Can a chess board discolor this fast?

 The top board is a pretty cheap board from PolishChess, bought in november 2018. The new one is a Rechapados Ferrer board from Schachversand. Both are walnut and maple.

You think the discoloring is from light exposure or just different wood quality or finish used? I always stored my chess board against the wall in the living room. 

Warning about PolishChess: I discovered that one side row has 55mm squares while all the other squares are 57mm lol. 

IMHO - I don't think this is going to be a fair question to ask.  Again IMHO...  Let me explain.   Different manufacturers, different wood source and different finishes will all be variables responsible for the color/finish of your chess board.   

It would have been more helpful if you were able to provide pictures of the board when you first received it and compare it to how it looks now.   

The "TOP" board that you mention looks absolutely fantastic and if you compare to the bottom board, then it's no contest at all.  The bottom board looks like it's been left in the sun and the color/contrast has been significantly faded.   

However, since you've brought up this topic as the OP, you would be in the best position to recall how the finish/color/contrast looked when you first received the unit.   I would strongly suggest that you reach out to the store/online site/manufacturer and let them know immediately that there is a problem with the board.   Since this is a very recent purchase (unless I mis-read your original post), they should be in the best position to get you:

a. Replacement board

b. Repair/Re-Finish the board

c. Return/refund of your original purchase. 

Either way the photo you provided is a STUNNING comparison/contrast and I'm sure that if you present the *SAME* photo to the retailer/manufacturer you will have a MUCH stronger case for a settlement in your favor!!!    Again this is only a suggestion...   

Best of luck for this, please let us know how this worked out for you???    

Funny, in real life the bottom board is way more beautiful and has way better quality. As I mentioned the top board has uneven squares. 

I kind if like faded boards with a vintage look so I don't mind that. Bottom is a keeper.

But you are right, not fair to compare if they are from different suppliers

Duvupov - No worries, good luck and hopefully you'll have a good resolution!!     

They might also be different types of walnut. There are at least six types, each with different color and grain. To me, the bottom board looks like Black Walnut from the USA or something similar. The top board looks like English Walnut which is common in eastern Europe.

Yes true. So my question is a bit weird I admit. Although I've noticed that vintage walnut maple boards are very faded and yellowed over time. I've read on some furniture website that this can happen quite fast with UV exposure. 

So I expect it will get a bit more yellow over time. 

just let board discolour - it gives it, in my eyes, character of a kind

Wood boards can discolor from light and heat.

A friend of mine, KassySC, had a chess set that was wood and in his attic back in 2008.  We went to their house to watch the Superbowl between Pittsburgh and Arizona.  While there, I had noticed that you could not tell the White pieces from the Black ones, that is how badly the Black pieces (which started out dark brown, not ebony) faded because it was literally right under the one small window in the ceiling.  Of course, the set was about 10 years old and was sitting in that house from summer 2006 thru that Superbowl, which I think was 2009 (2008 Football season).

But yes, wood can fade pretty badly.

I think age gives wood a nicer character than most new wood. Around 1975 I made a cane from Red Maple (named for its leaf color in Autumn). It has yellowed considerably. Of course, it's also had a lot of various oils and waxes rubbed into it over the years.
  I have a number of things made from Black Walnut, some of them over one hundred years old. None of them see much daylight, though. The newer ones have had some wax-based products rubbed on them but the older ones just get an occasional mild cleaning. I think the older ones have darkened some since they were made but that could be the finish and not the wood.

The wood on your bottom board looks a lot like the Black Walnut I know. The top board not so much but it could be a result of stain or finish. Both your boards look nice. It's a shame about the different widths of the files.