A Singapore touch to the table used for World Chess Championship

SINGAPORE – When reigning world champion Ding Liren and challenger Gukesh Dommaraju square off from Nov 25 for the World Chess Championship at Resorts World Sentosa, it will be a battle of Asia’s best – China versus India.

But what local chess fans and spectators might not know is that there will be a Singapore touch to the table for the marathon event from Nov 25 to Dec 13.

The best-of-14 series will be played on a bespoke table made by local furniture company Roger&Sons with locally sourced wood. An electronic chessboard, provided by the International Chess Federation, will be fitted onto it.

Roger&Sons was approached by the Singapore Chess Federation (SCF) two months before the event.

Ryan Yeo, 29, operations director of Roger&Sons, said: “They first approached us to see whether we can commission a table for the game.

“Then over a few months of planning, once we got the design locked down, that’s when we started fabrication.

“We’ve been through a couple of projects with tight deadlines, but something as prestigious as a world championship is something new to us and we are very honoured to have this opportunity.”

The wood used in furniture making usually requires months for it to be dry after being sourced from trees, but the company had to expedite this process, using a kiln to reduce the waiting time to six weeks.

The wood used is sourced locally – the majority of the table is made of Khaya wood (African mahogany) and accented with Angsana wood.

“There will be two main materials, one is African mahogany and the other is Angsana,” added Yeo.

“Angsana is a more regional species that I think more Singaporeans will be familiar with.”

The furniture makers had chosen Khaya wood as it is durable. According to Yeo, the authorities here are trying to get rid of these particular trees in Singapore because of a number of incidents.

Khaya trees are not local to Singapore and are prone to falling due to its size (they can grow up to 30 metres) and the climate here.

Yeo said: “Singapore is trying to eradicate all these non-native trees in Singapore, and for every non-native tree that they cut down, they’re planting a native tree. And because of that, we have an abundance of Khaya.

“They also fall easily because they are not from our climate. They grow very fast, but the roots cannot seep deep enough, so they tend to fall, especially now during the rainy season.”

In 2017, a five-year-old Spanish boy was killed after he was struck by a Khaya tree along Upper Bukit Timah Road after heavy rain.

There have also been other reports of Khaya trees falling in other parts of Singapore.

While Yeo did not disclose the exact cost of the table, he revealed that the SCF paid a “four-figure sum”.

Jimmy Tan, deputy chairman of the championship’s organising committee, said: “Right from the start, the SCF recognised the importance of partnering with local businesses for this prestigious event.

“Roger&Sons impressed us with their dedication to sustainability and exceptional craftsmanship. We were confident in their ability to create a stunning chess table that showcases innovative design and locally sourced materials.”

When asked what they will do with the table after the event, Tan added: “Sustainability is a key consideration, and we are looking at ways to ensure the table continues to serve a meaningful purpose, whether as part of future events, a permanent exhibit, or an initiative that highlights sustainable design in chess and beyond.”

Said Yeo: “I don’t want it to only just be used for an event, one time. I think ultimately we can do away with the throw-away culture. So if the table can be used for other events, I think that’s good.”