World's Largest Chess Piece | St. Louis, MO
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Happy Wednesday, friends! The existence of some “world’s largest” things seems whimsically random while others were built to honor a specific theme or local icon. Today’s feature honors a particularly nerdy pastime with strong Midwestern roots.
While there are quite a few offbeat attractions in St. Louis, skipping the World’s Largest Chess Piece would be a rookie1 mistake.
Fast Facts
Unveiled: April 6, 2018
Height: 20 feet tall
Diameter: 9 feet, 2 inches
Weight: 10,860 pounds
The History of the World’s Largest Chess Piece
Created by members of the World Chess Hall of Fame, this giant chess piece was certified by Guinness World Records on April 6, 2018. While the St. Louis-based group already held the world record at that time, this new attraction was created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Saint Louis Chess Club. The 2018 season also marked a decade of St. Louis hosting the U.S. and U.S. Women’s Chess Championships.
The formidable piece took months to craft using wood glue and sanded down blocks of African Sapele mahogany. The World’s Largest Chess Piece is a to-scale replica of a “Championship Staunton” king. This style of piece was custom designed by The House of Staunton in 2013 to be used in the first invite-only Sinquefield Cup, which is held annually in St. Louis. In order to keep the proportions of the giant piece as close to the model as possible, the piece was digitally scanned and its measurements were enlarged to be 53 times bigger than the original.
Today, this unusual attraction attracts both chess enthusiasts and tourists passionate about world’s largest things alike.
In July 2022, the Sautron Chess Club in France built a chess piece that is six inches taller than the one in St. Louis. However, it does not appear that the newer attraction has made a bid for official recognition. So — at least for now — the St. Louis icon has been able to keep its title.
Plan Your Visit
The World’s Largest Chess Piece is a must-see attraction for any chess lover. This colossal king can be found in Saint Louis’ Central West End neighborhood outside of the World Chess Hall of Fame. This area is full of chess-related spots, including the St. Louis Chess Club located just across the street and the Kingside Diner located around the corner.
The giant chess piece is publicly accessible and free to visit any time.
Address: World’s Largest Chess Piece, 4652 Maryland Ave., St. Louis, MO 63108
Related Links
If you’re already exploring offbeat spots in St. Louis, don’t miss the World’s Largest Underwear at the incomparable City Museum.
Zero apologies for making this pun!