2021 Official FIDE World Chess Set.

zbieraj, in my opinion if you want the wch set, buy that one, the timeless set (or any other set ) cannot compete with it. Dgt or not is a tough question. Who knows when will one be able to buy the non electric official set without the board? That's why I went for the dgt set, and if you buy it in a package the board is not that expensive. I really enjoy using the electric board against the computer (Fritz is included free). But I think You will only enjoy using the dgt board with chess.com, if you play long games (10-15 minutes minimum).

Yeah, I mean I am not planning to play blitz on chess.com. I am a 1700-1800 player in OTB, but I really suck (1000-1100) in super rapid games on-screen... :/

Thank you for your response. I have the plastic WC set and just the ergonomics of the pieces suit me so well. This is why since I got it many months ago I immediately knew that I will be targeting the WC wooden set (the 100% size). But the cost of the DGT version is just insane... But in the same time doable with right planning... Also I want to combine it with rosewood board but I can not see that combination anywhere...

Amazing. This is incredibly similar to my situation.

• I love the WCS design and "history" and it's associated with an event and a champion that I appreciate.
• I don't have a DGT e-Board yet because I've been waiting for the tech to catch up to where I'd want it to be.
• I have too many chess sets as it is.
• I have too many chess boards as it is.
• I'm the kind of person who, if he likes something, wants to have two of that thing, if only for backup purposes.
• I have (and *love*) a DGT non-electronic Timeless Set that shipped with the DGT non-electronic board.

So my decision-making process went a little something like this:

• World Chess doesn't have standalone sets available and I don't really want or need the board that comes with their piece+board combo.
• Chess House has the DGT-enabled set but it's over $700 and I don't even have a DGT board.
• Since World Chess is the source, and they've been great to deal with in the past (I own the Studio set), I'd be happy to buy direct from them in case pieces arrive damaged or they get damaged later.
• The pieces+board combo from World Chess is around $200 less (shipped) than the DGT pieces from Chess House so let's do this thing!! 💸
• Purchase made for the pieces+board combo from World Chess.
• After a few days the pieces haven't shipped and I don't even have an indication of when they'll be shipping.
• In the meantime my now-anxious mind started thinking "Well, I miiiiiiiiiight buy a DGT board in the future and what if the FIDE set is no longer available or has changed to a new design? And I really should have a backup set, too, you know. And what if World Chess doesn't even have stock any more and my order is canceled?".
• Purchase made for the DGT-enabled set from Chess House.

And so here we are. I say that, if you have the means, buy them both. Who knows how long they'll even be available after the stock runs dry? I believe World Chess has a 10 year contract and I'm not sure if it technically began in 2011 or in 2013 with their first Candidates tournament.

Good luck with any decision you make! 🤑

PS: As I mentioned above, I love the DGT Timeless set, too. It's in my top three favorite designs along with this World Chess set and my B210 Chavet reproduction. What can I say, I'm a simple man with simple tastes.

I was afraid to ask why on earth did you order the dgt set after the wch set, but now it all makes sense As the wch match starts, I predict all stock will be gone.

Thanks @lotsoblots for your comment! Unfortunately, I will for sure not plan to buy two sets. That is not only too expensive but I try to cut my own unnecessary waste of money as much as possible .

I think You guys should make a deal for @lotsoblots' extra set

Such eyes can also be seen on these Hungarian knights from the 80s. Maybe Mr.Biro got the idea from them.

OK, the DGT-enabled set arrived today on schedule so it's time for some comparisons between the set direct from World Chess and the DGT-enabled set from Chess House. 🥳 First, the packaging:

The World Chess box is dramatically larger. It's both taller and wider. The pattern is actually applied to a slip-on cover that wraps around a nicely textured black box. Below I've taken off the cover and exposed the inside of the World Chess box. It's a foam holder for each piece, allowing them to be stored upright. Very cool.

In the DGT box, each color's pieces are contained in their own ziploc bag and the pieces are wrapped and taped in foam. The pawns, however, are not wrapped (more on that later).

Once unwrapped, everything mostly looks the same, as I expected and hoped. If pressed, I'd say the World Chess set has a biiiit more of a polished shine to it while the DGT set is more matte. I immediately noticed the weight difference, though. The DGT pieces are much lighter. Here's a breakdown of the weights.

Since things look the same, I figured I'd take some shots of the four knights. The DGT pieces are on the interior while the non-DGT pieces are on the sides.

As mentioned, there is a little more to the story of the DGT packaging. The pawns were unwrapped and one of them, unfortunately, was not the better for it.

I've emailed Chess House and expect this will be resolved quickly and happily.

Finally, I'll sign off with a shot of the DGT set on a DGT non-electronic board. The opening is the tenth and final game of the 2013 World Championship between Magnus Carlsen and Vishy Anand.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions and, as always, apologies for any inaccuracies or for the lackluster photography. I am completely incapable of capturing any detail in an ebonized piece! Argh!

@lotsoblots   Am I imagining things or are the DGT Knights a tiny bit shorter than the World Chess Knights? Get those calipers out!   How do the other pieces compare in Height? Any other subtle Height differences? The pieces look so good on the 55mm sq board.

I don't *think* you're imagining things. I don't own any calipers (I'm a software not hardware guy) otherwise I'd definitely have checked but I thought the same exact thing you did. I don't know whether or not to chalk it up to individual carver differences (the non-DGT knights seem to my eyes ever so slightly chunkier, too) or perhaps even a felt thickness difference, but I do think they stand taller.

Edit: The other pieces seem to be indistinguishably similar to my eyes (possibly nuking my felt thickness theory).

@lotsoblots   Forget I even mentioned about the Knights. Both sets look awesome once you get that black Pawn sorted out. I'm sure you're glad you bought it from a domestic retailer, and not overseas. Chesshouse has done right by me on several occasions. 

Thanks for the packaging comparison photos. It's interesting to see the differences. 

I have to say, you REALLY lucked out on that beautiful grain pattern in the DGT border. LOVE!

Great thread.  I'm not sure if the following video has been discussed here before but there's a video from Business Insider uploaded just few months ago that looks into the reasons why the WCC set is so expensive.  I won't spoil the fun but what I find fascinating is to see the actual craftsmen behind the set, who prepare the woods, turn and carve the pieces, including the menacing-looking knights carved from a single block of wood.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Tg9xiJ6D6k

Hope this info adds more depth to an already great thread.

@lotsoblots Thank you for the detailed info, pictures, weight diagramm. And what a bummer for the broken pawn, I am sure they will sort it out quickly. The Dgt knights do seem to be smaller, less chunkier than the wch set. All sets are different little bit, but did not expect it to be this much. Although lighter, the weight of the dgt set seems perfect to me, not too heavy, not too light. What do you think?

@zagryan I have watched that video many times before ordering. The funny thing is, they explain how symmetrical the knights have to be to pass qc, but in reality they are not that symmetrical  

@MadeInYugoslavia Interesting picture. Living in Hungary and having played many chess events in the 90's, I have never seen a set with those knights. Deffinetly the Biro pieces were inspired by those knights. Even the big bases on the pieces - that is a major speciality of the Biro set - can be seen on those knights You posted.

@dobtom Yeah, the weight of the DGT set is awfully awfully good. When I picked up the pieces for the first time, noticing they were a bit lighter I thought "ooh this is niiiiice" ... but when I went back to the non-DGT enabled pieces I thought "ooh this is niiiiice", too! I think I like having the variation and I couldn't pick one "best" for me. It'll be a mood-driven decision as to which I use each time, I suppose.

And regarding the pawn, yep, Chess House is already on the replacement (as well as a replacement for a poorly painted - is painted the right word? - black knight) though surprisingly it sounds like they have to go through DGT to do it. It's mildly concerning that they don't maintain that stock themselves but perhaps that's just how it goes for some brands. With World Chess I had a few pieces not quite up to snuff to my tastes and they responded immediately with an apology and a "your replacements will be shipped right away" type email. Both great companies in my experience and honestly they were non-negligible parts in the equation when I decided to buy the sets.

So it is not a DGT board?

Also I am confused, are guys saying the set direct from World Chess is not dgt enabled?   That surprises me, I would think they would want to you a dgt enabled set and board for the world championship.

That is correct. Neither their pieces nor boards are DGT-enabled. Those are only available, AFAIK, through DGT resellers.

But aren't the set and board actually used in the World Championship DGT-enabled?  There is also this: https://youtu.be/-Tg9xiJ6D6k?t=333

A hand carved wooden knight may not be perfectly symmetrical but isn't that part of the charm of hand made  products?  I wouldn't want a CNC carved knight that is perfectly symmetrical, clean without mistakes, for that would be soooo boring, like playing against a computer. 

BTW, if you're unhappy with your purchase, you can always contact WorldChess to sort out the problem or get a refund (within 30 days of purchase). I bought a studio set from them earlier this year for my DGT Centaur (yeah, it's a chess computer) and one of the knights had a small hole and chemical blemish surrounding it upon delivery.

Contacted WorldChess and a replacement was shipped immediately. Talk about great customer service. When their tournament size pieces become available again, you know who I am going to order from.