinet
Isle Of Lewis Compact Chess Set – 9 inches with circular cabinet
Mini Isle of Lewis Chess Set by Berkeley Chess with 2 inch King
Mini Isle of Lewis Chess Set by Berkeley Chess with 2 inch King
Berkeley Chess Isle of Lewis Chess Set - Steel & Copper finish
Isle of Lewis Chess Set by Berkeley Chess – Metal (Steel & Copper finish, board not included)
Isle of Lewis Chess Set by Berkeley Chess with 3.5 inch King (Board not included)
Isle of Lewis Chess Set by Berkeley Chess with 3.5 inch King (Board not included)

The Origins of Chess

The ancestry of Chess is hidden in a mist of uncertainty and scholars continue to argue over significant issues, not least of which whether the traditional viewpoint of an origin in India is right or whether the game came first from China. Some historical sleuths believe that shaturanga sometimes spelt chaturanga was the originating game. This is supposed to have been invented by an Indian philosopher in the 6th century. The game was in part quite different to modern Chess in that dice were used and it was a 4 sided game instead of 2. The four players controlled 4 types of piece - Infantry, Cavalry, Elephants and Boatmen under the command of a controled squadrons of a Rajah or Caliph. An Ashtapada board (an ancient Indian race board game) consisting of an 8 x 8 grid was used for this early type of Chess.

Gambling was banned at some later point in the Hindu civilisation and, as happened in similar situations in other countries, this caused an evolution in the games that people played. In the case of Shaturanga, the dice were eliminated and so perhaps it was at this point that a game based entirely on intellectual acuity came into being. Around the same time, the 4 sides that anyway often played as 2 sets of 2 allies, were merged into 2 opposing armies. The new game was called Shatranj and anyone in modern times would recognise this early game as a proto-version of modern day Chess.

There are multiple explanations for the early arrival of Shatranj in Western Europe. Some say that it came through Spain brought by the Saracens of the Byzantine empire, some says crusaders returning from the Middle East brought back this early Chess. Regardless, the game of Shatranj emerged fully formed from India and evolved into a number of different forms that are just as important historically as Western European Chess including Shogi in Japan, Xiang Qi in China, Makruk in Thailand, Sittuyin in Burma and Changgi from Korea.

You can learn more about the History of Chess from The Online Guide to Traditional Games.
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