Bughouse in a National Gallery? Our Day at Judit Polgár’s Global Chess Festival 2025
Museums whisper. Bughouse shouts.
For one day, they played nice together.
This year we were invited to the Global Chess Festival 2025 hosted by Judit Polgár in the Hungarian National Gallery (Budapest). Last year we joined her zone at the Chess Olympiad; this time our presence grew bigger — and louder.
Highlights in 30 seconds
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Vertical board on the main stage. Our wall-mounted chessboard was used as a striking visual element during the program.
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A new double table for Bughouse. We brought a purpose-built 4-player Bughouse table (Iroko wood + epoxy). It was designed so both boards sit side-by-side with tournament-level ergonomics.
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Oak tournament table (Staunton 6). 57 mm squares for comfortable, professional play.
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Coffee–chess lounge. Acacia and mango tables became a friendly upstairs spot for casual games and conversations.
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Custom trophy. On special request we crafted an engraved Queen Tray for the best female player.
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Cameos & moments: WIM Fiona Steil-Antoni dropped by for a friendly game; JugaMusic performed live; WIM Anastasia Sorokina played on the main stage — all surrounded by paintings and sculpture.
🎥 Short video (0:26): https://youtube.com/shorts/TE8NPaX9Sso
Why this felt special
Playing (and designing for) chess inside a national art museum is unforgettable. The space changes the game’s rhythm — people stop, watch, ask questions. And when Judit Polgár invites you back, it’s the best compliment a small studio can get.
Photo notes
If you spot our setups in festival photos: the vertical board is the tall one on an easel; the Bughouse table is the wide double-board with two clocks in the middle; the oak tournament table has a clean 57 mm grid and a low sheen; the coffee–chess tables have natural resin accents.
Let’s talk Bughouse!
Who would be your dream Bughouse partner on Chess.com? ♟️
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Thanks to Judit, the festival team, and the Hungarian National Gallery for an unforgettable day.
