Description
Botvinnik Flohr 1933 Chessmen.
A reproduction of the Botvinnik Flohr 1933 Chessmen has now joined the Camaratta Signature Line. Based on the chessmen used for the 1933 Botvinnik-Flohr match, this robust Boxwood and Ebony playing set is designed for the rigors of tournament and rapid play, while retaining the grace and elegance you have come to expect from a set of House of Staunton chessmen. Each set of Botvinnik Flohr 1933 Chessmen has a proper tournament-size King, 4” tall with a 1-3/4” diameter base. Typical of many Soviet era chessmen designs, the Bishops lack miter cuts. The stately Rook projects the proper stature for a major piece on the chessboard. The Knight is particularly well carved, a finely balanced design that is aggressive, but not visually overwhelming. The set comes standard with the traditional Formeé cross King’s finial, which is an accommodation to current USCF Tournament Equipment rules. Also included are an extra pair of Queens to facilitate Pawn Promotion, a feature pioneered by The House of Staunton. The Botvinnik Flohr 1933 Chessmen are designed for play or display on chessboard with 2-1/4” squares. Several suitable chessboards are available and can be found here
Some Background.
In the wake of Mikhail Botvinnik’s victory in the 1933 USSR Chess Championship in Leningrad, a match was scheduled by Alexander Ilyin-Zhenevsky and Nikolai Vasilyevich Krylenko to pit the new Soviet champion against Salomon Flohr, believed to be strong enough to challenge Alexander Alekhine for the world championship. The first six games were to be played in Moscow and the final six games in Leningrad. Many were skeptical of Botvinnik’s chances against the strong Czechoslavkian master. Krylenko felt that Botvinnik had to be further tested. The first half of the match was dismal for both Botvinnik and Krylenko. Flohr got off to a one game lead in the opening round of the match, and had made it plus +2 by the wrap up in Moscow. Botvinnik persevered in Leningrad however, managing to win two games of his own and finally leaving the match score tied at 6 points a piece at the final.
About The Company.
The House of Staunton was founded in 1993 and incorporated in 1999. When building the House of Staunton, our vision was to create a set of chessmen that captured the feel and exquisite old-World craftsmanship found in those early Jaques Staunton pattern chess sets. In line with that pursuit, we concentrated on recreating the masterful workmanship of the Bishops and the Knights which were derived from the noble steeds whose visages are captured in the Parthenon frieze (expropriated in 1806 by Thomas Bruce, 7th Lord of Elgin and since referred to as the Elgin Marbles). We also wanted to retain the graceful proportional relationship among the pieces and Pawns. We hope we have been somewhat successful in that pursuit.
The House of Staunton name is now recognized World-Wide. House of Staunton chessmen are so well respected that they even made the comics!
