Chess museum

The Chess Museum sits on Gogolevsky Boulevard in Moscow and displays three exhibition halls filled with chess sets, paintings, trophies, historical documents, and personal items belonging to world champions across different eras. The collection includes works from international masters and classical composers alongside extensive archives of games and analysis.

The museum began in 1980 as a small collection inherited from Leningrad collector Vyacheslav Dombrovsky and has since grown into a significant center for chess history. The holdings preserve memories of multiple decades of competitive chess and continue to expand over time.

The collection presents chess items from multiple countries, including rare books by Ponziani, Philidor, and Stamma, alongside artifacts from Russian grandmasters.

A visit requires advance booking through the Russian Chess Federation since the museum has limited opening hours. It helps to check the schedule ahead of time and allow enough time to explore all three exhibition halls at a comfortable pace.

The museum preserves the actual table where Karpov and Kasparov played their memorable match, a direct connection to a milestone moment in chess. This object draws visitors who want to experience the history of two of the game's greatest players up close.