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Chessville
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Reviewed by David Surratt, 6-14-03
MagnateGames sells chess products, including an assortment of electronics, magnetic wood sets, clocks, and the Third Millennium Chess Set (TMC), which is the subject of this review.
As you can see from the photograph, this is not a pocket set; it is more correctly termed a travel set. The pieces are magnetic, and the board is covered with a plastic laminate that makes it 100% waterproof - see the picture below.
The chessboard is 8½ x 11 inches (279x216mm) opened including the capture panels, 8½ x 5½ inches folded, with 7½ inch square (190mm) playing area and weighs 5 ounces (145g). One of the unique features is the fold; most folding sets fold between the 4th and 5th ranks; TMC folds between the d and e files. This allows you to hold the set like a book. There's plenty of space to store captured pieces along the sides, which also serve as convenient handles for holding the set by. A self-sealing plastic case provides clean storage and security against lost pieces when not in use. Every detail of this set has been carefully thought out, and carefully researched. When I talked with Dave from MagnateChess, it was clear that he has deeply considered every detail of his products, from the extra set of queens (graphically differentiated for promoting to knight, bishop, or rook) to the small magnetic squares left over from separating the pieces (used to indicate last move, if needed), to special pieces added for indicating whose move it is and to indicate draw offers, check, etc., to the shape of the pieces themselves. This third-generation set has the extra attention to detail that one expects of the finest products. Yet TMC sells on their web site for just $16.95 US, plus shipping. Lev Alburt, Gregory Kaidanov, Alexander Shabalov, and Hikaru Nakamura all have their own Signature Series TMC sets, which are limited in quantity, serialized and accompanied with a matching serialized certificate of authentication. A slew of accessories, from 3-D wooden magnetic pieces to 3-ring zippered pouches are also available. This is a highly functional quality travel chess set.
If that's what you're in the market for, check out MagnateGames, and
look over the Third Millennium Chess set along their other products; this
much quality for this low cost is a rare combination, and is worthy of your
further investigation. |
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