The ŞAHÎ Chess Set is more than just a game; it is a bridge between cultures, eras, and philosophies. Designed to evoke both imperial and royal sensations, the set draws its name from a term widely used in the Balkans and many Slavic languages to refer to the game of chess.

The word “ŞAHΔ itself functions as a royal adjective meaning “specific to the Shah,” carrying a literary weight that signifies strength, magnificence, and strategic depth.

A Masterpiece of Cultural Evolution

Designed by experienced chess educator and former MIT first-board player Tamer Karatekin, this set elegantly encapsulates the history of the game. Every piece is crafted to reflect a unique historical narrative:

• Gülşah (The King): Represents the sanctity of the dome inspired by structures like the Hagia Sophia and the Pantheon and the intellectual legacy of the headwrap.
• Sokol (The Queen/Vizier): Named for the military symbol falcon and inspired by Austrian cafe house chess set’s onion-dome finale and helmet design, it symbolizes military authority and the wisdom of the “vizier”. Sokolovichi was the birthtown of the most influencial grand vizier of the Ottoman Empire, Sokollu Mehmet Pasha.
• Bukefal (The Knight): Named after Alexander the Great’s legendary horse, symbolizing the bidirectional exchange of culture between East and West.
• Shahrukh (The Rook): A magnificent synthesis of military evolution, incorporating elements of the war chariot, the tower, the cannon, and the ship. Chessmaster and commander Timur gave his son the name Shahrukh, as the news of his birth arrived during a chess match.
• Abul-Abbas (The Bishop/Elephant): Mirrors the iconic journey of the elephant gifted to Charlemagne, tracing the migration of chess across three continents.
• Régence-Philidor (The Pawn): Inspired by the Enlightenment-era cafes of Paris and Philidor’s famous maxim: “Pawns are the soul of chess”.