The 1980’s USSR Soviet Chess set by “Unknown”.

What they did…

This set is a bit of a mystery—its design is unknown, and I could find very little information about it online. What drew me to it immediately were the elegant curves and perfect symmetry of each piece. The knights, carved as solid blocks of wood, give them a robust, unique character, while the unusually wide bases make the entire set remarkably stable and difficult to tip over.

At first glance, these features might suggest it was intended as a tournament set, but I have a feeling it was actually a unique, limited design that never saw official tournament play. Still, the craftsmanship and thoughtful details were enough to win me over—and the price was just the icing on the cake.

My opinion of this design…

Playing with this set has been an absolute joy. The pieces feel substantial in your hands, with a balance that enhances every move. Most players I’ve shown it to have been just as impressed by the design and feel, often commenting on how well it performs during a game. No regrets here—this set was a fantastic find, and if anyone else stumbles across a similar one, I’d say don’t hesitate. I’m sure you’ll thank me for it!