ChessHost: Free Chess Tournament App & Software
Chess Tournament, Sorted.
ChessHost is a free chess tournament app (and software) for running
small, casual, in-person chess tournaments at schools, pubs, cafes,
libraries, and local clubs. It runs in any browser, on a laptop,
desktop, tablet or phone, with no download. It is built for non-experts:
set up an event in under two minutes, players self-register by scanning
a QR code (no account, no install), and pairings and standings are
calculated automatically. Show the live event on a venue TV or classroom
projector. One event a month of up to 12 players is free forever, no credit card
needed. ChessHost Pro removes both limits and unlocks every chess lesson for $7 a month or $18 for 3 months,
and you can cancel any time. There are no hidden fees. Typically used for
events of 4 to 20+ players.
What ChessHost does
- Automated Swiss pairings (everyone plays every round, nobody is knocked out), plus Round Robin and Knockout formats.
- QR code player self-registration: players need no account and no download. The organizer signs up free, no credit card.
- Live TV and projector display with four visual themes (Casual, Esports, Kids, Modern).
- Shareable read-only spectator link for players' phones.
- ChessHost AI: the assistant, included with ChessHost Pro, that you open from inside an event. It reads that one event, so it can explain who got the bye and why, or why two players on the same score are ranked in that order, and it answers chess questions too. It advises and never rules: the decision always stays with the organiser.
- Chess Lessons: ready made lessons for kids and beginners in 16 languages, stepped through on your phone while the venue TV shows each board live. The Basics lessons are free on every plan; checkmate patterns, tactics, endgames and openings are part of ChessHost Pro.
- Printable participation certificates and diplomas, one per player, as a PNG, a single print-ready PDF for the whole field, or a ZIP.
- My Players: a private saved player list with name, email, phone, rating and notes, search, bulk export and remove, and CSV import and export. Pull your regulars into any new event in one tap. The list is never published.
- Team Battle mode: split the room into two teams (Team A vs Team B), everyone plays the other team and never a teammate, with automatic combined team scoring. Great for class vs class, office vs office, or pub team nights.
- A break timer shown on the venue screen.
- Mobile-first: run the whole event from a phone.
Best for
School chess clubs and after-school programs, inter-school team matches,
pub and cafe chess nights, casual local clubs, and corporate
team-building events.
What ChessHost is not
ChessHost is for casual, unrated, in-person events. It has no ratings and
submits nothing to FIDE, US Chess or any federation, so rated events need
arbiter software such as Swiss-Manager, Vega or SwissSys. It never takes
entry fees, and chess is never played inside the app: games happen on real
boards, with selected boards on Lichess for a hybrid event.
Learn more
Free chess software
Free chess tools
Common questions
Is ChessHost free?
Yes, for most events. Every account gets one free event a month, up to 12 players, forever, with no credit card needed. Bigger or more frequent events need ChessHost Pro, which is $7 a month or $18 for 3 months. You can cancel any time and there are no hidden fees.
Do I need to know chess to run a tournament?
Not at all. ChessHost makes every pairing for you and keeps the standings. You just tap who won as games finish. If you can use a phone, you can run it.
How do players join a ChessHost tournament?
Three ways: show a QR code, share a link, or type their names in yourself. Players who join on their phone need no app and no account. You approve them with one tap, or turn on auto-approve and they go straight in.
What do I need for TV Display?
Just any device with a browser. A smart TV, a laptop on a projector or a tablet. Open the link and it auto-updates live. Pick one of four looks: Casual, Esports, Kids or Modern.
Can I use ChessHost for a school chess club?
Absolutely. It is free for one event a month of up to 12 players and needs no student accounts. Students join by QR code, you show live pairings on the projector, and everyone gets a certificate at the end. The Basics chess lessons are free too.
Can I run a team chess tournament (Team A vs Team B)?
Yes. Turn on Team Battle and ChessHost splits players into two teams. Everyone plays the other team every round, never a teammate. Team scores add up automatically, with simple tie breakers. Perfect for class vs class, office vs office, or a pub team night.
Can I generate certificates or diplomas for players?
Yes. When a tournament is finished, open Certificates to make a personalised certificate for every player. Save one as a PNG, or the whole set as a single print-ready PDF or a ZIP. Great for school events and club nights.
Does ChessHost work on a desktop or PC?
Yes. ChessHost runs in any browser on a laptop, desktop, tablet or phone, with nothing to install. Most organisers set the event up on a laptop and tap in results from their phone during the round.