PHANTOM. The Robotic Chessboard Made of Real Wood

PHANTOM Chessboard Review: Did the Magic Move Us?
A backer’s follow-up from the front lines of robotic chess wizardry

“It’s not just a chessboard. It’s a mechanical symphony in natural wood.”

Let’s rewind. It’s 2021. A sleek video drops on crowdfunding platforms. There’s soft lighting, whispered woodgrain, and then—magic. Chess pieces gliding silently across a board like spirits summoned from Bobby Fischer’s dreams.

That was PHANTOM:
The robotic, wooden, AI-powered chessboard promising to bridge the gap between digital convenience and the timeless grace of real chess.

Fast forward to now: We’re in the post-launch phase. I, like 4,000+ other wide-eyed chess dreamers, hit “Back This Project” and waited. Now that PHANTOM has begun making its way into homes across the world… what’s the verdict?

Let’s break it down like a bishop carving up a center file.

Fulfillment: Was It On Time?

Short answer: Eventually, yes—with a few Knight’s detours.

PHANTOM’s creators were fairly transparent about their production schedule. The original promise was ambitious (as they always are), but they managed to mostly deliver within the updated timelines.

Here’s how it played out for many of us:

• Shipping: My unit arrived mid-June (2025), just a few weeks beyond their end-of-May target.
• Backer communication: Frequent updates via email and Indiegogo posts. Not ghosting us = always a good sign.
• Surprise costs: Yes, taxes and shipping were charged separately via a pledge manager. Depending on your country, this came as a surprise to some backers, so… check your fine print next time.

Verdict: While a few backers reported longer waits (especially international ones), the majority seem to be receiving their PHANTOMs now.

The Build: Does It Feel Premium?

Spoiler alert: It absolutely does.

Unboxing PHANTOM is like stepping into a secret society of high-end tinkerers and chess lovers. The solid wood board is heavy, elegant, and screams craftsmanship. The pieces? Weighted, balanced, and lovingly finished. If you backed this expecting a tech toy, what you actually got is a functional art piece that whispers, “Display me next to your first edition Tolstoy.”

Two design options:

• Minimal — modern, Scandinavian-style pieces
• Classical — the beloved Staunton vibe

I went with Minimal, and it fits seamlessly in my living room. If a Tesla and an antique chessboard had a child, this would be it.

Gameplay: Does the Robot Actually Work?

This is the part everyone wants to know: Does it actually play like the video promised?

YES. And also, kind of.

✅ What it nails:

• Autonomous movement: The pieces move smoothly, silently, and precisely. It’s downright mesmerizing.
• Online play: I played a friend in Berlin from my kitchen. Their move appeared on my board like they were standing across from me.
• AI battles: Maia (the human-style engine) is challenging yet oddly polite in its gameplay. Stockfish is also available for masochists.

⚠️ What it’s still perfecting:

• Speed: Don’t expect blitz games here. The movement is graceful, not fast. It’s more “evening whisky match” than “lunchtime bullet game.”
• Voice command: Fun novelty, but a little hit-or-miss depending on how you speak (and if your house is noisy).
• App updates: Functional, but not as polished as the board itself. Some menus are clunky, and pairing can occasionally glitch.

That said—every update since shipping has improved the experience. They’re clearly listening and patching.

Features That Truly Shine

• Sculpture Mode: Want to watch Fischer vs. Spassky 1972 unfold in real time while you sip coffee? Done. It’s like Netflix for Grandmasters.
• Phantom Tutor: Your own AI coach. Records your games and gives you constructive feedback. I now know that I blunder approximately once per oat milk latte.
• Open-source protocol: Hackers, makers, and devs—this is your dream sandbox.

Final Impressions: Was It Worth It?

Let me put it this way:

PHANTOM is to chess what vinyl is to music.
It doesn’t replace your digital app, it elevates the experience. It’s tactile, slow in the best way, and draws people in. I’ve had guests who don’t even play chess sit and watch the pieces move like it’s a magic trick.

Sure, it’s not flawless.

• A tad expensive
• A bit slow for fast-paced players
• Some onboarding kinks
  But as far as crowdfunded hardware projects go? This is one of the best-executed I’ve backed.

Fellow Backers — Let’s Hear From You

If you received your Phantom board:

• How smooth was your setup experience?
• Are you using it more than you thought you would?
• Any issues that still need addressing?

Leave a comment or chime in on the forums. The more feedback we share, the better this beautiful robo-board becomes.

To the PHANTOM creators: You delivered something truly special. Don’t stop iterating.

To the chess community: This is your collector’s item of the decade.

Backed. Received. Played. Displayed.
PHANTOM is not just a chessboard. It’s a conversation piece with a queen’s gambit up its sleeve.