Top GM's might not care for the chess pieces they are provided to play with but, it does not seem to cause a problem with their play. Fischer vs Larson was played with a Drueke plastic set & it did not seem to bother Fischer at this point in time.
The USCF And FIDE-Chess Set Discussion...
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Apr 29, 2015
0
#3
I have noticed that the details of the set are only apparent to me before and after the game. Once we are 2 or 3 moves into the game, I am looking at the position of the pieces and not any details. Heck, I don't even notice which way the knights are facing during a game.
I have known a few GMs, IMs and a good number of NMs and FMs. The majority of them don't care about the sets they use. Boris Gulko would show up to a game at the Chicago Open in the early 2000's with a solid plastic set, vinyl board, and BHB analog clock, all in a plastic shopping bag. Vivek Rao, rated 2580 USCF in 1990, had as his only set a mish mash of at least 3 different plastic sets and the ubiquitous BHB clock that his mom had put his name on, and he was a graduate student at the U of Ill. just after graduating from Harvard.
Now, I have met some strong players that did like and prefer nice sets. One was Richard Verber who should have been at least an IM but played in the early sixties and didn't travel out of Chicago. He would proudly show me and play with a set he bought from the HOS.
Nonetheless, these strong players didn't really pay attention to the details of the pieces during a game, but look at the chess position on the board. They were satisfied when it was easy to identify, on sight, what piece was what.
I know what ya guys mean... but with other country club type sports like golf, tennis, billiards, etc I know a lot of guys who are very particular about the equipment they play. Not only cause of paid endorsements, but what they play best with for one reason or another. Might even be a mind set so to speak. In the case of chess, Fischer is the obvious that comes to mind in that regard. I mentioned in another thread that some players might benefit economically from having a certain chess set type sponsor, but I can see problems with that considering an opponent might endorse a different set... Complicated for sure it could be...
Apr 29, 2015
0
#5
I can see it now,...
GM Golly Good: I find that I will only play with the X Brand Chess Set. The minor pieces are so well designed that they literally give my hand a tug at the correct square when moving them.
GM Really Rare: Well, I use only the Y Brand Chess Set. The shade of the coloring on these sets match what I wear best. And the piece design is conducive to my style of play, aggressive.
During their match, each GM uses the pieces from his desired brand. Yes, on the board are Y Brand White pieces and X Brand Dark pieces.
LOL ! Ain't that the truth Doc :)
I recall that, for a time in the 80's, USCF offered a premium wooden set endorsed by Kasparov who called it "my set" in the ad copy. It was a gorgeous set for that era, and expensive. I forget the price but it was hundreds of 80's dollars.
Thinking further about this, there might have been more than one Kasparov set, all sold as "Kasparov Signature Series" sets, or something like that.
ROBB_CHESS wrote:
Seems that the USCF and FIDE are certainly the main governing bodies in the chess world.
what makes you say that? What would make the USCF important internationally? Or was your comment only in reference to the US?
I don't think this is the set I remember, but here's a Kasparov Signature set from the 90's -->>
http://fishburn.me/chess/sets/kasparov-signature/
FrankHelwig wrote:
ROBB_CHESS wrote:
Seems that the USCF and FIDE are certainly the main governing bodies in the chess world.
what makes you say that? What would make the USCF important internationally? Or was your comment only in reference to the US?
My apologies to our Canadian neighbor... link below... anyone else who feels left out post your link. :)
LOL, thanks
Yeah Robb, I feel left out as you did not mention the Sovereign Nation of Missouri at all.
Seems that the USCF and FIDE are certainly the main governing bodies in the chess world. Looking around I found it of interest to research what appears to be their respective chess suppliers and or chess sets supplied for championships and or for sale...
With that said, and hey I'm not totally sure here, but the USCF main supplier is HOS with various sets for sale, while the FIDE is very limited in their sales department as to a single set.
In the old days for example when tournaments were held we saw the likes of world famous champions selecting the sets "they" wanted to play in tournaments. Obviously, some were very demanding in that department. We saw for example the Jaques Staunton Sets, Dubrovniks Sets, and many others along the way. Now it seems to me, and again I could be wrong, but the top players among each other don't have so much of a choice anymore. Personally, I thought it brought color to the sport. ( Yes it's a sport not a game :)
Anyway, my point being, I wonder if the chess sets of the future will be dictated by the sponsors (highest bidder so to speak) versus the demands of the players. Personally, I would like to see the players make their own decisions like the good old days.
Maybe that's why we don't see players having "chess set manufacturing" sponsors, who knows...
Here's a few links:
http://www.uscfsales.com/?acc=6512bd43d9caa6e02c990b0a82652dca
http://fidechessset.com/shop/