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How the Parthenon has inspired the most iconic Chess Knights
Discover how three iconic chess knights—Staunton, Dubrovnik 1950, and Varna 1962—trace their elegance back to the Parthenon friezes. Each set draws from a specific classical horse, translating timeless Greek Classical beauty into wood and bakelite, proving that even on a chessboard, art and strategy can meet.
The iconic Lardy chess set of Reykjavik 72
Lardy chess sets, manufactured in the Jura region of France since 1890, became iconic due to their robust, utilitarian design (most recognizable for the "blocky" knight) and their ubiquitous use in FIDE-rated tournaments during the 1960s and 1970s. Their status was...
The Official Programme of the 1980 Chess Olympiad (Malta): documentary note
This note documents an extant copy of the official programme of the XXIV Chess Olympiad (Valletta, Malta, 20 November–6 December 1980) bearing the autographs of principal members of the Soviet delegation. The combination of signatures — including multiple world champions of both the open and women’s titles — makes the object an unusually informative witness to a precise moment of generational overlap in Soviet chess.
The Lugano 1968 FDC: A Witness to Chess History
A unique First Day Cover from the 1968 Lugano Chess Olympiad, signed by the entire Soviet champion team—Petrosian, Spassky, Korchnoi, Geller, and Smyslov—along with Flohr, Bronstein, O’Kelly, and exiled Kavalek. This envelope is more than a collectible: it is a witness to a moment where chess, history, and human stories intersect, preserving the brilliance, tensions, and personalities of a defining era.
A Battle in Babenhausen: Fighting the London System
Exciting game in Babenhausen, located in the heart of Hessen, Germany. It was part of the Starkenburg 2024/2025 Tournament. Playing as Black, I managed to secure a victory against the London System. I’d like to share this game with you and walk you through some of the key moments, as well as my thought process during the match.