The knight is no ordinary chess piece. It’s the most challenging to carve, demanding precision and skill few possess. In a workshop in Amritsar, Baljit Singh sits at his bench, shaping blocks of boxwood into knights for the World Chess Championship. There aren't a lot of craftsmen who can be trusted with something so intricate. In fact, he is one of only two in the whole world.
Despite the high stakes, his focus remains on the craft itself. “I’ve been doing this for decades. I know they’re used in big matches because people tell me, but I don’t follow the games,” he says humbly.
Each knight takes two hours to carve, much longer than any other chess piece. Every curve and detail, from the mane to the neck, must be perfect. The four knights in a set need to look identical; even a slight mismatch would ruin the set's value. The process demands years of training and meticulous precision. Baljit’s expertise reflects decades of dedication to this highly specialised craft.
The stakes are clear to Aditya Chopra, owner of Chopra Chess, the company behind these championship sets since 2012. “When Gukesh won, I felt a sense of pride knowing our sets were part of that moment,” he tells The Indian Express. Chopra’s father started the business decades ago, recognising the demand for high-quality wooden sets when most of the market was dominated by plastic. Today, the company exports to over 50 countries.
The process of making these sets is intricate. Four types of wood — boxwood, ebony, red padauk, and acacia — are aged for months to ensure they’re ready for carving. The wood is cut, shaped, polished, and finally hand-carved. The knights are the most labour-intensive pieces, requiring unmatched precision and care. Baljit’s skill sets him apart, but finding others who can meet the same standard is increasingly difficult.
The design of the pieces follows the Staunton pattern, a style created to make each piece easy to identify during play. The king’s crown, the queen’s coronet, and the bishop’s mitre are all crafted with purpose. This clarity is vital in high-level matches, where even a slight misstep can change the outcome of a game.
Despite the global recognition of these sets, the workshop in Amritsar flies under the radar. Artisans work with basic tools, producing pieces that will feature in games played on the biggest stages. The contrast is striking — an unassuming factory contributing to the grandeur of the World Chess Championship.
The growing interest in chess, driven by players like Gukesh and shows like The Queen’s Gambit, has Chopra hopeful. “India is seeing a chess boom. I hope this translates to more demand for well-made sets,” he says. Yet, the craft faces challenges. Skilled carvers are hard to find, and training new ones takes months, with no guarantee they’ll succeed.
For now, Baljit and his team continue their work, carving pieces with quiet focus. Their efforts may not grab headlines, but they form the backbone of a game played and loved worldwide. And for those who understand the craft, each knight is a testament to the skill and dedication that shapes the game’s most intricate details.
If you enjoyed reading this, here's more from Homegrown:
Indian Chess Prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju Makes History As The Youngest World Champion Ever
It’s Coming Home: India Wins Gold At The FIDE Chess Olympiad For The First Time In History
From Chaturanga To Chess — The History Of The Origin Of Chess