Through the Featured Chess Set project, the World Chess Hall of Fame showcases a variety of chess sets throughout the year. These include highlights from our own collection as well as chess sets owned by friends and chess lovers who have special stories to accompany their sets. For more information about how to participate in the Featured Chess Set project, please inquire at the front desk.
November’s Featured Chess Set is a pop-culture themed chess set on loan from KTVI-FOX 2. Since its creation in 1986, the World Chess Hall of Fame (WCHOF) has endeavored to highlight the history and cultural significance of the game of chess. The WCHOF’s collection is diverse and includes sets once owned by legendary players, mass-produced sets with lively pop culture themes, antique ivory sets, travel sets, as well as chess computers. Through these artifacts, the WCHOF illustrates how chess has evolved through its over 1500-year history.
Empire Chess Set
2018
King size: 2 5⁄8 in.
Board: 11 x 11 in.
Plastic and wood
Collection of KTVI-FOX 2
Empire Poster
2018
19 x 13 in.
Paper
Collection of KTVI-FOX 2
November’s Featured Chess Set is a limited-edition 3D-printed chess set created to promote the fifth season of Empire. Created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, Empire premiered on January 7, 2015, and follows the Lyon family and their struggles for control over their music company, Empire Entertainment. The show stars Terrance Howard and Taraji P. Henson as Lucious and Cookie Lyon. The poster declares “It’s their move,” and features the pair posing with a chess set. The pieces in the set refer to their characters’ last name—the kings and queens are lions—while others, including a hand holding a microphone and records, refer to aspects of the music industry.
