
The game of chess takes cunning and intelligence and can sometimes be incredibly intense. But your standard Chess Set just doesn’t reflect the same intensity. If you prefer to play on a board that’s as mighty as your chess maneuvers then check out these 12 Bad Ass Chess Sets.
Everyone knows that Pirates are better than Ninjas. Or was that the other way around? Either way you wouldn’t want to cross one of these fierce warriors in a dark alley. Maybe a nice game of chess would be better. Each pieces is hand painted and awesome.
When we say this chess set is an authentic Rolling Stone Chess Set, we don’t mean official, we mean it’s ACTUALLY made of Rolling Stone magazine covers. The surface of the Rolling Stone Chess Board features tons of Rolling Stone covers, making this The perfect chess set for a fan of the magazine. Even the pieces are hand made from actual Rolling Stone magazine covers as well. The board features compartments for storing the pieces and a hard gloss finish to protect it. $500
We could think of no material grittier or more masculine to use for a chess set than used auto parts and scrap metal. The set includes silver and black left over bits repurposed as a car enthusiast’s dream chess set. The queen features screws, cogs and bearings, the bishops come from sparkplugs and rooks are crafted from cogwheels. Each piece flaunts its own signs of wear and tear and personal imperfections you’d expect from used car parts. $89
If you liked the Auto Parts Chess set, you’ll be blown away by the updated Rustic Warriors Set. After perfecting the first set, artist Armando Ramirez enhances the concept by converting the old car parts into even more detailed pieces that resemble darker more intense versions of traditional chess pieces. Each piece takes on a style of its own based on the parts used to create them. Take in the details, like the beautiful yet rough mane on the knight. $176
Inspired by the chemical elements of carbon molecules, this cool futuristic looking chess set features peices made from the five platonic solids, except for the queen which is made from a spherical fullerenes or buckyball. We have no clue what any of that scientific jargon means but we do know that the Platonic Chess set is damn cool looking.
Inspired by our favorite mad scientist Nikola Tesla, this chess set features spooky Tesla coil-esque pieces encased in glass. The set is made from wood, glass and working electrical components that would have fit right in among any of Tesla’s incredible experiments. Each piece lights up when plugged into the board and of course turns off upon removal.
Get a new perspective on the game of chess with the 3D chessboard. It features your standard pieces, but throws in a twist via a unique checkerboard with raised terrain that really makes you appreciate the perilous climb to victory.
Combine the classic style of a faded wooden board with the sleek modern appeal of 6061 US aircraft grad aluminum pieces. The Grahame Fowler Chess Set adds a bold touch to your game room. The 32 black and silver aluminum pieces come in your choice of semi-gloss or matte finish. $1725
If any Formula One racing fans have never paid any attention to the much slower paced game of chess, they just might after seeing this amazing set. Made from actual parts of the F1 Renault car, the Carbon Fiber Chess Set includes all sorts of parts and materials. Some of the parts used to make this chess set include the suspension, hub caps, wings and more. The set includes a wide range of strong materials like titanium, stainless steel, aircraft grade aluminum, leather and of course carbon fiber. $50000
There’s something almost eerie about the Glowing Onyx Chess Table. The table is backlit with a soft glow through translucent onyx creating a hazy checkerboard pattern on the table. To really add to the effect the pieces are glass allowing the light to pass through them as well.
Flat doesn’t have to mean boring with the stylish planar pieces of the Chess Set 4000-FM. The pieces are made from soft calfskin leather and the board of pear-tree. Distinctly designed, the pieces slide into the board, firmly holding their place as you make each calculated move. $9790
This ain’t your grandfather’s chessboard. Carbon fiber is usually reserved for motorsports an aerospace, but you’ll find it in this chess set along with 24 carat gold and sterling silver (to differentiate the pieces). The chessboard itself is also made from carbon and epoxy resin. The only traditional material you’ll ever see is the wooden box it comes in. $11300
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These are great! I most like the 3D set and the Grahame Fowler Chess Set. I can’t say I’m a big fan of distracting pieces though. I particularly like the very simple and standard pieces. The extravagant ones tend to throw me off.
on June 25th, 2009 at 1:51 am
Im glad a wood chess set costs 7000 dollars, Thats exactly what i was expecting to pay. I hope they forgot the period
on June 25th, 2009 at 1:51 am
Do you know the difference between chess and draughts?
on June 25th, 2009 at 1:52 am
Pirates vs Ninjas…. was not chess
on June 25th, 2009 at 1:55 am
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on June 25th, 2009 at 2:00 am
You do realize that “Pirates vs Ninjas” is not a CHESS set?
on June 25th, 2009 at 2:17 am
The first one is checkers ^^
on June 25th, 2009 at 2:40 am
Pirates vs Ninjas is not a chess set. It is a checkers set.
on June 25th, 2009 at 2:59 am
Uh, the first one – checkers is not chess.
on June 25th, 2009 at 6:25 am
I find it interesting some of the boards aren’t set up properly. But I just notice those things.
on June 25th, 2009 at 7:49 am
I’d add
http://www.giannitoso.com/ssp_director/albums/album-11/hr/DSCN0049.jpg
a entirely glass chess set of Jews vs Franciscans
on June 25th, 2009 at 9:10 am
What about Alien VS. Predator chess?
on June 25th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
My problem with the first one is that 1) you wouldn’t see the ninja’s and 2) even a ninja pawn could take out the king in one move…
… if 7 rows were filled with Pirates, and 1 square with a ninja – I would say that that the pirates would need another 7 rows… to be fair.
on June 25th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Does the author even understand what “bad-ass” means? none of these are even remotely bad-ass. Most of them are overpriced chess sets for yuppies to show off how much money they can blow.
on June 25th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
When chess was invented, it was one of the most innovative games in the world. Many years later, the game continues to have improvements in design.
on June 25th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
One made of chainmail.
http://www.chainmailbasket.com/projectdetails.php?ID=54
http://www.chainmailbasket.com/galleries.php?CATID=11&PAGE=1
on June 26th, 2009 at 11:29 am
i would add these http://harrybrunner.com/galerie/schach/schach1.htm, seeing it live is so impressive.
on June 26th, 2009 at 4:22 pm
There are some creative ones here!! I’d like to have a few of these.
on June 29th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
[...] Even the chess board itself draws attention with a sleek mirrored surface. The Tonino Lamborghini chess set comes in a handsome wooden case. $395 Check It Out MORE [...]
on July 3rd, 2009 at 10:11 am
Amazing to see a $50,000 chess set, it begs the question: Just how expensive do chess sets get?
on July 5th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
The raised blocks have been done before back in the 1980’s with the king and queen on the highest blocks. The one shown is just an extension of it.
on December 20th, 2009 at 6:03 pm