very beautiful looking set!
Soviet Era Grandmaster Supreme Homage set
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I was always put off by the way the knights looked in the original sets. But your photos make them look much better. Also I was always biased by the cheap wood of most Russian sets I encountered whether in the States or in Russia. However, this one is tempting me.
I agree with Haverumwilltravel. The original set looks and feels much better.
Dec 16, 2019
0
#5
In the old photos it looks like there were some different variations on the pawn style.
Haverumwilltravel wrote:
paretobox wrote:
I was always put off by the way the knights looked in the original sets. But your photos make them look much better. Also I was always biased by the cheap wood of most Russian sets I encountered whether in the States or in Russia. However, this one is tempting me.
I felt the same way but the charm of the cheap wood , heavily slathered on shellac and Knights that have their own style grew on me. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Repros are great in their own way and this is a nice set but originals have more appeal to me like this set;
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/early-soviet-era-grossmeister-chess-set-from-ryazan
I appreciate that point of view, but I grew up in a country with cheap sets and am glad to not have to play with anything less than high quality materials now. Even modern plastics are usually much better in the West. I think I have only one set left which reflects that old legacy and since I don't have infinite storage space, what space I do have is for better sets. But glad you enjoy yours.
Have to chime in again just to say those thin and deep miter cuts on the bishops are the best. Carry on lol
Haverumwilltravel wrote:
I dont keep any set for long therefore I don't need much storage space. Any wood carved set that has symetricaly matched pieces and knights are a work of art to me. The species of wood or material is secondary to me. Those Russian produced chess pieces are works of art. You tell me that the set of Ronbos I referenced to is cheap then I will buy all you have for $20.00.
If I had any Russian sets I'd have sold them at the oddly high prices they get on Ebay. But as no sets have appealed to me on my many trips to the ex-USSR you'll have to find another source. There are many things collectors desire that I don't, like figurative themed sets or the Noj pieces or unweighted prewar plastic sets. But thank God the market is growing big enough these days to accomodate many different tastes.
forked_again wrote:
In the old photos it looks like there were some different variations on the pawn style.
Many Soviet era sets had variations like that. They were made by furniture and toy factories. I have even seen different style pawns mixed into wrong sets at the highest level. Here's a Botvinnik Flohr II set with a Grossmeister set pawn at a3 which is different than the other original set pawns. 
Haverumwilltravel wrote:
Ron,I was told that some sets were made by prisoners.
Yes I have heard that some of the Latvian sets were. Hopefully it kept them out of the cold 
. Mike has a Mint In Box Grandmaster set from the 50's that has a label of a Ukraine Furniture maker on it.
Very nice!! thanks for sharing Ronbo!!
CONGRATSSS RON!!!! AMAZING STUF, REGARDS FROM ARGENTINA!!!!
50th USSR Chess Championship, 1983
50-й чемпионате СССР по шахматам, который проходил в универсальном спортивном зале ЦСКА в Москве. 1983 год.
50th USSR Chess Championship, 1983
50-й чемпионате СССР по шахматам, который проходил в универсальном спортивном зале ЦСКА в Москве. 1983 год.
50th USSR Chess Championship, 1983
50-й чемпионате СССР по шахматам, который проходил в универсальном спортивном зале ЦСКА в Москве. 1983 год.
This thread also has good photos of USSR chess sets.:
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/community/chess-sets-used-in-both-unofficial-and-official-world-championships?page=10
41st USSR Championship (Moscow, 1973).
41-й чемпионат СССР по шахматам проходил с 1 по 27 октября 1973 г. в Москве, в Центральном доме культуры железнодорожников.
(In the photo Paul Keres, playing with a chess set Soviet Grandmasters. Chess sets Made in the USSR)
In this thread on the forum, chess sets of the USSR, Soviet Chess Set are well described:
CHESS SETS USED IN BOTH UNOFFICIAL AND OFFICIAL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Jan 24, 2023
0
#17
The House of Staunton just released their take on the Supreme set.
https://www.houseofstaunton.com/new-products/the-supreme-soviet-series-chess-pieces-4-4-king-1.html
I see the miter cuts on the bishop are bigger and the rooks seem a tad off at first glance. oldset's feels like they're a bit light with the weights inside, and the felts a little thin. Those are only my thoughts.
What are yours?
I am amazed by the knowledge and collection of some of the collectors over here.
P.S. Their is something about these sets that really gets to me. The knights are so simple yet elegant.
Looks like a wonderful set to play. Love the sleek design of their shanks and wide basses.
USSR Grandmaster chess set is a standard tournament size set with a great look and proportion and it has been in use in Russian schools and chess clubs for almost a century. As this is a large set I recommend 6.5 cm square chessboard as it does not look nice on any smaller board. The plastic knights somewhat takes away from the general charm of the set but overall they are tolerable.
Hi All -I had Andrey at etsy (seller oldset) create a real BEAUTY IMHO. He was able to borrow original Supreme Grandmaster pieces (partial set) and create a beautiful replica. The Supreme set was only used at the highest level tournaments and unlike the standard Soviet Era Grandmaster sets was not sold to the general public. Original examples are extremely scarce. The bishops have razor thin slits in the miters (just like the originals) and very deeply cut. And the rooks are thinner in their trunk area. I have included some vintage pics of originals in play after my set pics. Enjoy
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