CategoriesThe Queens Gambit

The Queens Gambit Season 2 – Why all the fake news?

As the owner of the UK’s largest online chess set retailer I am obviously hoping, wishing and wondering about The Queens Gambit season two being released. It’s hard to believe that it was over three years ago that the first series hit Netflix and created the storm that it did. Within weeks of it being released it had hit the number one spot and was being watched by millions of Netflix subscribers around the world.

Queens Gambit season two meme

For us as a retailer of fine chess sets  the Queens Gambit was without doubt the biggest event in our company history. In October 2020 when the series was just starting to become popular on Netflix we noticed a small uptick in sales. By the November demand just exploded and before we knew it we had a backlog of over a thousand orders for chess sets. The entire industry was rocked by this event in both good and bad ways.

Today things have settled right back down and like millions of people in the world we are wondering if there will ever be a series two of the Queens Gambit.

Continued fake news about the queens Gambit Season 2

Every few months I will receive a text from a friend that goes along the lines of ‘Hey, have you seen they’ve announced a second series of The Queens Gambit’. This is inevitably accompanied by a screen shot from twitter, Instagram or you tube with what appears to be an official Netflix post but is in fact a piece of clever fakery.

The infamous twitter hack

Queens gambit 2 twitter hack

Fans of the series jumped for joy when Anya Taylor Joys tweeted a seemingly subtle and cryptic message that implied the series was coming back. It didn’t take long for her to announce that she hadn’t tweeted it and her account had in fact been hacked. It’s astonishing that after hacking into the account of a now world famous actress the hacker uses the access to tweet about this! Maybe there are fans out there willing to go to any lengths to get a second series in production!

The Teaser Pro trailer on you tube

In 2022 the you tube account Teaser Pro released this extremely well edited trailer for season two of the Queens Gambit. It featured clips from the original and also clips from Pawn Sacrifice starring Tobey Maguire and mated them together brilliantly to create a hugely convincing trailer. At the time of writing the video has had nearly two million views.

The memes that fool us

Fake queens Gambit meme

This meme was sent to me by my friend Dan Evans, a very switched on cookie but he was caught off guard by the seemingly genuine looking Netflix branding and authentic look. There has been no end to these shared on social media over the last three years or so.

When will it be too late for a season two?

The Queens Gambit

It’s already been over three years and there will no doubt come a time when the window of opportunity has passed. While the series is still very much in peoples consciousness interest in it will soon begin to fade as it becomes just another part of the Netflix archive. In my opinion if a second season isn’t on the screen within the next two years then there will never be one.

Like many people I would love Netflix to do a season two, three and maybe four. The boost it gave the industry and chess in general was massive and during these darker economic days it would certainly bring a lot of cheer to many people. The original series was a superb piece of television that just had everything right. The casting, cinematography, props, research and story line were all at the top of their game. It was little wonder it was such a hit and little wonder so many people are desperate for Netflix to make the Queens Gambit Season 2.

CategoriesRegency Chess Co. News

Regency Chess Chess Sets Now Available In France

For years our sets have been available all over the world but we are now pleased to announce that many of our lovely chess sets are available to French buyers through a dedicated website Le Palais Des Echecs. This superb website features a great number of lovely quality chess sets with great customer service and fast delivery. We are delighted to be partners of this great company and to see our sets presented magnificently on their website.

The website boasts

  • Fast Shipping to all of France
  • Competitive pricing
  • Great customer service
  • Top quality presentation and images
  • All products hand selected for their style, quality and value

CategoriesRegency Chess Co. News

The Staunton Chess Design – Laying the myths to rest once and for all

The confusion surrounding the Staunton Chess Set

Back in 2006, before The Regency Chess Company had been born, I sold a fairly cheap nasty Chinese made chess set on ebay. It was a classic Staunton pattern set of pieces with a board. A few days later I received a call from the buyer. A fairly stern middle-aged man who was furious that he’d been diddled. He thought I’d sold him a dud, a fake, a cheap knock off; that he’d become one of the thousands of people who’d been ripped off on ebay. His complaint was that I’d not sold him a ‘Staunton’ chess set. He wanted to see ‘Staunton’ branding on the box and believed that there was a company somewhere that made chess sets and above the door was a sign that read ‘Staunton’.

Things have certainly moved on a lot since those days of Chinese imports and ebay, but the misconception is still there among many, and you’d be easily forgiven for assuming the same as the angry middle-aged man did back in 2006. The reality however is that there isn’t any company called Staunton who make chess sets, there never was and probably never will be.

The Staunton Olive Oil Company
The Staunton Olive Oil Company

The Story of Staunton

The story of the Staunton Chess Set is a fascinating one. This website goes into more detail about how the pieces originated and the amazing story behind it. The key points are as follows

  • The set is alleged to have been designed by Nathaniel Cook in the mid 1800s
  • It was manufactured by Jaques Games in London
  • It was endorsed by the champion chess player Howard Staunton
  • Its amazing design lead it to become universally accepted very quickly
  • The copyright for the design ran out in the first half of the 20th century

The name ‘Staunton’ came about due to the endorsement that set received from the chess champion Howard Staunton. He loved the set, put his name to it, but never manufactured a single one.

Howard Staunton

An orginal Staunton Set
An orginal Jaques Staunton chess set

Staunton Today

The Staunton chess set is now produced by a huge number of independent companies. There have been literally thousands of variations created, some that are very true to the original, others that have added huge detail and flamboyance to the design. There are taller ones, thinner ones, fatter ones, shorter ones, different colours, wider bases, narrower bases. It seems there is no end to the myriad of variations when it comes to this design.

The Jaques games company do actually still exist and more remarkably are still owned by descendants of the original founders. They still bring many Staunton sets to the market and even sell precise replicas of the early sets from the 1800s. It is worth noting however that they no longer manufacture any sets themselves – like most other chess retailers and wholesalers they are using factories in Asia to produce the sets. There is little doubt that the vintage re issue sets they sell are of excellent quality, easily comparable to the old British made ones. But they all come from a handful of skilled manufacturers abroad who also sell to the other reputable online chess retailers.

 

Want to buy a Staunton Chess Set?

My advice would be to choose the design you like the most, buy the best materials you can afford (ebony is best) and buy from which ever retailer you feel most comfortable using. There is no right place or wrong place to get the real deal when it comes to ‘genuine’ Staunton sets today.

CategoriesSupplier Profiles

Manopoulos Backgammon Sets (Supplier Profile)

Manopoulos are a supplier that will go to any lengths to ensure that the quality of their products is nothing short of excellent. The Greek game manufacturer is renowned for producing spectacular backgammon and chess sets which is why they have enjoyed so much success.

What we like most about Manopoulos games is that they are hand crafted. The fact that they don’t mass produce products is one of the main reasons we selected them as a supplier. Choosing Manopoulos was one of the best decisions we’ve made and this is regularly reenforced through our customers’ feedback.

Manopoulos – A History

Manopoulos has come a long way since it was formed in 1970. Originally known as C.Manopoulos S.A, the company started off by exclusively making chess sets. It later expanded to produce backgammon sets in a variety of wood combinations and unique designs – and this has become one of their specialisms. One of the things that impresses us about Manopoulos is the sharp and elegant design of their products. We were bombarded with positive reviews and  feedback from the moment we started selling their backgammon range,

Luxury Chess Sets

The company has taken the simple game of chess and produced products that are a work of art. In fact some of their chess pieces look like collector’s items – and for good reason. For example, one of the company’s product ranges are chess pieces shaped like historical Greek figures or fashioned after popular legends from Greek mythology.

The strategic nature of chess compliments the unique design of the pieces which seems to pit mythological and historical figures against each other. It is no wonder why the company’s products leave chess and history enthusiasts so excited.

Luxury Backgammon Sets

The company’s Greek influences aren’t limited to their chess sets either. Manopoulos are one of our biggest suppliers of backgammon sets and add real value to our product range. Their backgammon sets are beautifully handcrafted, and represent excellent value. The chips themselves are made from Greek olive wood and stained with colour. If that wasn’t enough, the sets also come with an attractive black bag with the impressive Manopoulos logo emblazoned on the front.

The company offers a range of specialized backgammon sets. These come in closed cases making them easier to carry and the pegged design makes it easy to play in the back of a car. Other items include the 19-inch Mahogany Backgammon Set, Compact Walnut and Maple Backgammon set as well as the “Deluxe” version.

Whether you want to treat yourself to an early Birthday present or are looking for a present that will make someone’s day, Manopoulos backgammon sets are bound to please with their superb craftsmanship and aesthetic quality.

CategoriesSupplier Profiles

Hector Saxe (Supplier Profile)

Our customers rely on us to sell only the best backgammon sets, sourced from the worlds finest manufacturers. This is why we spend a great deal of time carefully selecting suppliers, and examining their products to ensure we only select the best. Providing our customers with the best backgammon sets that the board game industry has to offer – and this is why Hector Saxe is one of our most valued suppliers of quality backgammon sets.

We sell a  variety of Hector Saxe standard competition sets and we are continually impressed by their quality, durability and sophistication.

About

The Paris based manufacturer has been producing and supplying luxury backgammon sets since 1978. Their factory is located on the outskirts of Paris, with outlets situated in the heart of the city.

What makes Hector Saxe Special?

If you ever come across a backgammon set that is made from the finest cowhide, croc or snake skin chances are that it will have a Hector Saxe logo embossed inside the  casing. Hector Saxe is well known for creating handmade backgammon sets that are as exciting to look at as they are to play on.

Hector Saxe’s classic designs are superb. Especially their faux leather sets that are particularly popular with professional backgammon players. The quality and finish of these sets is extremely high – they are hand sealed and jointed whilst the interiors are made from the softest padded felt.

Most sets include 30 playing pieces and they are all carefully made – some with a Mother of Pearl effect which adds an additional air of sophistication. Even the dice holders are expertly made. Each holder comes covered in the same material as the set, to create a perfect match.

For example, if a Hector Saxe backgammon set has an inlay of brown or tan faux leather the dice cups will be covered and colour matched accordingly.  All Hector Saxe backgammon sets are available in a variety of colours and materials – with faux leather sets being some of our most popular sellers.  It is obvious why Hector Saxe has products which are so popular; with backgammon enthusiasts as well as consumers.

We stock a wide variety of Hector Saxe products and we regularly receive positive feedback from customers who have bought these backgammon sets from us.

CategoriesSupplier Profiles

Italfama Chess Boards and Chess Pieces (Supplier Profile)

Considered to be the masters of the sleek and the elegant, Italfama is an Italian based board game manufacturer who produce chess boards and chess pieces.

We knew we were going to be supplying something special when we received our first samples from Italfama. Their handcrafted chess boards and pieces were so impressive that we knew we had to bring their products to our customers.

Chess Designs at their Best

When we want the best chest boards that are available these are the manufacturers that we turn to. And when we say that they make best chess boards, we mean it. Italfama has taken the art of luxury chess design to the next (and let’s not hope ultimate) level. They are based in Florence and make a huge variety of chess sets for chess enthusiasts and consumers. Needless to say, their products are more than just board games. They are works of art that you can not only play with, but also make superb display pieces.

Their boards are often combined with some of our luxury chess pieces to create beautiful chess sets – product combinations that are unique. Our customers also agree, as is apparent from the amazing reviews we’ve had. Of course, because each set is intricately designed from the smallest pawn to the most finely finished board, Italfama chess products are also some of the most exclusive. Their unique and elegant inlays are enough to impress even the most critical chess connoisseurs, and alongside their beautiful boards Italfama also make beautiful metal chess pieces.

What makes Italfama Special

Italfama has been in business for over 30 years. All of the chess pieces and boards are designed and fabricated by professional craftsmen with years of experience. The Pièce de résistance amongst their range of impressive products are their high gloss chess boards that have to be seen to be believed.

Pretty Pieces all in a Row

All of the Italfama chess pieces are handcrafted in Italy and are made from metals like brass, nickel, gold and silver.  Each piece is hand finished and polished, with felt pads added to protect the playing surface. They are simply stunning.

 

 

Closing Thoughts

We’ve always been able to depend on this supplier, they produce some of the most stunning products, hand crafted in Italy. As suppliers they are extremely reliable, their products are high quality, and are nicely presented and well packaged. Each product is beautifully finished and they are one of our favourite suppliers, we highly recommend them!